Eight former employees of a medical marijuana dispensary in Helena — including a former officer with the Helena Police Department — have been arrested on felony charges of obtaining drugs by fraud, the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Division announced Monday.
The arrests – part of the “largest scale operation” in the state since medical marijuana was approved in 2018 — was made after the agency learned of the possible diversion of medical marijuana occurring at the Green Light Dispensary. The investigation began in December and the arrests were made over the course of a few days starting late last week.
Seven of the suspects — April Jones, Shameka Wright, Gerald W. Jennings, Lauren Delk, Austen Delk, Taylor Perkins and Demario Rose — were arrested on felony obtaining drugs by fraud charges.
The eighth suspect, the officer with the Helena Police Department, was Greg McDaniel.
McDaniel was arrested on multiple charges, including felony use of a communication device, obtaining drugs via fraud and a misdemeanor count of delivery of a controlled substance.
Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance and Administration, said this operation was “definitely atypical.”
Hardin said it would be “safe to say” that a police officer also being employed by a medical marijuana dispensary was “unique,” though they are often employed as security.
According to Hardin, when the ownership of the Green Light Dispensary was informed of the investigation, the seven current employees were fired.
McDaniel has also been fired by the Helena Police Department.
Hardin said the ownership of the dispensary changed hands last Thursday.
The ABC Enforcement Division’s investigation was conducted in coordination with the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department
The investigation found that the dispensary employees used patient allotments for people who were elderly, dead, out of area or incarcerated to create fraudulent transactions and illegally obtain medical marijuana. According to a news release, the suspects also allowed individuals not holding a patient card to access the dispensary and purchase marijuana products under legitimate patient allotments.
“ABC enforcement is committed to compliance in our medical marijuana program through licensee education and data driven enforcement policy,” said ABC Enforcement Director David Potter in the release. “However, instances of diversion, fraud, and theft will be proactively investigated and criminal charges will be sought to remove bad actors, regardless of their position or influence. I would like to thank Phillips County Sheriff Neal Byrd and his office for their assistance in this investigation.”
DFA Secretary Jim Hudson said his department is “proud of the work of Director Potter and our enforcement agents participating in this investigation. Medical marijuana is a regulated product in Arkansas, and its distribution must strictly comply with all applicable laws. Whenever those working in the industry illegally divert a licensed product or engage in fraud, ABC will act swiftly to protect the public.”
According to the DFA, the investigation is ongoing and could result in more arrests.
Since the first dispensary in the state was opened in May 2019, patients have spent more than $1.2 billion on medical marijuana purchases. 2023 was a record year with sales of $283 million, according to Hardin.
Arkansas has 37 dispensaries in operation across the state. There were 38 until ABC revoked the Green Springs (Hot Springs) permit earlier this year.
Eight former employees of a medical marijuana dispensary in Helena have been arrested on felony charges of obtaining drugs by fraud, the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Enforcement Division announced Monday. Read More