Obed pleads guilty to aggravated trafficking on behalf of his corporation
By Bob Robinson 

GREENVILLE – Kassam Obed of Eaton pleaded guilty on behalf of his corporation, Greentown L.L.C.  dba (doing business as) Greenville Sunoco, to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a Third Degree Felony. The plea was entered in Darke County Common Pleas Court July 31, Judge Jon Hein presiding. 

The agreement with Darke County Prosecutor’s Office is the defendant, Greentown L.L.C., will forfeit a 2012 Toyota truck to the Greenville Police Department and forfeit the $4886.70 cash that was seized during a raid on Greenville Sunoco on April 13, 2012. The cash seized is to be applied toward a maximum fine of $15,000. 

During the proceedings Hein noted that Obed had originally been charged as an individual for trafficking (Second Degree Felony). That charge had been dismissed in favor of the charge against Obed’s corporation. 

“What has been entered is a Bill of Information. This means you are waiving your right to the Grand Jury process,” Hein said. 

“With your guilty plea, all your rights have been waived,” he added. “An organization or an individual accused of a crime still has the same rights.” 

Obed acknowledged this was his decision. 

The prosecuting attorney for the state, Deborah Quigley, told the court she had nothing to add to the agreed upon plea. Obed’s defense attorney, Jon Rion of Dayton, advised the court that his client was unaware of the changes in the law regarding synthetic marijuana. Those changes had just recently occurred. 

Hein agreed, noting that Obed will be getting credit for good behavior since then. 

“I know you’ll never repeat this,” he said. Hein asked Quigley if Greenville Police are aware of and in agreement with the plea. She advised they were. 

“I’m satisfied with the negotiations,” Hein said. “Mr. Obed, You have agreed to forfeit, along with your truck, a maximum $15,000. Are you aware that in theory I can fine you up to a million dollars?” Rion spoke briefly to his client. Obed then said yes. Rion noted for the record the $4886.70 already seized was agreed to be applied toward the fine. Hein acknowledged it would. 

“Mrs. Quigley, have arrangements been made on the terms of transferring the truck title and paying the balance of the fine?” Quigley advised not yet. 

“I think 30 days is reasonable,” Hein responded. Obed agreed it was. 

“I am fining you $25,000 with $10,000 suspended on condition that the $15,000 is paid, plus the truck title transferred, within 30 days.” 

Hein then told Obed he was “conspicuously” not bringing up supervision as part of the sentence. The corporation is to agree to the terms of the plea bargain or face an additional $10,000 penalty. 

The April 2012 search warrant at Greenville Sunoco, 841 Martin St., was part of a collaborative effort where other search warrants were issued at the same time in Preble County. 

At that time, Greenville Sunoco manager Abdo-Ahmed Murshed was arrested and charged with corrupting a minor with Schedule 1 Drugs, a Second Degree Felony. Obed was detained and turned over to West Alexandria Police. He faces additional charges in Preble County. 

Murshed pleaded guilty on March 20, 2013 of trafficking, a Third Degree Felony. 

Published courtesy of The Early Bird