One Woman and two Men Arrested Running an Illegal Cannabis Business NR21277ti

Los Angeles: On October 6, 2021, around 3 p.m., Wilshire Narcotics Enforcement Detail (NED) served a search warrant for the fourth time at an illegal cannabis business located near the 5300 block of West Pico Boulevard and completed the first cannabis board up in the city. Wilshire NED conducted a long-term investigation regarding an illegal business selling cannabis.

During the first three search warrant services, officers served the business with a notice of unauthorized commercial cannabis activity and posted the intent to padlock, barricade and fence. The property and business owners were also given over ten days to request a hearing with the Office of Public Safety. Department of Water and Power had disconnected power during the first search warrant and learned during the second warrant service that the business was illegally taking power from a neighboring power source.

The Los Angeles Task Force on Cannabis Enforcement, chaired by the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, approved the use of the Padlock and Board Up Ordinance. The Task Force has the responsibility of scheduling requests for appeals by the property / business owners and is responsible for hearing those appeals. The Task Force has asked Los Angeles Police Department and Department Building and Safety to implement the ordinance on a limited basis. The above location was selected as it is the first location to meet the requirements for board up. The Department of Building and Safety secured materials and a contractor to board up the business.

Wilshire NED made three arrests during the service of the search warrant and recovered 71 pounds of cannabis, a 9mm ghost handgun, and U.S. Currency from inside an illegal cannabis business.

24-year-old Courtney Osowski, 22-year-old Christopher Nieto, and 22-year-old Alan Renteria, were all charged with 11366 HS-Illegal Narcotics location. Detectives will submit the investigation to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Marla Kiley, Wilshire Narcotics Detectives, at (213) 473-0250 or e-mail 32556@lapd.online or Wilshire Division Watch Commander at (213) 473-0459. During weekends and off-hours calls should be directed to the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). For anonymous calls please call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org, or tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.