Smoke Shop Employee Arrested for Selling THC to Undercover Agents in Utah

MURRAY, UT (ABC4) — An employee at a tobacco and vape store in Murray was arrested Tuesday for allegedly selling THC to undercover officers on multiple occasions, according to arrest documents obtained by ABC4.com.

Sandeep Mandadapu, 24, was arrested on five charges, including two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, both of which are third-degree felony charges; two counts of money laundering, both second-degree felony charges; and one count of use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.

According to the probable cause affidavit, undercover agents were conducting an investigation at Murray's smoke shop for the past several weeks.

Mandadapu was an employee at that store, and on June 19, undercover agents purchased product from him. Documents indicate Mandadapu sold them THC wax, which had a THC content of about 60 percent, according to testing by the Utah Department of Agriculture.

“During this controlled purchase, the sworn undercover agent observed Mandadapu take the funds in advance and place them in the ledger,” arrest documents state.

On June 25, officers obtained a warrant for the smokehouse.

That same day, undercover agents made another purchase from Mandadapu, and Mandadapu returned the money to the register. After the second purchase, officers entered the store to serve the warrant and place Mandadapu under arrest.

In an interview with police, Mandadapu told them he received a share of the revenue from the sale of marijuana products, which often amounted to about $100 to $150 per day.

During the search of the business, officers recovered money from the register and seized “a large quantity of THC and marijuana products,” according to the documents.

Mandadapu was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Tuesday afternoon.