RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - An appeals court has wiped out the convictions of two film producers sentenced to federal prison for running a synthetic marijuana operation.
The Virginian-Pilot reports a Richmond appeals court ordered U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson to take up the case again of Charles Burton Ritchie and Benjamin Galecki. They were convicted last year of running a $21 million operation out of Pensacola, Florida, that shipped the drug known as spice to areas in Virginia.
The court ruled Friday that Jackson shouldn’t have barred defense testimony from a then-scientist with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The scientist was later arrested on charges of communicating with a child under 15 for sexual contact.
The two produced “Misery Loves Comedy,” a 2015 documentary featuring Martin Short, Amy Schumer, Jimmy Fallon and other comedians.
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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com
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