Crime & Safety
4 Cartersville Men Arrested for Gambling, Synthetic Pot Operation
Cartersville-Bartow Drug Task Force joined other agencies in the investigation.
The Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, partnering with other law-enforcement agencies, arrested four Cartersville men for gambling, selling synthetic marijuana and other drug offenses.
According to a press release, the task force, along with the GBI, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs, and Dalton Police, raided several locations in Bartow and Whitfield counties during the investigation.
Arrested were Sanjayakumar Balden Patel, 40, Jinendra Prabhdas Patel, 51, Phillip Duane Barnette, 41, and Dhansukh Bhika, 62, according to a report in the AJC.
Find out what's happening in Cartersvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Dalton Citizen reported that Bhika faces nine counts of selling synthetic pot from his business, Discount Tobacco Food Mart in Dalton; 1,320 packets of synthetic marijuana and $85,000 in cash were confiscated.
Investigators also raided four locations in Bartow, including the Burnt Hickory Grocery and Deli, and a Tobacco Mart.
Find out what's happening in Cartersvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to media reports, Jinendra Patel was charged with operating a gambling establishment, Sanjayakumar Patel with selling a controlled substance, and Barnette with possession of methamphetamine.
The investigation continues.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
