Titans star Julio Jones and ex-NFL player Roddy White are sued by cannabis business partners who say they illegally harvested $3million of marijuana to sell on the black market
Tennessee Titans receiver Julio Jones and his retired former Atlanta Falcons teammate Roddy White are being sued by their partners in a California-based cannabis business for allegedly operating the company facility illegally while harvesting $3 million worth of marijuana to sell on the black market.
In a complaint filed on July 21 in Los Angeles County Superior Court and obtained by DailyMail.com, attorneys for that company, Genetixs, accused Jones, White, and other defendants of conspiracy to defraud and breach of fiduciary duty, among other claims.
Jones and White allegedly conspired with a construction company owner named John Van Beek and his son, Shaun, to run a black-market marijuana ring out of the Genetixs facility. The defendants allegedly failed to report any sales since March while they illegally operated the Desert Hot Springs, California facility.
According to the filing, the defendants 'looted, removed, diverted, and misappropriated Genetixs' cannabis proceeds derived from more than 22 harvests, as well as the machinery, equipment, and fixtures located therein.'
Genetixs' attorney, Marc Smith of the Los Angeles law firm Krane and Smith, told DailyMail.com that he and his clients have 'substantial evidence to support the allegations contained in the complaint which have been vetted prior to the time the complaint was filed.'
Defendants' attorney Rafe Emanuel denied the accusations in a phone call with DailyMail.com. He added that Jones is just a 'silent partner' in White's company, SLW Holdings, which was used to invest in Genetixs and was also named as a defendant in the complaint.
Tennessee Titans receiver Julio Jones and his retired former Atlanta Falcons teammate Roddy White are being sued by their partners in a California-based cannabis business for allegedly operating the company facility illegally while harvesting $3 million worth of marijuana to sell on the black market
According to the filing obtained by DailyMail.com, the defendants 'looted, removed, diverted, and misappropriated Genetixs' cannabis proceeds derived from more than 22 harvests, as well as the machinery, equipment, and fixtures located therein.' The company facility in California, where some defendants allegedly disabled security cameras to avoid detection
In a statement provided to DailyMail.com, Emanuel explained that the lawsuit came in retaliation for previous complaint filed by his clients against Genetixs, LLC.
'The vague allegations against SLW Holdings, LLC, and its members, Roddy White and Julio Jones, are meritless,' read the statement from Emanuel.
'In May, SLW obtained a temporary restraining order in a related civil case to prevent unlawful conduct involving Genetixs, LLC. In reply, the defendants argued conspiracy theories that were not proven by evidence in Court, nor were they substantiated before any agency. We look forward to again defending these conspiracy theories against my clients in Court.'
No criminal charges have been filed in the case.
According to team spokespeople, the Titans are aware of the allegations, but will not be making a statement.
Larry Brown Sports was the first to report the lawsuit.
Neither Van Been nor his son immediately responded to DailyMail.com's email request for comment, nor have attorneys for Genetixs.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown (11), quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) and Julio Jones (2) take a break during NFL football training camp on Wednesday in Nashville
Jones, left, is congratulated by his Falcons teammate, White, after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, September 27, 2015, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Van Beek was hired by Genetics in 2020 to work as an on-site manager and operator of that facility, but was fired in March of 2021 after a state inspection of the facility found numerous violations, according to the complaint.
Van Beek is accused of breach of contract, failure to report cannabis sales and not providing financial records to other investors.
He and his son are also accused of disabling cameras in the facility and, at one point, preventing another manager from entering the premises, according to the complaint.
Ultimately, the defendants are accused of abandoning the leased facility and surrendering the premises to the landlord, but only after removing and misappropriating Genetixs' marijuana.
Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was acquired by the Titans in a trade with Atlanta earlier this year. The 32-year-old has earned over $125 million in his NFL career and is owed $15 million this season.
White, 39, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who retired after the 2015 season. He earned over $65 million in his 11-year NFL career, all of which he played with the Falcons.
The two played together with the Falcons from 2011 until 2015 and remain friends.
According to the filing , the defendants' illegally misappropriated 22 harvests with a yield of 1,540 pounds of marijuana with an approximate value of $2,000 per pound
Van Beek and his son are also accused of disabling cameras in the facility and, at one point, preventing another manager from entering the premises, according to the complain