United States of America v. Matthew Alan Stacy

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with two federal drug counts under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.



This criminal case arose from Matthew Allen Stacy's use of a two-entity business structure to help his clients circumvent

Oklahoma's medical-marijuana laws. In 2018, Oklahoma legalized the possession, growth, distribution, and sale of medical marijuana. Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 420 et seq. (2018). To lawfully operate a medical-marijuana business, an individual or entity must meet certain Oklahoma-residency requirements. Id. §§ 422(B)(4), 427.14(E)(7)(c) (2019).1 These requirements form a barrier to entry for individuals and entities outside of Oklahoma.



As an attorney, Stacy centered his legal practice on out-of-state clients seeking to enter Oklahoma's medical-marijuana industry. He devised a two- entity business structure for medical-marijuana businesses that was designed to hide the true ownership interests of their out-of-state owners. In this structure, one entity obtained the required license and registration using the names of Oklahoma residents, while the other entity housed the actual medical-marijuana operations controlled by the out-of-state owners. Because of this scheme, Stacy was charged with two federal drug counts under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 801 et seq

Motion to enjoin prosecution denied.



Affirmed