Community Corner

Weho Dispensaries Raided in Multi-Agency Drug Probe

Zen Healing Collective and Alternative Herbal Health services were searched in what police called the culmination of a four-year investigation.

Los Angeles law enforcement officials executed search warrants at two West Hollywood medical marijuana dispensaries on Tuesday as part of an investigation into an organized criminal enterprise involving large-scale marijuana sales throughout the United States.

Personnel from the Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Los Angeles police departments, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S Secret Service served 11 search warrants and made three arrests at 4 a.m., said Beverly Hills police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino.

As part of Tuesday's police action, search warrants were served at West Hollywood's Zen Healing Collective and Alternative Herbal Health Services. Search warrants were also executed at La Brea Compassionate Caregivers in Hollywood and Marina Caregivers in Marina Del Rey.

Find out what's happening in West Hollywoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It is unknown what role West Hollywood's dispensary played in this unfolding crime drama.

The operation culminated a four-year federal-state investigation into the organization that operated multiple retail marijuana dispensaries "generating massive profits, repeatedly showing their willingness to use violence and intimidation to expand their operations and dissuade competition," Hoshino said.

Find out what's happening in West Hollywoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"To date, there have been 26 documented crimes, including attempted murder, home invasion robbery, conspiracy, arson, extortion, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and use of a destructive device," Hoshino said.

While investigators have identified 20 suspects, three were arrested today -- Andrew Kramer, 38, Rene Johnson, 50, and Jonathan Livingston, 43. They were booked on 46 felony counts, Hoshino said.

"Over the course of this investigation, detectives have seized millions in cash and proceeds from this criminal enterprise," Hoshino said.

--City News Service Contributed to this report.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from West Hollywood