Posted on May 8, 2021
Aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Charged in Alleged Scheme to Extort Money For Hemp...
327
7
1
4
4
0
A top political aide to Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller was arrested this week for allegedly running a scheme to illegally solicit money and contributions in exchange for hemp licenses that are issued by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).
According to court documents first obtained by the Texas Tribune, that aide, Todd Smith, personally received $55,000 as part of a larger scheme that amassed a total of $150,000 by essentially selling access to “guaranteed” hemp licenses. He is now facing charges of third-degree felony theft.
The Texas legislature in 2019 passed HB 1325 to legalize the production of hemp under a state-regulated system overseen by the TDA.
According to court documents first obtained by the Texas Tribune, that aide, Todd Smith, personally received $55,000 as part of a larger scheme that amassed a total of $150,000 by essentially selling access to “guaranteed” hemp licenses. He is now facing charges of third-degree felony theft.
The Texas legislature in 2019 passed HB 1325 to legalize the production of hemp under a state-regulated system overseen by the TDA.
Aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Charged in Alleged Scheme to Extort Money For Hemp...
Posted from lawandcrime.com
Farming
Agriculture
State of Texas
Crime
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 1
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel "The alleged scheme was exposed after a man named Andre Vinson told Keenan Williams, one of Smith’s associates, that he had good connections with farmers and people in the Cannabidiol (CBD) business and was interested in getting involved in the hemp industry. Williams, who acted as a middle man between Vinson and Smith, told him he would need to provide cash up front to make that happen."
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google