Biloxi Councilman Robert Leon Deming III pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge Wednesday for selling products containing synthetic cannabinoids at his CBD and kratom stores in Mississippi and North Carolina.
Deming arrived at the federal courthouse in Gulfport early, and soon, over 20 supporters, including family and friends, followed him into the courtroom for his plea hearing.
Deming stood before U.S. District Judge Taylor McNeel and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance at his nine Candy Shop stores.
In his plea, he specifically admitted to selling products containing synthetic cannabinoids at his store on U.S. 90in Ocean Springs.
Had the case gone to trial, Assistant U. S. Attorney Jonathan Butler said prosecutors would have been able to show that Deming knew, or should have known, that synthetic cannabinoids had been added to some of the vape products sold at his stores.
In addition, Buckner said, investigators found that Deming personally paid $200,000 for a kilo of the synthetic cannabinoids added to some of his vape products.