John Tebbetts Sentenced In Federal Court

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – RICHARD S. HARTUNIAN, United Sates Attorney, Northern District of New York, announces that JOHN TEBBETTS, age 34, of Rome, NY, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Syracuse to 87 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for distributing synthetic drugs from his 12 head shops.

As part of his plea, TEBBETTS admitted to owning several Tebbs head shops in Central New York and Maine, as well as a warehouse in Oneida. TEBBETTS admitted that he possessed the Schedule I controlled substances: AM-2201, JWH-122, JWH-203, and JWH-250, all synthetic cannabinoids (commonly referred to as “Spice” or “K2”) with the intent to distribute these products. TEBBETTS also admitted to possessing controlled substance analogues (synthetic cathinones, commonly known as “Bath Salts”) with the intent to distribute them and intending that these substances be used for human consumption. Lastly, TEBBETTS admitted to purchasing a 2012 motor home for over $157,000.00 which was cash proceeds from his illegal sale of controlled substances and controlled substance analogues. As part of his plea, TEBBETTS agreed to forfeit six vehicles, including the motor home, and over $314,000.00.

These prosecutions resulted from a lengthy investigation undertaken in the spring of 2012 by the Syracuse Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Further questions or inquiries may be directed to Assistant United States Attorney Carla Freedman, the prosecutor handling the case, at (315) 448-0672.