Marina del Rey Dispensary Among Four Searched in Marijuana Sales Probe

Three Los Angeles men were arrested early Tuesday in connection with what police called an organized criminal enterprise involving large-scale marijuana sales throughout the United States.

Personnel from the Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Los Angeles police departments, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S Secret Service served 11 search warrants and made three arrests at 4 a.m., said Beverly Hills police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino.

The operation culminated a four-year federal-state investigation into the organization that operated multiple retail marijuana dispensaries "generating massive profits, repeatedly showing their willingness to use violence and intimidation to expand their operations and dissuade competition,'' Hoshino said.

"To date, there have been 26 documented crimes, including attempted murder, home invasion robbery, conspiracy, arson, extortion, residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and use of a destructive device,'' Hoshino said.

While investigators have identified 20 suspects, three were arrested Tuesday — Andrew Kramer, 38, Rene Johnson, 50, and Jonathan Livingston, 43. They were booked on 46 felony counts, Hoshino said. 

Search warrants were served at the Zen dispensary in the 8400 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, and Alternative Herbal Health Services in the 7800 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, both in West Hollywood; the La Brea Compassionate Caregivers in the 700 block of North La Brea Avenue in Hollywood; and Marina Caregivers, 700 block of Washington Boulevard in Marina Del Rey.

"Over the course of this investigation, detectives have seized millions in cash and proceeds from this criminal enterprise,'' Hoshino said.

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