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All in the Family: Father-Son Illegal Pot Shop Busted
Snoop OG Kush medical marijuana (Photo by Michael Zampelli via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr)
Akio Takahashi, 69, and his son, Yugo, 25, have been running a family business that the Ventura County Sheriff's Department worked for several months to bring down. The Thousand Oaks father-son duo were arrested this week for allegedly running an illegal marijuana storefront and engaging in money laundering, says the VCSD.
The Takahashis were taken in after an eight-month investigation by narcotics detectives.
"Yugo was arrested for sales of marijuana and 7 counts of money laundering. Akio was arrested for sales of marijuana and 2 counts of money laundering," explains the VCSD.
The patriarch was listed as the owner of a Los Angeles business on Robertson Boulevard, the Infinity Medical Alliance. The business was operating illegally as a pot shop. Both men posted bail and will be arraigned in Los Angeles Superior Court on January 27, 2012.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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