Bust of four Raleigh smoke shops yields nine arrests
Police raided four smoke shops in Raleigh Wednesday, charging nine people with possession of counterfeit items, according to search warrants.
Posted — UpdatedIn total, 173 counterfeit items were seized, including "hide-a-stash" canisters made to look like soda bottles, beer cans, WD-40 cans, coffee cans and salt containers, as well as smoking pipes shaped like mini NFL football helmets with team logos.
According to search warrants, more than 3,200 packets of bath salts and synthetic marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for testing.
Search warrants were executed Wednesday at:
- Kitsch, 2526 Hillsborough St., suite 105
- Buddha's Belly, 2112 Hillsborough St.
- Smoke Rings, 3116 Hillsborough St., suite 102
- Smoker Joker, 6111 Capital Blvd.
The following people were charged with possessing counterfeit items with a registered trademark:
- Kimberly Lynn Altman, 43, of Raleigh
- David Sessions Woodard, 30, of Raleigh
- James Benjamin Thomas Byron, 25, of Raleigh
- Stephanie Elizabeth Campbell, 22, of Raleigh
- Long Hai Tonthat, 24, of Raleigh
- Samuel Aaron Kline, 33, of Knightdale
- Thaer Fayek Allan, 27, of Lumberton
James Alford Long Jr., 42, of Cary, faces a counterfeit charge as well as possession of marijuana.
Belal Hani Allan, 37, was charged with possessing counterfeit items with a registered trademark and felony possession of counterfeit recorded devices.
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