| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2008 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/CAN |
OAKLAND – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that Michael J. Martin, 34, of El Sobrante, California, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to manufacture and to distribute a mixture containing a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.
In pleading guilty, Mr. Martin admitted that he was a partner in Tainted Truffles (“Tainted”). Starting in 2001, Tainted manufactured edibles containing tetra-hydrocannabinol (“THC”), the psychoactive substance in marijuana. More recently, the products sold by Tainted included THC infused edibles with names such as “Buddafinga”, “Stoner’s”, “Reefer’s”, and “Kief Kat”. These products were manufactured at the Tainted facility at 947 61st Street, Suite 18, Oakland, California, using THC extracted from marijuana. Since March 2006, marijuana used in the production of these edibles infused with THC was grown at 379 40th Street, Oakland, California, and defendant participated in managing the operations at both of these locations. On the day agents and officers conducted a search of the facility at 379 40th Street, Oakland, California, Tainted was growing approximately 400 marijuana plants for use in items that Tainted was producing and distributing. Martin oversaw the production of the marijuana.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Mr. Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. before United States District Judge Claudia Wilken.
Shashi Kewalramani is the Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case with the assistance of Cynthia Daniel. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Further Information:
Case #: CR08-0099 CW
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be directed to Joshua Eaton at (415) 436-6958 or by email at Josh.Eaton@usdoj.gov.