The co-owner of a Chula Vista marijuana dispensary whom federal prosecutors criminally indicted last year has agreed to sell his stake in the business, but city officials have yet to sign off on the proposed new partner.
Andres Camberos, one of the principal owners of the Grasshopper Dispensary along Trousdale Drive, was told to divest from the business after he was charged with federal crimes, or risk the loss of the city license.
According to a federal indictment unsealed in September, Camberos and his sister, Adriana Camberos, bought groceries and other consumer goods at a discount on the promise that they would be marketed in Mexico.
But the siblings instead sold the products in the United States, undercutting business rivals, the indictment alleges. As the subject of a federal indictment, Andres Camberos was in jeopardy of having his Chula Vista pot dispensary license revoked.
Late last year, Chula Vista officials informed licensee Vista Property Holdings that Camberos would have to sell his stake in the company in order for Grasshopper Dispensary to keep its license.
City officials said they recently received a change-of-ownership request from an attorney representing Vista Property Holdings.
“This request sought to remove Mr. Camberos as an owner and approve a new owner,” Chula Vista spokesperson Michele Clock said by email. “The city is currently conducting a background investigation into the proposed new owner.”
Clock did not identify that new applicant in her reply.
But according to records obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune under the California Public Records Act, the new Vista Property Holdings partner would be a woman named Martina Yousif. She has applied to assume the 45 percent stake in the company now owned by Camberos.
The other co-owners are David Kachi and Zachary Lazarus, who each would retain their current shares in the company, city records show.
Chula Vista officials are now conducting a background investigation into Yousif as they review the change-of-ownership application. It is unclear when that review may be completed.
An attorney for Vista Property Holdings said his client had no comment on the application change or the review now under way for the new partner.
Grasshopper Dispensary was the first pot shop to be licensed in Chula Vista.
Under city regulations, cannabis licensees are subject to revocation if they are accused of a crime, even if the allegation is unrelated to the dispensary.
Chula Vista officials waited several months after Camberos was indicted to decide that the Grasshopper Dispensary licensee would be required to sell his interest in the business.
Adriana and Andres Camberos have pleaded not guilty to the unrelated federal charges. The defendants are scheduled to appear at a status hearing later this month.
Staff writer Alex Riggins contributed to this report.
