Man Illegally Sold Weed Out Of 2 North Jersey Businesses, Cops Say

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — A Sussex County man has been indicted for selling marijuana without the proper licensing, according to prosecutors.

Devin Pupo, 38, of Sparta, was indicted by a jury last week for unlawfully selling marijuana from at least two local businesses, authorities said.

Pupo was arrested in May after a search of Green Remedies, located on Sparta Avenue, and Zenshine Smoke Shop, on Lafayette Road, led investigators to believe he was manufacturing and selling weed from there, and laundering the proceeds.

Further investigation of Pupo’s property yielded $477,135 in cash; a 2024 Chevy Suburban (containing roughly $250,000), a silver bar, and 500 silver coins, all believed to have been gained from the illegal drug dealing, police say.

Pupo was charged with distribution of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), possession with intent to distribute CDS, maintaining a CDS production facility, possession of a firearm while maintaining a CDS production facility, and three counts of money laundering.

On Feb. 5, a grand jury indicted Pupo on all of the charges listed above.

He pleaded not guilty to all of the counts during his arraignment on Tuesday.

“Unlicensed operators put the public at risk, undermine the regulated industry, and violate state law,” said Sussex County Prosecutor Dan Perez. “Unlicensed cannabis sellers bypass safety testing, consumer protections, and the regulatory framework designed to protect our community.”

Pupo is scheduled to appear back in court on March 30 for proceedings.