March 29, 2023 – The Raid at LA Harvest
Cross-State Narcotics Operation
Agencies / officers involved
Hancock County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) – Narcotics Division (Mississippi) led the operation.
Identified narcotics officers included:
- Cassie Fare (narcotics agent)
- Ricky Adams (sheriff / supervisory role)
Operation was conducted in Slidell, Louisiana, across state lines from Hancock County, Mississippi.
Execution of search
Officers arrived at LA Harvest and executed a search warrant (issued out of Hancock County / Mississippi), despite the business and property being in Louisiana.
Louisiana officials were either minimally involved or not meaningfully in charge of the operation (as you describe it), raising cross-jurisdiction concerns.
Security cameras removed
Officers intentionally targeted the security system:
- Security cameras were physically removed from their mounts.
- Several cameras were placed face-down in a back room, effectively disabling real-time recording of the raid.
You have video and/or still images from before removal and saved footage showing:
- Officers manipulating or removing the cameras.
- Statements indicating they were targeting the cameras.
Property and inventory seized
Officers seized a large quantity of hemp products they characterized as "marijuana," including:
- Packaged flower
- Vapes
- Edibles and other THC/THCA/Delta-8 products
Additional seizures:
- Business cash on hand
- Certain equipment and/or personal property (as listed on the warrant return / inventory).
The raid effectively shut down business operations overnight.
Statements by officers
During or after the raid, officers referred to you / your business as "street-level dope dealers" and made statements implying:
- You were operating as a drug dealer, not a legal hemp business.
- They expected to bring more serious charges in the future (e.g., trafficking-related).
Immediate Criminal Case After the Raid
Spring–Summer 2023
Arrest and initial charges
Following the raid, you were arrested in connection with allegedly illegal marijuana sales, based on the seized hemp products.
You faced multiple felony and misdemeanor charges (you've referenced 9 felonies and 3 misdemeanors at the peak).
Bail/bond was set, requiring substantial financial outlay for your release.
Media coverage and public defamation
Local media outlets published articles and/or aired segments:
- Repeating or amplifying law-enforcement claims that you were selling "illegal marijuana."
- Portraying the business as a criminal drug operation, not a licensed hemp retailer.
These stories did not fully explain:
- The hemp/farm-bill context.
- The later grand jury outcomes and case dismissal.
You later requested corrections / clarifications from some outlets.
Collateral property and safety issues (within ~48 hours of arrest)
One of your mother's hemp stores was vandalized.
Two personal vehicles were vandalized within approximately 48 hours of the arrest.
You connect this vandalism to the publicity around the raid and charges.
Grand Jury & Case Restructuring
2023–2024
Grand jury review (Hancock County, MS)
A grand jury later reviewed the charges arising from the raid.
Outcome (as you've described it):
- Multiple felony counts were rejected (No True Bill).
- Some counts were effectively dropped.
- Only a reduced / residual charge remained.
Residual simple possession charge
After the grand jury:
You were left facing a single misdemeanor: simple possession of marijuana (approx. 60 grams).
That charge was sent down to Justice Court in Hancock County.
Your attorney advised:
- No right to a jury trial in that Justice Court for a simple possession misdemeanor.
- The judge and prosecutor in that court are not lawyers (not legally trained), which is allowed under Mississippi law.
- The judge (a former narcotics officer) was likely to convict, and the real strategy would be to win on appeal in a higher court.
Nolle Prosequi – Case Dismissed
January 14, 2025
Final disposition
On or about January 14, 2025, the remaining simple possession misdemeanor in Hancock County was nolle prosequi (formally dismissed by the prosecution).
Effect:
- Our clients was not convicted of any offense arising from the March 29, 2023 raid.
- All prior felony charges (and associated accusations of "trafficking" or major drug dealing) had already been rejected or dropped.
Post-dismissal reality
Despite the dismissal:
- The public record (news stories, social media, word-of-mouth) still largely reflects the initial accusations, not the final dismissal.
- Your business and personal finances remain severely damaged.
- You continue to suffer reputational harm, lost business opportunities, and emotional distress.