Sixth Defendant Pleads Guilty To Drug Conspiracy Charge In Curious Goods Case

LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that businessman Daniel Paul Francis, 43, of Dawsonville, Ga., pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Hanna, to conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.

According to the stipulated factual basis entered into the court record during the guilty plea, Francis admitted to conspiring with various individuals to cause the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce between early 2011 through early 2012.  Specifically, Francis admitted to conspiring to sell synthetic cannabinoids through a Lafayette area business known as Curious Goods LLC. 

Curious Goods sold a product infused with synthetic cannabinoids called “Mr. Miyagi.”  Francis admitted that although “Mr. Miyagi” was specifically labelled “not for human consumption,” it was sold to be consumed by the user of the product.  The users of “Mr. Miyagi” ingested it, typically by smoking it, in order to achieve a “high.” Francis also admitted that the co-conspirators intended the packaging of “Mr. Miyagi” to be false and misleading with the intent to defraud and mislead others by falsely identifying “Mr. Miyagi’s” contents, failing to identify the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, and falsely labeling “Mr. Miyagi’s” intended use.

Francis faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.  A sentencing date of May 16, 2014 was set.