JC Moon Owners Sentenced to Federal Prison

The former owners of J.C. Moon in Ashland have been sentenced to federal prison. 

70-year-old John Morrison and 57-year-old Anna Novak pleaded guilty to selling synthetic drugs and filing false tax returns in August. 

Prosecutors say the duo sold more than 25 kilograms of synthetic drugs from late 2009 through the fall of 2013.    The drugs brought in over $2 million dollars to the store.   Morrison and Novak didn’t report $576,000 of that on their tax return, leading to $186,000 in tax evasion. 

Morirson was sentenced to four years behind bars on the drug charge, and three years on the tax charge.  Both will be served at the same time, meaning he will serve four years.  Novak will spend eight years behind bars.  

Both were ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and $186,000 in taxes they evaded.

Witnesses who bought synthetic drugs from JC Moon and became addicted testified at Friday’s hearing.   Many experienced paranoia, anxiety, rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath, seizures and suicidal thoughts while on the drug. 

U.S. District Judge James Peterson said that Novak and Morrison’s acts were “appalling” and that the two ignored the devastating effects on the community simply to make more money.   

“The defendants made millions of dollars by distributing synthetic drugs from the JC Moon store, and they showed complete disregard for the health of their customers and the safety of their community.  Their actions hurt hundreds of people.  Their business was based on dishonesty and motivated by relentless greed.  They relied on creating horrible addictions to maximize their profits.  This sentence should make it clear that synthetic drugs are, and always have been, illegal and extremely dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney John Vaudreuil.