An Orlando smoke shop owner is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly sold marijuana to customers and tobacco products to minors, all within 1,000 feet of a school.
Darvin J. Thomas, 38, was arrested by Orlando Police Department officers on Friday, June 9, after a multi-week investigation into illicit activity at his business, One Love Smoke Shop.
According to an affidavit filed by OPD, authorities began investigating Thomas’ business on May 3, 2023, after a Crimeline tip stated that the business was selling “marijuana to high school students.”
During their investigation, police discovered that there had been a prior Crimline tip submitted in January 2022 regarding possible criminal activity documented at the business, which is located at 3219 Curry Ford Road in Orlando. At the time, police determined that the location was actively selling tobacco products and vape cartridges to minors.
From May 8 to May 14, 2023, the OPD Special Enforcement Division conducted a weeklong detail consisting of a “controlled buy” at the business and a detective working in an undercover capacity was used to facilitate the purchase of narcotics from the location.
During the detail, the undercover detective visited the business and asked Thomas, who was manning the counter, if he had any cannabis for sale. Thomas acknowledged that he did and walked into a back room in the store. He returned to the counter with a small plastic package of suspected cannabis. He sold the package, along with a plastic grinder, for $60.
The substance in the package was later tested and determined to be cannabis. The weight of the package was approximately 3.5 grams.
In their affidavit, authorities made note that the business is located within 700 feet of TDR Learning Academy (3057 Curry Ford Road).
Thomas was taken to the Orange County Jail on June 9 on charges of possession of cannabis and sale of cannabis within 1,000 feet of a school. He bonded out later that day.