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Calif. Couple Busted Over Alleged Pot Sales on Silk Road 2.0

By Brett Snider, Esq. on November 21, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A California couple has been charged for an alleged conspiracy to make and distribute pot on the recent incarnation of a black-market website, Silk Road 2.0.

David Schell, 54, and Teri Schell, 59, of Durham, were indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday for conspiracy to make and distribute marijuana on the illicit Internet hub. According to Sacramento's KXTV, the couple were charged with 11 criminal counts relating to their alleged scheme to sell pot and pot products online.

So how do these pot growers fit into Silk Road 2.0?

ICYMI, Silk Road 2.0 Explained

It all started with an Internet site called Silk Road. It was a place where anonymous Internet users could buy just about any illicit item or service, including drugs and assassins. Its elusive founder Ross Ulbricht (also known as "Dread Pirate Roberts") was arrested in October 2013 and charged with money laundering, drug conspiracy, and murder-for-hire. Silk Road was then shut down by the feds.

About a month after Ulbricht's arrest, Silk Road 2.0 appeared, claiming the black-market mantle of its predecessor and continuing to deal in selling illegal drugs online. Flash forward a year, and the feds have arrested Silk Road 2.0's purported operator Blake Benthall (AKA "Defcon"). Silk Road 2.0 was also shut down, and Benthall's arrest prompted a bit more investigation.

The Schell Game

The FBI had been investigating Silk Road 2.0 for a good part of 2014, and likely took note of the IP addresses which were accessing the illegal site. One such IP address led federal agents to the Schells' home, which according to KXTV was raided the day that Silk Road 2.0 was shut down. Inside the home, agents found allegedly found:

  • More than 450 marijuana plants,
  • Processed marijuana, and
  • Marijuana wax (made from THC extract).

The Schells were allegedly using Silk Road 2.0 as a portal for their home pot-delivery business, with David accused of sending more than 100 packages overseas between January and September.

These pot-trepreneurs are set for arraignment on November 26, the day before Thanksgiving. They're currently out of custody, but unless they receive a very lenient bail amount, the Schells will be spending Thanksgiving in jail.

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