Judge sentences thief who caused $150K in damages at Alaska marijuana business

Be at the forefront of cannabis and psychedelics science and innovation. Register by March 14 & Save $100 on tickets to The Emerald Conference by MJBiz Science, April 1-3 in San Diego.


A burglar who nearly put a cannabis cultivation facility in Anchorage, Alaska, out of business received a maximum two-year sentence and five years of probation, underscoring the need for strict security at plant-touching companies.

Total damage to the business exceeded $150,000. The man was found to have stolen or damaged $144,00 in marijuana.

After a jury in October convicted Nicholas Philemonoff, 40, of theft, burglary, criminal mischief and violating conditions of release in January 2018, Superior Court Judge Erin Marston imposed the sentence and said Anchorage “is sick of people running rampant” and that there had to be deterrence for such behavior.

Police are seeking other suspects.

– Associated Press