Pubdate: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 Source: Desert Sun, The (Palm Springs, CA) Copyright: 2010 The Desert Sun Contact: http://local2.thedesertsun.com/mailer/opinionwrap.php Website: http://www.mydesert.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1112 Note: Does not accept LTEs from outside circulation area. FORMER POT SHOP OPERATOR NAILED ON TAX EVASION The ex-operator of Corona and Perris medical marijuana dispensaries that took in more than $1 million was sentenced Monday to six months of home detention and three years probation for tax evasion. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips also ordered Ronald Bradley Naulls, 31, to pay $14,557 in back taxes. Naulls was arrested in July 2007 during a region-wide crackdown on cannabis stores by Internal Revenue Service and Drug Enforcement Administration agents. He was charged with conspiracy to possess, with the intent to distribute, marijuana; maintaining a drug establishment; distribution of a controlled substance; and willful filing of a false income tax return. According to court documents, Naulls used "substantial amounts of cash" received from the business for personal expenditures, including paying the mortgage payments on his house. Despite earning more than $165,000 from his Healing Nations Collective, Naulls reported gross income of less than $30,000 -- for 2006 and 2007 combined -- according to federal prosecutors. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D