Sheriff Mark Schrader said that he believes that the recent sentencing of store owners who have been involved in selling synthetic marijuana in Chattooga County will send a message that synthetic marijuana is not welcome, nor will it be tolerated in the county.

Late last week Atish Patel, the former owner of Mountain Top Store at Cloudland entered a guilty plea in Chattooga County Superior Court on charges that he was actively selling synthetic marijuana at his business.  Patel was sentenced to two years in prison followed by an extended period of probation, according to Sheriff Schrader.  Shcrader said that the District Attorney's office had made it clear that they would move to shut the business down at Cloudland before the plea was entered.  Patel leased the business to another individual just days before his guilty plea. Sheriff Schrader said that officials in DeKalb County, Alabama had assisted with the investigation into the store at Cloudland and had a large file compiled of arrests made in that county that stemmed from synthetic marijuana purchases at the state-line store. 

Meanwhile Sunil Patel, who owned the now closed-down Smoke Shop in Summerville, also plead guilty to charges of selling synthetic marijuana and was sentenced to six months in a detention program followed by probation.  Sunil Patel's wife has also been charged, but has not entered a plea.  Also, P.K. Patel who operated BJ's Food Mart on Highway 27 at the Mountain View intersection has entered a guilty plea to the same charges and has been sentenced to time in prison followed by probation.

Sheriff Schrader said that he hopes that the closure of these cases will cause anyone to think twice about selling synthetic marijuana in Chattooga County.