Seattle's marijuana dispensaries have been affected by a series of seven armed robberies, leading to a 90-month prison sentence for 19-year-old Caiden James Charlton. He was sentenced last Friday for his role in these incidents, which have impacted the businesses involved. U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentence, while U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones mandated an added three years of supervised release after Charlton's prison term, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Charlton pleaded guilty in July 2024 to multiple robberies at Seattle-area dispensaries during May and June 2023. The first robbery occurred at Herb’s House on NW 65th Street, followed by West Seattle Cannabis and Hashtag Cannabis on the same day. Employees were threatened with firearms during these incidents, which were recorded on surveillance cameras that captured Charlton's distinctive tattoos. In one case, a safe was stolen when time locks delayed access, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office announcement.
The robberies extended to Oz Cannabis, Novel Tree MJ in Bellevue, Seaweed Cannabis in Edmonds, and Dockside Cannabis in Ballard. Charlton utilized getaway vehicles, some of which had been reported stolen, to escape from the scenes of these daytime incidents. Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, pointing out that it was fortunate no one was shot or injured, as similar robberies frequently lead to violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports.
Victims' testimonials highlighted the terror and lasting damage these robberies inflicted. One owner detailed how the thefts "destroyed the business my wife and I worked to build over the nine plus years," and the wider consequences when lives and livelihoods are threatened, in a statment obtianed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case against Charlton was a joint effort by the FBI, Seattle Police Department, Bellevue Police Department, and law enforcement from King and Snohomish Counties.
