Fugitive receives significant sentence for synthetic narcotics

VICTORIA, Texas - A 38-year-old Sugar Land resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a synthetic cannabinoid and a separate charge for failure to appear, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Naveed Rasheed Shike pleaded guilty April 2.

U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey has now ordered Shike to serve 208 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic cannabinoid and another 54 months for failure to appear. The total 262-month prison term will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, law enforcement presented testimony on the impact synthetic cannabinoids have on the local community, adverse effects of those substances and the imminent hazard the substances present to public safety. In handing down the sentence, the court noted and acknowledged the significant danger of synthetic cannabinoids as well as the large scale of the operation, specifically the volume of drugs Shike distributed and the significant number of affected individuals.

On Sept. 19, 2016, authorities conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 77 south of Victoria. Law enforcement identified the driver as Henry Martinez and the front seat passenger as Shike.

During a search of the vehicle, authorities discovered over 1,400 retail packages of synthetic cannabinoids to be sold to and smoked. Shike admitted the synthetic cannabinoids were for delivery to individuals in Corpus Christi, and they were going to pick up $26,000. Shike admitted the "ledger" in the vehicle was from a prior trip and had done this several times.

Both Martinez and Shike were initially arrested and permitted release on bond.

On Oct. 2, 2019, Shike failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing before Judge Rainey, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. Authorities determined Shike had fled the United States to Karachi, Pakistani.

On Jan. 24, 2024, as part of Operation Lone Star, law enforcement engaged in a high-speed vehicle pursuit resulting in a bailout in Sullivan City. Authorities then tracked, located and arrested Shike. At the time of his arrest, Shike had been a fugitive for more than four years.

Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the synthetic cannabinoid FUB-AMB. Experts determined that based on the chemical structure and the pharmacological effects, FUB-AMB is a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Analog Enforcement Act.

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that mimic THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. After application to carrier mediums such as plant material, these chemical compounds are put into rolling papers, pipes, vaporizers or otherwise taken orally. Synthetic cannabinoids are usually sold in small, foil or plastic bags containing dried leaves (resembling potpourri) and marketed as incense for the purpose of smoking. It is commonly sold and known as synthetic marijuana, fake weed, legal and popular brand names including Kush, Spice, K2, Klimaxx and many other names.

Martinez, 48, Rosenberg, pleaded guilty Jan. 9, 2018, and received a 24-month sentence followed by two years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute controlled substance analogs.

Shike has been and will remain in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt prosecuted the case.