Feds outline plans to seize $2M in cash & more from MS Coast councilman in drug case

As Biloxi Councilman Robert Leon Deming III prepares to plead guilty in a drug case involving his CBD and kratom stores on May 1, federal authorities are detailing what they plan to seize from him in the aftermath of the plea.

The forfeitures include over $1.8 million in cash seized for Deming’s Biloxi home, one of his vehicles, and a Monster truck that promoted the nine Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina.

The money was found in Deming’s home on two occasion s in January 2023 during simultaneous raids of his stores, The Candy Shop, in Mississippi and North Carolina.

According to drug agents, Deming knew or should have known that the Schedule 1 synthetic cannabinoids had been added to some of the products sold at the stores.

Deming was arrested in September 2023 on federal drug charges following simultaneous raids at his Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina.

His arrest came months after agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics raided the nine stores in two states. He is set to plead guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge Wednesday in federal court in Gulfport.

In addition to cash seizure from Deming’s home and vehicle, federal authorities outlined where they plan to seize an additional $177,806 in cash, as listed below:

$73,328.24 in cash seized from the Candy Shop store in Ocean Springs.

$21,597 in cash from a Wells Fargo bank account in the name of Robert L. Deming.

$56,214 in cash from a Wells Fargo bank account in the name of Robert Deming Attorneys at Law.

$26,667 in cash from a Woodforest National bank account in the name of DK Marine, LLC, a business in which Deming is listed as the registered agent and owner.

In addition to the cash, federal authorities are seizing a 2000 Ford F-350 “Monster” truck used for store promotions.

The federal agents do not plan to seize the nine Candy Shop stores that Deming owns, which have continued to operate since his arrest.

So far, Deming remains in his Ward 4 council, serving in his third term in office, though he plans to resign sometime before he is ordered to report to federal prison for the crimes, his attorney W. Fred “Dub” Hornsby said.

DEA agents started a criminal investigation into the Candy Shop stores and its owners, identified as Deming and Damion Fletcher, and other employees, suppliers and alleged co-conspirators in late 2021, according to federal agents.

The criminal investigators had received tips about people getting sick after ingesting or smoking products bought at the store.

As the investigation continued, authorities determined that the Candy Shop stores were making much more than similar stores in Mississippi and Alabama.

Deming remains out of jail on bond and under GPS monitoring pending further action.

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