The co-owners and operators of a Morgantown hookah lounge have been convicted on charges of distributing synthetic marijuana in proceedings before U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley, according to a news release.
The convictions followed guilty pleas entered on March 27 by Nicholas Graziano, 53, of Melville, New York, and Stephen Graziano, 25, of Morgantown, to single counts of conspiring to distribute a "controlled substance analogue" between July 2012 and April 2014, according to a news release issued Friday by Acting U.S. Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen. The pair owned and operated X Hale Hookah Lounge in Morgantown.
The synthetic marijuana, commonly known as spice, K2, incense or fake weed, is designed to resemble to molecular structure and physiological effects of real cannabis.
The two each face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million when they are sentenced.
The case was investigated by the Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley handled the prosecution.