Five arrested at two Nassau smoke shops selling cannabis, THC items, police say

Nassau County police arrested five people Friday in two smoke shops that were allegedly selling cannabis, and other products containing THC, police said.

Three were arrested at 4:30 p.m. at Da Smoke Spot in Oceanside when police discovered that cannabis and chocolate bars containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the major psychoactive component in cannabis, according to the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine — were being sold at the 230 Merrick Rd. location, police said.

In addition, police said they arrested two men at 5:45 p.m. at Sam Smoke and Tobacco in Baldwin when officers determined that cannabis and chocolate bars containing THC were being sold at that 768 Merrick Rd. location. 

Cannabis, other products containing THC and cash were recovered during the arrests, police said. 

In the Oceanside arrests, Mariah M. Verhun, 20, of Baldwin, was charged with fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminal possession of cannabis, all felonies, authorities said.

Ryan C. Schweiker, 28, of Lynbrook, was charged with fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminal possession of cannabis, all felonies, according to authorities.

Stephen J. Jensen, 26, of Lynbrook, was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of cannabis, both felonies, authorities said.

In the Baldwin arrests, Ariel A. Mendoza, 24, of Brooklyn, and Joshua K. Gruver, 20, of Oceanside, were both charged with fifth-degree felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth-degree felony criminal sale of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of cannabis, a violation, according to authorities.

All five were arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead, where they were issued desk appearance tickets and released on recognizance.

In the Oceanside case, Verhun's attorney, Adam C. Neal of Mineola, wrote in a text message, “I don’t have any additional information since this morning.” No attorney information for Schweiker or Jensen was on file in online court records.

Verhun's next court appearance is set for Dec. 21. Schweiker and Jensen are due back in court Dec. 16. 

In the Baldwin case, Mendoza and Gruver entered not-guilty pleas on the two felony charges. Attorney Jason L. Russo of Garden City said the two men had “little to no knowledge about any of the products that were being sold in the smoke shop.”

Russo said his clients were not the target of the search warrants.

“They were just the unfortunate young men who were manning the store at the time the warrant was executed,” he said.

Gruver is a student and Mendoza is an electrician, the attorney said. They both work at the store part time and had just met a short time ago, he added. They are due back in court Dec. 21.