Boise Man Pleads Guilty to Offering Drug Paraphernalia for Sale
BOISE – Gabriel Adam Busby, 37, of Boise, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Boise to count two of an indictment charging him with offering drug paraphernalia for sale, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
Busby admitted in court today, that he knowingly and intentionally offered drug paraphernalia for sale at Twenty After, a business located at 610 North Orchard, Boise, Idaho. It is against federal law to sell or offer for sale any paraphernalia that is primarily intended or designed for drug use, regardless of whether the seller advises their customers that the paraphernalia is for tobacco use only. The business, commonly referred to as a “head shop,” is co-owned by Busby and co-defendant Bradley Berquist, 30, of Boise. Both were indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2012. Berquist is scheduled to appear in court on August 30 for a change of plea. The investigation that resulted in Busby’s conviction, Operation Headshop -- Not for Human Consumption, produced 11 separate indictments charging 16 Treasure Valley individuals for activity at 13 “head shops.” Charges against the other 14 remain pending.
“The open sale of drug paraphernalia promotes illegal drug use and helps drug traffickers thrive,” said Olson. “This office and its federal, state and local partners will continue to aggressively pursue criminal organizations that masquerade as legitimate businesses.”
The charge of knowingly and intentionally offering drug paraphernalia for sale is punishable by up to three years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to one year of supervised release.
Operation Headshop -- Not for Human Consumption includes the cooperative law enforcement efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Boise Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa Police Department, Meridian Police Department, and the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office. The U.S. Marshall’s Office and Idaho State Police provided assistance in arresting the 16 defendants.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
