LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote declared a mistrial in a synthetic marijuana case, hours after one of the defendants shot himself.
The Advocate reports (https://bit.ly/PmvTC3 ) Barry Domingue, a lawyer from Carencro, is being treated at Lafayette General Medical Center for a gunshot wound to the head.
U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley said Domingue left a suicide note that could contain information germane to the case.
Domingue and Lafayette lawyer Daniel Stanford were standing trial on various conspiracy charges.
After Wednesday’s turn of events, Stanford requested a mistrial, which Foote granted.
Domingue and Stanford were on trial for their alleged roles in running a string of Curious Goods stores, which prosecutors have said sold illegal synthetic marijuana branded as Mr. Miyagi.
Prosecutors allege Domingue and Stanford profited from a criminal enterprise that illegally sold synthetic marijuana branded as potpourri. The product was sold in six Curious Goods stores in Acadiana.
The Curious Goods stores, defined as smoke shops, or head shops that also sell rolling paper and pipes, continue to operate. But they no longer sell the Mr. Miyagi brand of synthetic marijuana.
Domingue and Stanford were indicted with seven other alleged co-conspirators in 2012 in a multistate federal investigation. The Curious Goods business itself also was named as a defendant.
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Information from: The Advocate, https://theadvocate.com
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