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'Lean,' aka cough syrup mixed for recreational use
A federal grand jury in Beaumont has returned a three-count indictment on Nov. 3 charging nine individuals in drug trafficking conspiracy, trafficking in drugs with a counterfeit mark and money laundering conspiracy. The indictment remained sealed until the defendants were arrested this week.
All charges are connected to a conspiracy to traffic misbranded and counterfeit drugs, specifically promethazine-codeine cough syrup from April 2014 through August 2021. The indictment alleges the conspiracy resulted in approximately $52.7 million in drug trafficking proceeds.
“Promethazine-codeine and similar promethazine-based cough syrups can have tranquilizing and euphoric effects when consumed at higher-than-recommended doses, especially when mixed with alcohol or drugs such as marihuana,” the indictment alleges. “Some popular music has glamorized drinking promethazine-codeine cough syrup for its mind-altering effects, and promethazine-codeine has become increasingly popular among recreational drug users in Southeast Texas and elsewhere. Promethazine-codeine cough syrup mixed with a soft drink is sometimes referred to as ‘syrup,’ ‘drank,’ or ‘lean.’”
The government alleges that Byron A. Marshall, a/k/a Robert Griffin, a/k/a Dr. Griffin, Tunji Campbell, a/k/a “Mike, Cheryl A. Anderson, Ashley A. Rhea, a/k/a “Ashley A. Johnson, Chauntell D. Brown, a/k/a “Juan Brown, Willis Reed, Kalpen D. Patel, Jonathan R. Shaver, and Gina Acosta participated in acts that shipped the misbranded “cough syrup” products to Florida, Louisiana and Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, and Beaumont.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison and forfeiture of criminal proceeds exceeding $52 million.