Owner of String of Marijuana ‘Dispensaries’ Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

          A south Puget Sound area resident who tried to hide his illegal drug dealing behind what he falsely claimed was a ‘medical marijuana dispensary’ operating consistent with state law, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release for two federal charges related to drug distribution, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  LANCE EDWARD GLOOR, 37, was convicted in January 2016 of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and manufacturing marijuana.  At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said, “Mr. Gloor is a flim-flam man.  He manipulates those around him.  He, at the end of the day, persists at flaunting the basic, everyday rules.”

          “Far from being a marijuana crusader helping sick people, this defendant was nothing but a black marketeer,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  “Despite repeated notice that his marijuana business was illegal under state and federal law, he continued to use lies, threats and intimidation to try to cover his tracks and make as much money as he could.”

          According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, GLOOR and his long-time business associate were the subjects of law enforcement investigations as early as 2010.  In the fall of 2010, local law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at GLOOR’s home where they discovered more than 70 marijuana plants and a firearm.  While awaiting trial on charges filed in state court, GLOOR and his associate opened four so-called marijuana ‘dispensaries’:  Tacoma Cross, Lacey Cross, Seattle Cross, and over on the Kitsap Peninsula, KPN Cross.  A joint state and federal law enforcement investigation revealed that these locations claimed to be medical marijuana “non-profit dispensaries” operating under state law, when in fact they were for profit businesses generating millions of dollars in gross revenues inconsistent with all applicable state requirements.  Search warrants were served on the business in 2011, and following that GLOOR claimed he was getting out of the marijuana business.  In fact, further investigation and a second round of search warrants in 2013 revealed GLOOR was still operating two of the four dispensaries, but had attempted to do so while hiding his ongoing role. 

          At various times throughout the investigation and trial, GLOOR sought to contact and intimidate witnesses via text message and social media.  After GLOOR repeatedly violated court orders regarding the conditions of his release, he was taken into custody and has been incarcerated at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since April 2016.

          GLOOR was indicted with two co-conspirators in November 2013.  His co-conspirators have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing. 

          The case was investigated by the Thurston Narcotic Task Force (TNT) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Marci Ellsworth.