Store owner facing 5 felony charges for selling THC vapes to students, officials say

FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE START WITH OUR ISABELLE MARAK LIVE WITH BREAKING NEWS IN PICKENS COUNTY. ISABELLE. HEY, ERIN AND DESTINY. WE’RE LIVE HERE AT TABLE ROCK STATE PARK, AND YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE STILL KIND OF BURNING HERE BEHIND ME. IT’S A LITTLE DARK OUT. YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE A COUPLE OF WHAT LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOTSPOTS OR A TRAIL RIGHT THERE UP ON THE MOUNTAIN. NOW, GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER, HE HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT ALSO INCLUDES A STATEWIDE BURN BAN. WHILE OFFICIALS WORK TO FIGHT THESE FIRES. NOW, AT LAST CHECK, IT’S BEEN OVER A THOUSAND ACRES HAVE BEEN SCORCHED FROM THIS FIRE. AND AS OFFICIALS FIGHT THIS FIRE, ALL TRAIL SYSTEMS AND TABLE ROCK STATE PARK HAVE BEEN CLOSED. PICKENS COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE UNDER A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION. OFFICIALS SAY THOSE EVACUATIONS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT AND ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GROW. FIRE LINES HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED TO HELP CONTAIN THIS. FIRE OFFICIALS SAY. FOUR TEENAGE HIKERS ARE ACCUSED OF STARTING THE FIRE OUT OF NEGLIGENCE, AND THEY COULD BE FACING CHARGES HERE SOON. NOW, A QUESTION ON ALL YOUR MINDS MIGHT BE HOW CAN I HELP OUT? WELL, THEY SAY THERE’S TWO THINGS YOU CAN DO. YOU CAN EITHER DONATE TO FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THEY ALSO SAY THAT YOU SHOULD STOP STOPPING OR JUST KEEP GOING. RATHER ON HIGHWAY 11, BECAUSE THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH BARRIERS OR STOPPING TO TAKE PICTURES, AND THAT MAKES IT A LOT HARDER FOR OFFICIALS TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO HERE TO FIGHT THIS FIRE, LIVE IN PICKENS COUNTY, ISABELLE MARAK WYFF NEWS FOUR ISABELLE. THANK YOU. TABLE ROCK STATE PARK IS THE SAME PARK WHERE 52 YEAR OLD STEPHANIE WOMACK WAS HIKING WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED ON MARCH 3RD. EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SAY A SEARCH PARTY IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY WAS CANCELED AS CREWS CONTINUE WORKING THE AREA. AUTHORITIES SAY THE 52 YEAR OLD HAS BROWN HAIR. SHE WAS WEARING A BROWN SWEATSHIRT AND JEANS. THE PICKENS COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS THERE’S NO REASON TO SUSPECT FOUL PLAY. HER CASE REMAINS OPEN. WILDFIRES ALSO CONTINUE TO BURN IN POLK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. AT LAST CHECK, THE FISH HOOK FIRE IS 50% CONTAINED AND HAS BURNED 152 ACRES. POLK COUNTY AUTHORITIES SAY THE DEEP WOODS FIRE REMAINS 0% CONTAINED AND HAS BURNED ABOUT 2500 ACRES. THE BLACK COVE FIRE IS 0% CONTAINED AND HAS BURNED ABOUT 2000 ACRES. THERE ARE NO INJURIES REPORTED FROM ANY OF THE THREE FIRES SO FAR. A WILDFIRE IN GEORGIA HAS BEEN CONTAINED AFTER FORCING THE EVACUATION OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN HOMES OVER THE WEEKEND. THE FIRE IN FLOYD COUNTY ALSO CAUSED ROAD CLOSURES. OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRE STARTED AROUND 1230 ON SUNDAY AND SPREAD FAST THANKS TO WIND AND DRY CONDITIONS. THE FLAMES DAMAGED A MOBILE HOME ALONG A PRIVATE ROAD AND DESTROYED AN OUTBUILDING. CREWS FROM THE GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION USED BULLDOZERS TO DIG CONTAINMENT LINES AROUND THE FIRE, SAFEGUARDING HOMES AND PROPERTY WERE THE PRIME CONCERN FOR THOSE FIRE CREWS. SO FAR, NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. A STUDY IS UNDERWAY IN CALIFORNIA TO DETERMINE WHETHER FIREFIGHTERS WHO BATTLED THE PALISADES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES MAY HAVE JEOPARDIZED THEIR LONG TERM HEALTH. THE FIRE BROKE OUT IN JANUARY AND BURNED FOR WEEKS. FIREFIGHTERS ON THE FRONT LINES WERE EXPOSED TO HEAVY DOSES OF SMOKE NEARLY NONSTOP, AND NOW RESEARCHERS ARE TESTING SEVERAL HUNDRED FIREFIGHTERS TO MONITOR THEIR EXPOSURE TO CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS. THE RESEARCHERS HAVE COLLECTED BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES, AS WELL AS CONTAMINANT ABSORBING WRISTBANDS THE FIREFIGHTERS WORE TO MEASURE THEIR EXPOSURES. OFFICIALS ARE COMPARING THE FIREFIGHTERS EXPOSURES TO WHAT FIREFIGHTERS IN NEW YORK CITY WENT THROUGH ON NINE OVER 11. MEANWHILE, U.S. OFFICIALS ARE IN SAUDI ARABIA HOLDING TALKS WITH UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN DELEGATIONS. AMY LU IS IN OUR WASHINGTON BUREAU WITH WHERE THE NEGOTIATIONS STAND. DESTINEE AND AARON. THE U.S. IS SHUTTLING BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS TRYING TO HOLD THESE INDIRECT TALKS AND REACH A TEMPORARY CEASE FIRE. THE CONVERSATIONS WILL INCLUDE GETTING BOTH SIDES TO AGREE NOT TO TARGET EACH OTHER’S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE PUSHING FOR A MARITIME CEASEFIRE OVER THE BLACK SEA AND RESTARTING TRADE IN THAT REGION. THE HOPE IS THESE WILL LEAD TO STOPPING FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES AND EVENTUALLY ENDING THE MORE THAN THREE YEAR LONG WAR. THE AGENDA SET FORTH BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. HE IS MY BOSS AND I ADHERE TO THAT FACT. THE AGENDA IS STOP THE KILLING, STOP THE CARNAGE. LET’S END THIS THING. YOU CAN’T END THINGS WITHOUT COMMUNICATING WITH BOTH SIDES. UNDERSTANDING WHAT EACH OF THEM NEED, AND THEN TRYING TO BRING THEM TOGETHER. WHILE THAT TEMPORARY CEASE FIRE IS BEING WORKED OUT, MORE THAN 30 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN FOR A PEACEKEEPING FORCE INSIDE UKRAINE. IN WASHINGTON, I’M AMY LU WYFF NEWS FOUR. BE CAREFUL BEFORE DOING YOUR NEXT LOAD OF LAUNDRY. WOOLITE IS RECALLING MORE THAN 16,000 BOTTLES OF ITS DELICATES DETERGENT. OFFICIALS SAY THE SOAP IN QUESTION MIGHT CONTAIN A FORM OF BACTERIA THAT’S OFTEN PRESENT IN WATER AND SOIL, AND THE BACTERIA CAN CAUSE INFECTIONS IF IT GETS IN YOUR EYES OR A CUT IN THE SKIN. THE CPSC SAYS NO RELATED INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THAT DETERGENT WAS SOLD ON AMAZON IN JANUARY. OKAY, WELL, WE’VE GOT AN AIR QUALITY ALERT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS JUST FOR THE POLK COUNTY WILDFIRES. DOES NOT INCLUDE TABLE ROCK JUST YET, BUT LAKE LURE HENDERSONVILLE, RUTHERFORDTON BREVARD, YOU ARE INCLUDED IN THAT AS AIR QUALITY IS GOING TO BE PRETTY LOW AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THOSE WILDFIRES. THEY’RE GOING TO BE PRETTY LOW ALL AROUND TABLE ROCK AS WELL. SO IF YOU HAVE RESPIRATORY ISSUES OR TROUBLE BREATHING, THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD TIME TO BE INDOORS REALLY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, VERY LIKELY AS WE TAKE A LOOK. LIVE SUPER DOPPLER FOUR RADAR SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN. SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS IN PICKENS COUNTY, SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS ACROSS PARTS OF TRYON AND POLK COUNTY AS WELL. GREENVILLE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN. WE’RE WARMER THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY AT THIS TIME. BY THE WAY, YOU PROBABLY NOTICED WHEN YOU STEP OUT THE DOOR 24 DEGREES WARMER IN PICKENS IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE’S A LITTLE BIT MORE HUMIDITY IN THE AIR. THAT’S GOOD WHEN YOU’RE COMBATING WILDFIRES. HOPEFULLY WE’LL GET SOME MORE OF THESE SPOTTY SHOWERS, BUT THEY’LL WRAP UP FOR MOST OF US AROUND MID-MORNING. THEN IT’S GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT THE BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS SKIES BEGIN TO CLEAR. COMING UP, WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS. I’LL HAVE A LOOK AT THAT, WHICH INCLUDES THE WEEKEND TOO. THAT’S COMING UP IN ABOUT 7 OR 8 MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. BUT FIRST, LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE, GET A CHECK ON THE ROADS, SEE HOW TRAFFIC IS LOOKING. VICTORIA. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE LOOKS PRETTY BUSY ON THE ROADWAYS THIS MORNING JUST AFTER 630. WE ARE SEEING TRAFFIC NOW MOVING JUST NORTH OF AIRPORT ROAD ON INTERSTATE 85, HEADING SOUTHBOUND, NORTHBOUND LANE, SEEING A FEW LESS CARS, BUT WE ARE SEEING SOME MAJOR BACKUP AS WE HEAD UP TOWARDS 85. HEADING IN THAT SOUTHBOUND LANE. THIS IS NEAR HIGHWAY 101. TRAFFIC CRAWLING FOR THE MOMENT AND ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL. THE CLOSER WE GET TOWARDS 290. DEFINITELY ALLOW YOURSELF SOME EXTRA TIME ON 85 AND 2626 IS AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. THIS IS NEAR 176. IF YOU ARE HEADING SOUTHBOUND AS WELL. THAT’S MAKING OUR TRAVEL TIMES GO UP QUITE A BIT. AND AGAIN, A REMINDER HIGHWAY 11 IS CLOSED NIGHTLY AND AGAIN, 85 SOUTHBOUND. 126 OR I-26 FROM HIGHWAY 101 NOW TAKING 16 MINUTES. AND THIS HAS GONE UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, VICTORIA, THANK YOU. SWITCHING GEARS, IT’S 652. AND IN CELEBRATION OF ITS 85TH ANNIVERSARY, DAIRY QUEEN IS SELLING BLIZZARDS FOR JUST $0.85. THE DEAL STARTS TODAY AND RUNS THROUGH APRIL 6TH. THERE IS A CATCH, THOUGH. BLIZZARDS ARE EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DAIRY QUEEN APP AND REQUIRE A MINIMUM PURCHASE OF $1. NEW FLAVORS LIKE DIP, STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE AND FAN FAVORITES LIKE S’MORES DEBUT NEXT MONDAY. GET YOUR ICE CREAM AND HEAD ON DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE WHITE DUCK TACO SHOP HAS OPENED ITS DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE LOCATION. IT’S FILLING THE SPACE BONJOUR MAINE LEFT BEHIND ON SOUTH MAIN STREET, AND IT’S OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. YOU MAY REMEMBER WHITE DUCK TACO CLOSED ITS HAMPTON STATION LOCATION LAST YEAR. THERE IS ONE OTHER LOCATION NEAR THE GREENVILLE DOWNTOWN AIRPORT, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS ACROSS NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. WELL, THE SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS MOVING ON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. IT IS THE 11TH STRAIGHT SWEET 16 FOR THE GAMECOCKS AFTER A 64 TO 53 WIN OVER THE INDIANA HOOSIERS. THE WOMEN WILL NOW TRAVEL TO BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, WILL EITHER FACE ALABAMA OR MARYLAND. THAT GAME IS TONIGHT AT FIVE. TO THE FRESHMAN QUEEN WHO’S DRIVING FLOATS. IT. OH, MARYLAND ON THE RIGHT. AFTER 49 GAMES, THE 2025 NCAA TOURNAMENT GOT ITS FIRST GAME WINNING BUZZER BEATER FROM MARYLAND’S DERRICK QUEEN WITH JUST THREE SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK AND MARYLAND TRAILING BY ONE POINT, QUEEN DROVE TO HIS LEFT AND BANKED IN A GAME WINNER AT THE HORN TO SEND MARYLAND TO THE SWEET 16. THE TERPS WILL NO

Store owner facing 5 felony charges for selling THC vapes to students, officials say

Updated: 9:38 AM EDT Mar 24, 2025

The owner of a store located across from a middle school is facing five felony charges for selling THC vapes to students, according to the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE).ALE said it concluded a joint investigation with Butner Public Safety on Thursday that involved the Butner Tobacco and Vape store located across the street from Butner-Stem Middle School. Authorities said the investigation began after ALE received information from Butner Public Safety and the Granville County Public Schools Safety Director that students from Butner-Stem Middle School had purchased THC vapes and THC vape cartridges from the store. Several THC vape cartridges were also found on the campus of Butner-Stem Middle School, authorities said. Through the course of the investigation, ALE special agents identified and determined Delta9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products from Butner Tobacco and Vape contained more than 0.3 % THC, making the products illegal to possess and sell.   “Granville County Public Schools deeply appreciates the dedication and professionalism of our local and state law enforcement officers. Their partnership is vital to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. Our recent collaboration to combat the spread of illegal vape and THC products is especially critical. Those who peddle this poison to our children must be held accountable. We will continue sharing information from our schools to safeguard our students and communities. Let it be clear, our district stands firmly with law enforcement to protect our children,” said Granville County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Stan Winborne. The owner of the store, Abdulghani Abdo Mohamed Alashmaly, 36, of Kenansville, has been charged with the following: Felony-Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver MarijuanaFelony-Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled SubstanceFelony-Manufacture/Sell /Deliver/Possess Controlled Substances within 1000 feet of a schoolMisdemeanor- Possess Marijuana ParaphernaliaMisdemeanor-Possess Drug ParaphernaliaFelony-Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place Controlled Substances“Law enforcement continues to have growing and valid concerns about these illegal products,” said ALE Director Bryan House. “Our goal is to keep our communities safe by preventing harmful products from reaching the public—especially our youth.”

BUTNER, N.C. —

The owner of a store located across from a middle school is facing five felony charges for selling THC vapes to students, according to the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE).

ALE said it concluded a joint investigation with Butner Public Safety on Thursday that involved the Butner Tobacco and Vape store located across the street from Butner-Stem Middle School.

Authorities said the investigation began after ALE received information from Butner Public Safety and the Granville County Public Schools Safety Director that students from Butner-Stem Middle School had purchased THC vapes and THC vape cartridges from the store.

Several THC vape cartridges were also found on the campus of Butner-Stem Middle School, authorities said.

Through the course of the investigation, ALE special agents identified and determined Delta9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products from Butner Tobacco and Vape contained more than 0.3 % THC, making the products illegal to possess and sell.  

“Granville County Public Schools deeply appreciates the dedication and professionalism of our local and state law enforcement officers. Their partnership is vital to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. Our recent collaboration to combat the spread of illegal vape and THC products is especially critical. Those who peddle this poison to our children must be held accountable. We will continue sharing information from our schools to safeguard our students and communities. Let it be clear, our district stands firmly with law enforcement to protect our children,” said Granville County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Stan Winborne.

The owner of the store, Abdulghani Abdo Mohamed Alashmaly, 36, of Kenansville, has been charged with the following:

• Felony-Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana
• Felony-Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance
• Felony-Manufacture/Sell /Deliver/Possess Controlled Substances within 1000 feet of a school
• Misdemeanor- Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia
• Misdemeanor-Possess Drug Paraphernalia
• Felony-Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place Controlled Substances

“Law enforcement continues to have growing and valid concerns about these illegal products,” said ALE Director Bryan House. “Our goal is to keep our communities safe by preventing harmful products from reaching the public—especially our youth.”