Multiple Sentences Imposed in Massive Synthetic Narcotics Distribution Network
Nov 28, 2018 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
The five leaders and eight other co-conspirators have been sentenced for their roles in one of the largest synthetic cannabinoids distribution networks in the United States
Defendants
- Khader Fahed Tanous — age 52 · Manassas, Virginia · sentenced
- Muhammad Shariq Siddiqi — age 48 · Sugar Land · sentenced
- Ayisha Khurram · sentenced
- Khalil Munier Khalil — age 43 · Spring · sentenced
- Sayed Ali — age 53 · Sugar Land · sentenced
- Abdalnour Izz — age 33 · Houston · sentenced
- Steve Amira — age 61 · Richmond · sentenced
- Mohammed Rafat Taha — age 29 · Spring · sentenced
- Frank Muratalla — age 25 · Downey, California · sentenced
- Salem Fahed Tannous — age 58 · Houston · sentenced
- Ali Tafesh — age 37 · Houston · sentenced
- Hazim Hisham Qadus — age 34 · Houston · sentenced
- Nagy Ali — age 61 · Spring · sentenced
- Omar Maher Alnasser — age 37 · Sugar Land · sentenced
- Ziad Mahmoud Alsalameh — age 56 · Pearland · fugitive
- Aqil Khader — age 33 · Houston · fugitive
Charges
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Khader Fahed Tanous· sentenced to 121 months imprisonment
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Muhammad Shariq Siddiqi· sentenced to 140 months in prison
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Ayisha Khurram· sentenced to 95 months imprisonment
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Khalil Munier Khalil· sentenced to 135 months in prison
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Sayed Ali· sentenced to 50 months
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Abdalnour Izz· sentenced to 36 months
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Steve Amira· sentenced to 36 months
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Mohammed Rafat Taha· sentenced to four years probation
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Frank Muratalla· sentenced to four years probation
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Salem Fahed Tannous· sentenced to 49 months in prison
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Ali Tafesh· sentenced to 97 months
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Hazim Hisham Qadus· sentenced to 97 months
Conspiracy to distribute synthetic cannabinoids (Schedule I controlled substances)
Nagy Ali· sentenced to 120 months in prison
Aiding and abetting an unlicensed money transmitting business
Omar Maher Alnasser· sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison
Financial actions
- money transmitting: $200,000 — Wired more than $200,000 in U.S. currency from a bank in the United States to accounts in Jordan as part of an unlicensed money transmitting business
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Southern District of Texas
- Judge
- Gray Miller, U.S. District Judge
Primary source
Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.
Read the original DOJ release →This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.