TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

3 From St. Pete Stores Face Drug Paraphernalia Charges

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - In what may be the first effort of its kind since a countywide anti-drug paraphernalia ordinance was passed last year, detectives on Wednesday charged three men with violating it by selling special Brillo pad packages from convenience stores.

When the investigators saw the pad was being sold with glass tubes – which can be used to smoke crack cocaine – they charged the person at the convenience store with violating the ordinance, St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

People would walk into area convenience stores and ask for the kits, and the clerks would produce them from behind the counter, Proffitt said.

The ordinance prohibits the sale or display of drug paraphernalia. Anyone violating the ordinance can be sentenced to 60 days in jail or be fined $500.

Detectives checked several stores Wednesday and found three they say were violating the ordinance.

The following men were given notices to appear in court.

Ali Ribhi Abdel Jawwad, 41, of Tampa. He is the manager of the Lakeview Citgo, 3400 22nd Ave. S.

Akm F. Mosabber, 45, of St. Petersburg. He is the owner DJ Food Mart, 3801 6th St. S.

Mousa Sedrak Robeel-Saad, 52, of Clearwater. He is a clerk at D&K Market, 2735 5th Ave. N.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT