2 Indicted In Connection With Delivery Marijuana Service: DOJ

BOSTON – A woman from Boston and a woman from Milton were indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester in connection with their management of Northern Herb, a marijuana delivery service that operated in Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling's office.

Tatiana Fridkes, also known as Sonya, 32, of Dorchester, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. She was arrested Tuesday.

Deana Martin, 51, of Milton, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, one count of possessing more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, and three counts of money laundering. Martin was arrested last month on a criminal complaint.

Martin owned and managed Northern Herb, a website offering marijuana (including raw marijuana, pre-rolled cigarettes, and marijuana edibles) for sale. While Northern Herb purported to provide medical marijuana, it did not require a customer to provide proof of a medical marijuana card, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Northern Herb delivered marijuana to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties might have access to it, according to prosecutors.

The owners of Northern Herb used locations in Hyde Park, Canton, Milton, and Foxborough to store and distribute marijuana, and employed at least 25 workers.

From May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb had total revenue of more than $14 million, and Martin herself claimed an income of $80,000 per month, according to court documents.

Martin controlled numerous bank accounts into which funds derived from Northern Herb sales were laundered, and she used several accounts in another person’s name to conceal her control over this money and to hide it from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, according to Lelling's office. Martin used money from Northern Herb sales to pay more than $300,000 toward the mortgage on her house and to buy a 2017 Porsche Boxster, among other things, prosecuters alleged.

Prosecutors say Northern Herb also did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in marijuana sales. In an email referencing cannabis taxes charged by one state government, Martin wrote: “Zero taxes is still better.” Northern Herb did not remit or pay employment taxes in connection with its workforce or issue its employees W-2s or 1099s.

The two face as much as 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million. The money laundering charges each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of twice the amount of money laundered.

Previously:

Milton Woman Ran $14M Pot Ring With 25-Person Sales