Ryan Michael Burras Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Import Violations And To Violate Fda Laws By Mislabeling And Distributing Synthetic Marijuana

RYAN MICHAEL BURRAS, age 23, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to one count of an indictment charging him with conspiring to commit import violations and to violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by mislabeling and distributing synthetic marijuana, announced U. S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.

According to court documents, beginning in the first half of 2010 and continuing through at least July 2011, BURRAS conspired with co-defendants, Cody Beaudette, Christopher Buelle, and C Square, L.L.C., a Slidell-based company, to knowingly receive, buy, and sell synthetic marijuana imported into the United States contrary to law, specifically causing the introduction and delivery of a drug that is adulterated and misbranded under Federal law. BURRAS’s role in the offense was to designed labels for C Square, L.L.C.’s brands of synthetic marijuana, and he also assisted in the distribution of C Square, L.L.C.’s synthetic marijuana brands. C Square, L.L.C.’s brands included “ZeRo GrAviTy”, “iAroma”, and “Primo,” among others.

BURRAS faces a maximum statutory penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years, and a $250,000.00 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 17, 2013 at 2:00 P.M.

The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Office of Criminal Investigations with the assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Slidell Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Weir.

(Download Indictment )