Documents and court records unveiled on Monday show that Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) maintained a secret stake in the legal marijuana industry while serving as a defense lawyer in a drug-related murder case. Prior to her congressional tenure, Rep. Crockett held a 20 percent ownership in Black Diamond Investments, a company that attempted to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Ohio in 2018.
As chief operations officer of Black Diamond Investments, Rep. Crockett was listed as the primary contact on a 148-page application that was part of Ohio’s strictly regulated medical cannabis program. This application detailed various aspects of the business, including security measures, staffing, and financial forecasts. Records from the Washington Free Beacon revealed her involvement, which had not been previously reported in her Congressional financial disclosures.
Simultaneously, Rep. Crockett defended Tyvon Montrel Gullatt, who was accused of murder in a case prosecutors described as "marijuana-related violence." During a bond hearing on April 10, 2018, she argued for reduced bail for Gullatt, who was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Carlos Clark on February 10, 2018.
Since her election to Congress, Rep. Crockett has been an advocate for marijuana law reform. She currently supports the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act), which seeks to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and eliminate criminal penalties associated with marijuana under federal law.
The revelation of Rep. Crockett's undisclosed financial interests raises ethical questions regarding her simultaneous roles as a business investor in the marijuana industry and a defense attorney in a related criminal case. Furthermore, her present legislative efforts in favor of cannabis reform have come under scrutiny due to these previously unreported ties.
The information about Rep. Crockett's involvement with Black Diamond Investments came to light alongside her undisclosed stakes in other industries, including pharmaceuticals, fossil fuels, technology, and automotives, as reported by Andrew Kerr of the Washington Free Beacon. This disclosure has prompted discussions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest for public officials.
The case concluded Crockett’s involvement as defense attorney for the convicted murderer, and her role in Congress continues to be of public interest as she advocates for cannabis policy reform.
