ALBANY, NEW YORK - Rayen Hussein and Abdulqadoos Alomari, ages 41 and 31, respectively, were arrested on Aug. 17, 2018, when investigators executed federal search warrants on multiple locations in Schenectady, Amsterdam and Glenville, New York, and seized a kilogram worth of synthetic marijuana packaged for distribution, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith.
Following their arrests, Hussein and Alomari were charged by complaint with participating in a conspiracy to distribute baggies containing synthetic cannabinoids, also referred to as “spice" or “K2," out of the Stockade Market and Deli in Schenectady between June and August 2018. The baggies seized on Friday were uniformly brightly colored, and labeled with names including: “Scooby Snax," Ice Dragon," “Loopy," What’s Up," and “Geeked Up."
Alomari had a detention hearing on Monday, Aug. 20, before United States Magistrate Judge Christina F. Hummel in Albany, New York, and bail was set in the amount of $25,000. Hussein has a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 21.
The charges filed against Hussein and Alomari carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million and a term of supervised release of at least three years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - Albany District Office, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, New York State Police and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
The Schenectady and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices and the Police Departments of Amsterdam, Glenville, Saratoga Springs, Troy and Watervliet participated in the execution of the search warrants in this case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon.
