Mission Viejo Man Accused of Running Pot Shop Near School

A Mission Viejo man has been charged with renting and managing a for-profit marijuana shop in Dana Point, within 1,000 feet of a private school, according to a recently unsealed federal indictment.

It is illegal to make a profit selling marijuana in California.

Perry "Bucky" Forehand, 33, helped John Melvin "Pops" Walker of San Clemente open and maintain Safe Harbor Collective at 34102 Violet Lantern, one of nine dispensaries Walker allegedly owned, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges SHC operated within 1,000 feet of Dana Montessori School. According to Google Maps, the two locations are 225 feet apart.

SHC generated $2.4 million in income in 2009, according to business records that prosecutors obtained from an alleged co-conspirator.

In April 2010, SHC allegedly sold marijuana twice to an undercover law enforcement officer. Police raided the dispensary that month, and said they found $800,000 cash stuffed inside Home Depot cans, according to The Orange County Register.

The dispensary was closed a year later, prosecutors said.

Forehand is also charged with selling marijuana at Costa Mesa Patients Association.

If federal prosecutors win the case, Forehand could lose any property bought with money collected at SHC.