2 men sentenced to prison for illegally selling marijuana out of Sussex County store

NEWTON, NJ (Sussex County) – Two men have pleaded guilty to charges of illegally selling marijuana out of their Sussex County store, according to Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray.

Scott Begraft, 51, and Henry Shubert, 53, both of Lafayette Township were sentenced on Dec. 7 before the Honorable Robert M. Hanna, J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton, Murray said.

Begraf and Shubert were sentenced to state prison for a period of 6 years, with a credit for 357 days jail already served. Both must submit a DNA sample and pay $405 in mandatory fees and penalties, Murray said.

Both pled guilty on oct. 12 to second-degree possession of more than 5 pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute that marijuana, third-degree criminal facilitation/money laundering, and third-degree unlawful possession of a rifle, Murry said.

During their guilty plea, both admitted to possessing more than 5 pounds, but less than 25 pounds, of marijuana with the intent to distribute that marijuana on or about Dec. 15, 2022, in connection with his owning and operating the Canna Campus store in Sparta Township, and he further admitted to selling marijuana illegally out of the Canna Campus store, Murray said.

Both also admitted to possessing and transporting the illegal cash proceeds from those marijuana sales and he admitted to possessing rifles in violation of our state’s firearms laws, Murray said.

These incidents also occurred at their residence in Lafayette Township, Murray said.

These charges were made after a thorough investigation by the New Jersey State Police with the help of other agencies.

Begraft was represented by George T. Daggett, Esq., Shubert was represented by Matthew Young, Esq.,the State was represented by Special Deputy Attorney General and Acting Assistant Prosecutor Jerome Neidhardt.