A Norristown man was arrested after he was caught on social media selling marijuana edibles to children as young as 11.
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The suspect advertised the edibles on his Instagram page and sold them to multiple juveniles
Prosecutors report Quashon Rice,20, advertised and sold the edibles on his Instagram page and then delivered them to children outside of Montgomery County schools, parks, and homes between March 1 and June 13. Rice allegedly purchased children’s cereals and snacks in order to attract the minors into buying his products.
“This defendant was targeting children as young as 11 years old to sell his drugs to, embedding drugs in cereals and snack products that appeal to children. He then sold them where children are — on social media, specifically Instagram, where he would show the product as well as provide step-by-step instructions for how the kids could order the edibles and have them delivered,” said District Attorney Kevin R. Steele.
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Steele added how Rice tried to influence children into becoming drug dealers through his Instagram promotions and noted his 18 “clients” were between the ages of 11 to 17 as reported by The Mercury.
“We will be seeking a long state prison sentence so that he will be in a place where he won’t be able to harm any more children.”
A student was unknowingly given an edible at a local school which launched the investigation
The investigation started on May 10 when an East Norriton police officer who worked as a school resource officer responded to a call about a student who was given an edible without their knowledge. Officials said the student was acting strange and hovered over the lunch table with red, watery eyes. He was taken to a school nurse for medical treatment.
“The student said it did not taste good upon eating it. The sick student said another student started laughing at him. The sick student then said another student told him he ate a marijuana edible. The sick student said after finding out he ate a marijuana edible he became upset and began to cry.”
Officers later tracked down the student who sold the victim an edible and they told police that they purchased it from an Instagram page called “top2treats.” They also confessed to contacting the profile via direct message to purchase the treats. Investigators linked the profile to Rice.
“As investigators reviewed the content received from Instagram, it was learned that the user of the Instagram account ‘top2treats’ facilitated the sale of drugs to children at locations including public schools, public parks, an Urban Air trampoline park and his juvenile customer’s homes.”
Rice is facing multiple charges which include possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, solicitation of minors to traffic drugs, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of controlled substances and corruption of minors in connection with alleged ingredients. Currently, he is being held at the county jail on a lieu of $95,000 cash bail and awaiting a June 27 preliminary hearing for his charges.