A 37-year-old man serving 90 years in prison after being convicted in 2016 for selling synthetic marijuana out of a Houma convenience store is appealing his conviction, court records show.
On Dec. 1, 2016, Kassim Nagi was sentenced to 30 years each for racketeering and money laundering and 15 years each for distribution of and possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana. District Judge Randy Bethancourt ruled that the sentences were to run consecutively.
Nagi was convicted by a jury on Aug. 19, 2016, following an investigation that began in January 2013 when agents conducted multiple undercover buys of synthetic marijuana packed and labeled as “Kush” or “SuperNova” from an Exxon station at 6957 W. Park Ave., owned by Kee Food Inc. and managed by Nagi.
Three of Nagi’s employees testified that the defendant had instructed them on how to sell the drug products using code phrases. Each of the clerks testified the synthetic marijuana was kept out of public view.
Prosecutors introduced several surveillance tapes during the trial that showed the clerks selling the products to undercover agents or to an informant. The proceeds were logged in the register as groceries, and defendants reportedly transferred some money to Yemen, prosecutors said.
Nagi’s appellate attorney, Mark Plaisance, filed an appeal with the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal alleging his client was convicted without sufficient evidence. The defense contends the 90-year sentence is excessive due to Nagi’s lack of criminal history. Nagi was also prevented from introducing testimony that could have supported his defense, Plaisance said in the appeal.
Assistant District Attorney Ellen Doskey, who handles appeals work for the District Attorney’s Office, said there were several reasons for the 90-year sentence.
Agents testified that sales records showed Nagi sold more than $700,000 in synthetic marijuana over a 1.5-year period, prosecutors said.
“Furthermore, despite selling over $400,000 in product during 2012, the 2012 tax returns for Kee Foods showed only $15,334 in ordinary business income,” Doskey said.
The case is scheduled for oral arguments in Baton Rouge on Wednesday. Nagi is currently serving his sentence at Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport.
credit:dailycomet.com