Nine Search Warrants Served in Racketeering Case

On May 28, 2013, the Polk County Inter-Agency Narcotics Team (POINT) served nine search warrants to conclude a 3 ½ month racketeering investigation that spread through three counties, including an illegal marijuana dispensary on Highway 22 in West Salem.  The POINT team consists of members of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Oregon State Police, and the Dallas, Independence, and Monmouth Police Departments.

The POINT team was assisted by the Oregon State Police, Corvallis Police Department, Benton County Sheriff's Office, the Yamhill County Narcotics Team, and the Lincoln County Narcotics Team.

Arrested were 44 year-old Christian Florin of Salem, 37 year-old Zachary Chorney Phillips of West Salem, 40 year-old Darin Bernards of West Salem, 48 year-old Edward Bennett of Dallas, and 52 year-old Marjorie Teufel of Lincoln City.  Specific charges for these individuals are listed below.

The locations of the search warrants were 4119 Toni Avenue N, Keizer, 4679 Sesame Street NE, Salem, 2515 Salem Dallas Highway, Salem, 2680 Cherry Street NE, Salem, 1132 Ruge Street NW, Salem, 3655 Wallace Road NW, Salem, 2850 Highway 101, Lincoln City, 3570 NE Reef Drive, Lincoln City, and 4560 High School Drive SE, Salem.

The investigation commenced when the “Garden Shed” began doing business as an illegal medical marijuana dispensary at 2515 Salem Dallas Highway in West Salem in January 2013.  The owner, Christian Florin, began selling marijuana to the public for street value.  As the investigation ensued, POINT learned that Florin had three employees working for him.  Although representing that he only sold to medical marijuana card holders, detectives learned that on several occasions no ID or OMMP card was even asked for when the Garden Shed staff sold Marijuana.

Oregon law allows legitimate medical marijuana card holders to obtain marijuana from their specified OMMP grower that is registered with OMMP.  Growers are limited to a maximum of patients.  “Dispensaries” in which no grower patient relationship exists, such as the one subject to this investigation, are not lawful in this state.

Florin also opened another illegal store front in Lincoln City and had Teuful run the store for him in his absence.  Detectives also found out that Florin owns three houses, one in Keizer, one in Salem, and one in Lincoln City.  At each of these locations, detectives found marijuana grow listed in other peoples names through OMMP, people whom did not have control over their own reported grow sites.  The investigation showed that Florin was selling the marijuana from the grows at his residences and at his business in West Salem.

The Oregon State Police HIT team assisted at 3655 Wallace Road, Salem, as it was discovered that there was a RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) marijuana production lab at this residence.  The HIT team is comprised of Oregon State Troopers that have been clandestine lab certified, which allows them to safely handle and remove toxic chemicals from drug labs.  This type of lab is very dangerous, as people use chemicals and heat to extract just the THC from the marijuana bud, which could be a volatile process.  The DEQ assisted with safely removing the chemicals from the property.

In all, eight guns were seized at the various locations, along with over 300 plants, over 30 pounds of processed marijuana, and over $7000 in cash.  Each plant could produce several pounds of marijuana, which makes this a very profitable business.  The value of the processed marijuana seized is estimated to be $100,000.

Edward Bennett
Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana for consideration x 3
Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana X 3
Bail $195,000

Christian Florin
Racketeering
Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana x 9
Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana for Consideration x 9
Bail $610,000

Marjorie Teufel
Conspiracy to Deliver Marijuana
Conspiracy to Manufacture Marijuana
Bail $65,000

Darin Bernards
Racketeering
Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana x 9
Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana for Consideration x 9
Bail $610,000

Zackery Chorney-Phillips
Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana for Consideration
Racketeering
Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana x 9
Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana for Consideration x 9
Bail$ 1,635,000

The investigation is currently ongoing.  More arrests are likely.