Two indicted in connection with multimillion-dollar marijuana enterprise
BOSTON – Two women were indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester in connection with their management of Northern Herb, a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018.
Deana Martin, 51, of Milton, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, one count of possessing more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and three counts of money laundering. Martin was arrested last month on a criminal complaint.
Tatiana Fridkes, aka "Sonya," 32, of Dorchester, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Fridkes was arrested today and will appear in federal court in Boston today at 1 p.m.
According to the charging documents, Martin owned and managed Northern Herb, which operated a website offering marijuana (including raw marijuana, pre-rolled cigarettes and marijuana edibles) for sale. While Northern Herb purported to provide medical marijuana, it did not require a customer to provide proof of a medical marijuana card. Furthermore, it is alleged that Northern Herb would deliver marijuana to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties might have access to it. Northern Herb used locations in Canton, Milton, Foxborough and Hyde Park to store and distribute marijuana, and employed at least 25 workers.
From May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb allegedly had total revenue exceeding $14 million, and Martin herself claimed an income of $80,000 per month. Martin controlled numerous bank accounts into which funds derived from Northern Herb sales were laundered, and she used several accounts in another person’s name to conceal her control over this money and to hide it from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Martin allegedly used money from Northern Herb sales to pay more than $300,000 towards the mortgage on her house and to buy a 2017 Porsche Boxster, among other things.
It is further alleged that Northern Herb did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in marijuana sales. In an email referencing cannabis taxes charged by one state government, Martin wrote: “Zero taxes is still better.” Northern Herb did not remit or pay employment taxes in connection with its workforce or issue its employees W-2s or 1099s.
The drug charges each provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The money laundering charges each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of twice the amount of money laundered. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle, United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell, of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The United States Postal Inspection Service also provided valuable assistance with this investigation.
# # #
