Officials to seize money from Duluth drug sellers
Published 10:29 am Thursday, August 21, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS — Federal authorities are proposing to seize more than $6.5 million in money and property from the owner of a now-closed Minnesota head shop and his girlfriend.
Authorities filed a final forfeiture proposal Wednesday in federal court. A judge sentenced James Carlson to 17 1/2 years in prison for selling millions of dollars’ worth of synthetics from his Duluth shop, the Last Place on Earth. He sentenced Carlson’s former girlfriend, Lava Marie Haugen, to five years in prison.
Authorities plan to seize $2.5 million from bank accounts and property in Palisade, Winchester, Nev.; and Cozumel, Mexico. They’re also seizing the Last Place building and vehicles including a pickup truck and two snowmobiles.
Authorities said they should be forfeited because they were acquired through a criminal enterprise.