KENOSHA COUNTY — As two brothers accused of managing a large-scale counterfeit vaping operation returned to court, a detective gave further insight into how they pulled it off.
Tyler and Jacob Huffhines appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday. They sat separated by an attorney.
Investigators said they uncovered what appeared to be a manufacturing lab at a Bristol condo, including tens of thousands of filled and unfilled THC vape cartridges. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.
Kenosha County Detective Mitch Swanson testified that Tyler managed workers who filled cartridges with THC.
"He started at $20 per hour and he realized it would be more cost-effective, according to Tyler, if he started paying them 30 cents per cartridge he would make an additional $2.20 a cartridge," said Swanson.
Authorities said Jacob had a smaller role and a search warrant on a phone revealed the two talked about sales.
"Directing Jacob to go to places for sales and prices of the varying place or flavors of food cartridges. Money, running out of certain flavors," said Swanson.
Swanson went on to say Tyler set up an account on Snapchat for sales using the name "Wisco Bag Boy," and that they handed out shirts and sweaters with Wisco Bag Boy on it to customers.
Jacob's attorney downplayed his role.
"There’s nothing as it relates to him delivering anything, participating in any way," said attorney Corey Chirafisi. "if they’re trying to add charges, I know you just have to find a felony, I understand that, but I think there has to be some basis as to how or why they believe what they found in a room actually belongs to him."
Tyler and Jacob were scheduled to return to court next month.
