Duluth man faces drug charges

A Duluth man is facing criminal drug charges following a sting in Superior.

Joseph Alan Smith, 29, faces one felony count of possession with intent to deliver 1½ pounds of marijuana. He made an initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Friday.

According to the criminal complaint:

The marijuana was seized during execution of a search warrant at a Superior residence. The man who lived there told Detective Jim Madden with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department the pot belonged to Smith and he was going to want his marijuana back, or money to pay for it. They arranged a time to return the marijuana to Smith.

Authorities returned the tote containing the marijuana to the basement of the Superior home. Smith came to the residence, picked up the tote and brought it to his truck. He was then arrested. The Duluth man first denied it was his. Later, he told Madden that he had “fronted” the marijuana to the Superior man, who would later “make it right” by replacing the marijuana “and then whatever.”

Smith figured he would go through about a pound or a pound and a half each month, for which he paid $2,500 to $3,500. He would then front it and get a return of $500 to $600 profit per pound.

If convicted, Smith faces a maximum sentence of six years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000. He was released on $1,000 cash bail. He was ordered not to possess any controlled substance or drug paraphernalia and have no contact with the Superior man. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for today.

No charges have been filed against the Superior man, according to online court records.

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