Four thieves were arrested last week on suspicion of a robbery that took place in January. The four are accused of stealing 3,000 liters of CBD oil from a hemp processing plant in Irwin County, Georgia. The stolen oil is worth $3.6 million.
The Ocilla Police Department investigated the robbery and reported it to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. This robbery is considered one of the largest of its kind ever committed in the state of Georgia.
For those who don't know, CBD oil is a product made from the cannabis plant. People primarily use it to treat joint and chronic pain, and it is usually prescribed. Unlike smoking marijuana, this product contains a very small amount of THC—the substance that causes intoxication—so it does not affect consciousness, only pain. In recent years, CBD has become very popular. Today it can be found in soft drinks and other products sold in designated stores.
Due to the unique nature of the robbery, Ocilla authorities cooperated with the Department of Agriculture in an attempt to locate the suspects. The complex investigation lasted five months and ultimately led them to the doorstep of the four suspects, including two who fled to Houston, Texas, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Authorities arrested Maurice Cornelius Williams, 41, and Deandre Mashack, 24, in Texas on suspicion that both were the “muscle” of the operation. The alleged “masterminds” were Lashayla Jones, 31, and Aaron Wayne Smith, 29, who were arrested in Dallas, Texas, and are considered the primary organizers of the entire heist.
The four suspected thieves worked together as a coordinated team to execute the sophisticated robbery. Williams and Mashack allegedly broke into the cannabis facility in Irwin County and loaded all 3,000 liters of oil into a rented U-Haul truck. From there, police believe they transferred the stolen oil to another truck outside the county.
Meanwhile, Jones and Smith allegedly organized the entire operation behind the scenes, with Smith taking the lead role, according to the Department of Agriculture. The stolen oil has not yet been located or recovered. It is still unclear where the suspects may have sent it or whether it has already been sold on the black market.
The four suspects face a long list of various criminal charges. Most of them are directed at Smith, including second-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.