***MEDIA ADVISORY***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2014
CORRUPT BUSINESS INFLUENCE INVESTIGATION NETS 11 ARRESTS, PROPERTY AND SYNTHETIC DRUG SEIZURES
Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888
Thirteen search warrants were served simultaneously in Elkhart and St Joseph Counties on Monday, June 9, 2014, uncovering additional evidence of corrupt business influence (racketeering), a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony, against Gurcharn “John” Singh, age 43, and Jaswinder “Jasmine” Kaur, age 37, both of Granger. Both have been arrested and are being held until the probable cause review, Wednesday, June 11th. In Elkhart County three additional search warrants were served subsequent to the initial raids.
Long-term investigations into alleged dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance by the pair was initiated by the Elkhart Police Department, the South Bend Police Department (SOS), and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Excise Police, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement (ICE) Unit, the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, as well as other federal agencies. Under Indiana Law, a “synthetic drug” is defined as a substance that contains certain specific chemical compounds (I.C. 35-31.5-5-321 – more than 100 compounds are currently identified as illegal). These substances have been produced and marketed as a variety of “incense” or other products, often labeled “Not for human consumption”, yet commonly known to be ingested for the purpose of causing a “marijuana-like” high (intoxication). Lookalike substances are similar products that contain other, non-identified, chemical compounds that are marketed in such a way that one would think they were a synthetic drug.
Contrary to popular belief, especially amongst high school and middle school aged children, these substances are NOT legal to possess or consume. Some people may be under the false impression that because synthetic drugs have been available for sale from behind the counter of many businesses in our community they are safe to use, however that could not be further from the truth. These drugs are dangerous, addictive, and illegal.
One might question the amount of resources committed to such an investigation for nothing more than “fake weed.” Synthetic drugs may have been originally created to mimic the high available from other drugs such as marijuana or cocaine, but as producers change formulas to attempt to evade legal bans, people using these drugs have exhibited unique and dangerous side effects. Documented side effects include muscle spasm and chest pain, organ damage, hallucinations and psychotic episodes, and some users have exhibited aggressive and violent behavior. A growing number of instances have been documented across the country where individuals have taken their own lives or the lives of others while under the influence of these drugs.
In July of 2013, after numerous reports from concerned citizens that synthetic drugs were being sold in the City of Elkhart at the Burger Dairy Store on West Franklin Street, the Marathon convenience store on West Franklin, the Sunnyside Food Mart on South Benham, and the Marathon convenience store on East Bristol Street, law enforcement representatives recovered numerous packages of synthetic drugs or synthetic drug lookalike substances from each of these locations. At that time, representatives of each business were advised that possessing and selling these substances was illegal and they must cease doing so.
However, on at least thirteen occasions since July 2013, an undercover officer, or a cooperating citizen under the direction, surveillance, and control of law enforcement officers, purchased synthetic drugs or synthetic drug look-a-like substances from clerks at the Burger Dairy store at 1403/1409 West Franklin Street.
At the Marathon gas station/convenience store at 1589 West Franklin Street, an undercover officer, or a cooperating citizen under the direction, surveillance, and control of law enforcement officers, purchased synthetic drugs or synthetic drug lookalike substances on at least fifteen occasions.
At least seven purchases of synthetic drugs or synthetic drug lookalike substances were made by an undercover officer, or a cooperating citizen under the direction, surveillance, and control of law enforcement officers at the Sunnyside Food Mart at 1502 Benham Ave. The Sunnyside Food Mart is just across the street from the Elkhart Housing Authority office and the Tolson Center.
And, at the Marathon convenience store at 1850 East Bristol Street, several separate purchases of synthetic drugs or synthetic drug lookalike substances were made by a cooperating citizen under the direction, surveillance, and control of law enforcement officers.
All of these gas stations and convenience stores are owned by corporations created by either Gurcharn “John” Singh or Jaswinder “Jasmine” Kaur, or both of them together. The records of the bank accounts utilized by each of these corporations also demonstrate significant co-mingling of funds between the business accounts, and the personal account of Singh. In addition, either Gurcharn and/or Jaswinder were present or personally facilitated at least nine of the above-referenced transactions.
As a result of the execution of these search warrants, with nine locations being in Elkhart County, the following individuals were arrested:
Gurcharn “John” Singh (10/20/1970), Granger – Arrested for corrupt business influence (racketeering), a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Jaswinder “Jasmine” Kaur (4/20/1977) Granger - Corrupt business influence (racketeering), a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Peter Rose Fernandes (5/23/1966) Elkhart – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Maranda Marie Haynes (10/9/1972) Elkhart - Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Muhammad Mobeen Khan (4/6/1986) Elkhart - Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony;
Amandeep Singh (4/16/1993) Elkhart – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Gurpreet Singh (12/17/1991) Elkhart – Corrupt business influence (racketeering), a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Gurpreet Singh (9/30/1977) Elkhart - Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony;
Sarabjit Singh Gujjar (4/2/1991) Elkhart – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony;
Sukhjinder Singh (11/29/1991) Elkhart - Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and
Melissa L. St. George (10/21/1976) Elkhart – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony.
Although the specific methods and investigative techniques utilized by the law enforcement officers will not be disclosed here, the investigation into the distribution of synthetic drugs and synthetic drug lookalike substances is ongoing. This is merely the beginning – the people who are doing this know who they are and so do we.
In addition to criminal charges, a formal Complaint of Forfeiture against the assets of the Enterprise of Gurcharn “John” Singh and Jaswinder “Jasmine” Kaur has been filed in the Elkhart Superior Court III. This Enterprise consists of several corporations owned and operated by Singh and Kaur doing business as:
The Phillips 66 Gas Station and Burger Dairy Store at 1403 & 1409 Franklin Street, in Elkhart;
The Marathon Gas Station and convenience store at 1589 West Franklin Street, in Elkhart;
The Sunnyside Food Mart/Benham Food Mart at 1502 South Benham, in Elkhart; and
The Marathon Gas Station and convenience store at 1850 East Bristol Street, in Elkhart.
Asset seizure was ordered by Judge George Biddlecome, Judge of Superior Court III, and as a result, law enforcement authorities seized:
Ten bank accounts;
At least two vehicles;
The Phillips 66 Gas Station and Burger Dairy Store on Franklin Street, in Elkhart, and all assets therein;
The Marathon Gas Station and convenience store on Franklin Street, in Elkhart, and all assets therein;
The Sunnyside Food Mart/Benham Food Mart on South Benham, in Elkhart, and all assets therein;
The Marathon Gas Station and convenience store on East Bristol Street, in Elkhart, and all assets therein;
More than $57,000.00 in US currency;
More than 1400 packets of synthetic drugs;
Numerous documents related to property ownership and business control; and
At least two guns
pending asset forfeiture proceedings. Needless to say, none of these gas stations/convenience stores will be open for business today and will remain under the seal of the State of Indiana pending further Order of the Court.
The raids which occurred on June 9th and the following investigation are a coordinated effort by 87 officers with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. The raids on the 9th involved 45 officers from the Elkhart Police Department as well as officers from the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, Goshen Police Department, Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement (ICE) Unit and St. Joseph County Police Department as well as investigators and prosecutors from the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Indiana State Police and Indiana State Excise contributed investigators and agents from the DEA and Homeland Security also participated.
****“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” ****
