Fox Chapel synthetic marijuana supplier facing prison term
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The person identified as the supplier of synthetic marijuana to several retail establishments in Washington, Houston and Canonsburg was sentenced recently in Washington County Court to serve one to two years in prison.
Randy Berger, 43, of Fox Chapel, was one of seven defendants identified last summer in a sweep conducted by the Washington County district attorney’s office and state and local police.
Allegheny County Judge Edward Borkowski, presiding in Washington County Court, sentenced Berger on charges of participating in a corrupt organization, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of illegal activities, possession with intent to deliver a lookalike substance and possession with intent to deliver a designer drug.
Of the $150,000 seized from Berger, Borkowski ordered the prosecution to return $52,158 and a 2009 Audi A6 automobile.
A search warrant served at Berger’s home in July 2012 at the home of yielded 6,000 grams of suspected synthetic marijuana, including brands named “Smoking Dragon” and “Train Wreck,”and thousands of pieces of drug paraphernalia.
Berger told police he was selling incense and pipes.
Although the substance he was charged with dealing is called synthetic marijuana or K2, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said the vegetable matter is typically impregnated with a host of chemicals traced to China that can have profound and lasting effects on users.
Two others charged in the same sweep, Pratiksha and Snehal Patel of Hardwood Drive, Venetia, have a March court date. The cases of additional defendants have not yet been scheduled.