A Red Hill man was charged last week with selling marijuana-related paraphernalia at his Pennsburg smoke shop.

                Last month, authorities arrested Emilio Jose Robles, 36, of Carrington Drive in Red Hill, and charged him with dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, a first-degree felony, as well as three misdemeanor counts each of possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent to sell and possession with the intent to deliver drug paraphernalia, as well as one misdemeanor count of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

                Soon after Good Smokes, located at 349 Main St. in Pennsburg, opened in May, two officers from the Upper Perk Police District noticed that items used only for the consumption of marijuana were being displayed for sale inside the store, according to the police criminal complaint filed in the Red Hill court of District Judge Catherine Hummel-Fried.

                From the sidewalk in front of the store, the officers observed marijuana bongs and pipes in the display case, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

                Early in the investigation, law enforcement officials made undercover buys at the store, conducted surveillance and checked a variety of records, the legal document states.

                On June 2, two undercover Montgomery County detectives spoke with Robles about the business and items he was selling. 

                The officers noticed that the store offered a variety of different items used solely or in part for the consumption of marijuana, including glass pipes, glass bongs, vaporizers, cigars, rolling paper and accessories, according to court records.

                The owner allegedly pointed out specific items that could be used for smoking "wax," a marijuana concentrate.

                According to the same document, one of the undercover officers purchased a "vortex bubbler," one of devices utilized to smoke the "wax" for $40. Robles allegedly said he would withhold the sales tax since the purchase was made with cash.

                During the same conversation, Robles stated that he had to say the devices are used to smoke "tobacco," adding that he had to be careful so he could keep the shop open, court papers claim.

                Two weeks later, a detective returned to the store and noticed several of the same items for sale. Robles allegedly told the law enforcement official that those products were "flying off the shelves," according to court records.

                On June 17, District Judge Edward Kropp signed a search and seizure warrant at the address of the business, Robles' home and his person. That same day, law enforcement officials from Montgomery County and the local police department served the warrants. Authorities seized an abundance of marijuana-related drug paraphernalia from the business. Detectives also discovered hand-written notes and business records on Robles' cell phone, according to law enforcement officials.

                Robles allegedly told Corporal Jamie Lavin that he purchased the glassware to get his business going, and that he heard those products were utilized to smoke tobacco.

                "Law enforcement determined this to be a lie," the criminal complaint states. "This manipulative verbiage is a common tactic used by drug paraphernalia distributors to attempt to thwart law enforcement efforts of keeping these unlawful items drug paraphernalia out of the hands of potential users."

                In notebooks seized by authorities, detectives discovered notes that documented customer information, product information as well as sale, profit and expense data along with supplier information, according to the affadavit.

                At Robles' home, they allegedly discovered marijuana and marijuana-related paraphernalia – similar to what was being sold at his shop – but with burnt residue.  Authorities also seized the money in an associated account in a Red Hill bank, the document states.

                During Robles' arraignment on Sept. 27, Hummel Fried set his bail at $750,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing before the same judge has been scheduled for Oct. 11, according to information posted on the state judicial website.