The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

October 16, 2012

Businessman charged in pot case

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

FARRELL — A store owner has been charged with criminal offenses for selling synthetic marijuana and bath salts at his Farrell gas station and convenience store.

Muhammad Mansha, 40, of 3492 Silver Ridge Court, Hermitage, owner of Farrell Speed Check, 1301 Sharon New Castle Road, has been charged with possession of the substances, possession with intent to deliver and distribution at retail.

The substances were made illegal in Pennsylvania about a year ago.

Southwest Mercer County Regional police reported previously that they had confiscated 216 three-gram, packets of synthetic pot, 270 one-gram packets and 15 small jars of bath salts at about Feb. 10 from the store.

A state Department of Revenue agent performing a cigarette license inspection reported to police that the substances were being sold, police said.

Charges were filed Sept. 28 after laboratory reports were obtained.

Mansha sold the substances under the brand names of Stuk Herbal Blend, Mr. Nice Guy Herbal Blend, One Love Natural, Hawaiian Breeze Kush, Zombie Breath Kush and One Love Kush. The latter three substances contained a prescription erectile dysfunction medication, police said.

Mansha has posted bond and faces a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday before District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell.

At the same time of the Speed Check raid, police also seized 83 three-grams packets of synthetic pot from Stop & Save, 70 Broadway Ave., Wheatland, police said. No charges have been filed and the business has closed, its owner complaining that the widening of Broadway had prevented customers from getting to his building.

Hermitage and Grove City police and agents of the Mercer County Drug Task Force have synthetic pot-related cases pending against Ala H. Nassar, 28, of Trumbull, Conn., and Linsey A. Montgomery, 23, of Grove City, stemming from a search of Nassar’s store, Broad Street Market, 327 N. Broad St., Grove City; his former home in the 100 block of South Seventh Street, Sharpsville; and Montgomery’s apartment, and informant buys from Nassar and Montgomery. Nassar owns the market and Montgomery worked for him, police said.

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