Four people have been arrested in connection with what the Georgia Department of Agriculture believes to be one of the largest hemp oil thefts in the state—and possibly the country.
The theft occurred in January 2025 at Second Century Ag in Irwin County, where suspects allegedly loaded approximately 3,000 liters of hemp oil into a rented U-Haul truck. The stolen oil is valued at an estimated $3.6 million.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper described the crime as “probably one of the largest hemp oil or CBD distillate theft cases” known in both Georgia and the U.S. The intended use of the stolen oil remains unknown.
Though the suspects managed to offload the hemp oil before their arrest, they were eventually apprehended out of state with the help of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s law enforcement division, Texas Rangers, and Texas state troopers.
The four individuals facing charges are Maurice Cornelius Williams, Deandre Meshack, LaShayla Jones, and Aaron Wayne Smith. Charges include burglary and possession of a controlled substance. Authorities say the group rented a U-Haul in Atlanta, drove to Irwin County to commit the theft, then returned to Texas before being arrested.
Commissioner Harper highlighted that Georgia’s hemp and CBD products are regulated and labeled for safety with specific approval marks or QR codes. He urges consumers to look for these indicators when purchasing hemp products.
Since taking office in 2023, Harper reinstated the Agriculture Department’s law enforcement division to strengthen investigations into ag-related crimes such as theft, animal abuse, and human trafficking. He emphasized the importance of bringing criminals exploiting agriculture to justice.
