Former Pottstown Store Owner Convicted in K2 Sales

A former store owner who testified that he thought synthetic marijuana was legal when he sold it out of his shop in Pottstown was convicted Thursday on charges including corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.

According to the Pottstown mercury, Rafie Ali was "stone-faced" as the jury read its verdict. The jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours before convicting Ali on the charges. 

Ali is the first businessman convicted under a new law that targets store operators who might be selling illegal drugs like K2. 

Ali was charged in 2012 with selling the synthetic marijuana following an investigation into a car accident that resulted the deaths of 28-year-old James Crawford and 15-year-old Rachel Witt. 16-year-old Kendal Harper was also seriously injured in the accident.

The driver in that accident, Roger Malloy, reportedly bought K2 at Ali's Achi Store and police say he was under the influence of it when he allegedly struck the vehicle carrying Crawford, Witt and Harper.

However, according to a report in the Mercury, jurors were barred from hearing testimony about the accident during Ali's trial and only learned that their verdict was related to the accident case after it was delivered. 

Malloy is awaiting trial on charges stemming from the accident. 

Ali will be sentenced in Common Pleas Court.