Hazy Daze owner denies involvement in sale of illegal substances in stores * Attorney says client has “no knowledge” of any illegal activity About 24 hours after he was arrested on charges of money laundering and engaging in organized crime, the co-owner of the Hazy Daze smoke shops in Galveston was granted release on bonds totaling $500,000 on Friday (3/28/2025). Judge Patricia Grady of the 212th District Court held a bond hearing on Friday because Shlomi Wolraich initially was being held without bond. Wolraich has dual citizenship in Israel and the United States and is not in Galveston very often, said his attorney, Jonathan Zendeh Del. The initial no-bond was because he was considered a flight risk. A condition of his bond was turning over his passports and not leaving the area. Zendeh Del said that despite the serious allegations, his client did not know of any illegal drugs or illegal substances being sold in his stores. “You can't hold somebody accountable just because they own an establishment when they have no knowledge of what their people are doing inside,” Zendeh Del said. “I think the evidence is gonna show that he had no knowledge. I don't think there's going to be any evidence showing that he even knew that they were doing anything illegal.” A search warrant used for Thursday’s noon raids describes several undercover Tre House Magic Mushroom purchases and Tre House Micro Dose Vape Pen. Lab tests conducted by the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory in August 2024 identified the vape pen contained a compound with tryptamine. Other products purchased by undercover detectives tested positive for tryptamine as well. Tryptamine is a hallucinogenic that is classified as a controlled substance and not something that is supposed to be sold over the counter or used for vaping. According to the search warrant, investigators made multiple buys from all three Hazy Daze stores in Galveston, and tests show all came back containing tryptamine. Other buys tested show “illicit THC products” also present, according to another search warrant. While the warrant names several Hazy Daze employees and a manager who made “cash deposits” into accounts that Wolraich had 100% ownership or control and, in some cases, sold illegal products to undercover detectives, Wolraich is never identified as having made any of the sales or as having been in any of the stores when the sales of reported illegal substances were made. The warrant also identified 10 Moody Bank bank accounts under Wolraich's management. Investigators seized control of the funds in those accounts, totaling $1.39 million. The largest was a money market account under Wolraich’s name, totaling $1.026 million. Investigators also listed over 100 bank transactions ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 and transfers from business accounts into Wolraich’s money market account. According to the search warrants, signed by Judge Rebecca Millo, investigators claimed Wolraich mingled illicit funds with legitimate business funds. “He is a businessman and has several businesses and properties,” Zendeh Del said. There's no indication he knew any money came from selling anything illegal.” Among those employees identified was Cassius Jamal Stinson, among four Hazy Daze employees arrested on Thursday. Stinson, who was identified as selling fake urine and items that tested positive for tryptamine, was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and posted a $100,000 bond. Investigators said Brandon Aaron Bell, also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, is identified as a manager and possibly considered a store co-owner. He was released on a $100,000 bond. Brice Knight, a Hazy Daze employee, is not listed as having sold illicit products. Still, according to a probable cause affidavit used to file charges, Knight was taking photos for the store of products that detectives claim contained illegal substances. Police did find a backpack that belonged to Knight and contained a handgun. Detectives claim that because the weapon was located in the store where illicit drugs were sold, Knight committed a weapons offense. He was charged with misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a weapon and booked into the county jail on $1,500 bond. Knight was released Friday afternoon on bond. During his magistrate hearing Friday morning, Knight asked for a court-appointed attorney. Also arrested was Alejandro Ramirez, an employee charged with drug possession. He was released on a $5,000 bond. Wolraich and Knight were the only ones who appeared before a magistrate judge on Friday morning. While other Hazy Daze employees are named in court documents, i45NOW is not releasing those because those individuals have not been charged with crimes. The documents also identify possible undercover detectives, whose names were not redacted. Once redactions are complete, i45NOW will post the documents.

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2025-03-29 03:17:16 UTC