The owners of VIP Smoke Shops raided in Mason and Deerfield Township pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 22, to felony drug trafficking and organized crime charges in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Brothers Wael Sharaydeh, 57, of Cincinnati, and Ismail Sharida, 40, of West Chester, each admitted to five counts of trafficking hashish and one count of trafficking a Schedule I controlled substance analog. Their company, VIP Distribution Inc., also pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

The brothers own nearly 100 VIP Smoke Shops across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, with more than two dozen locations in southwest Ohio. The Warren County Drug Task Force led the investigation that uncovered illegal sales at the shops, and raids in 2025 targeted eight locations in the county, including stores in Springboro, Carlisle, Lebanon, Deerfield Township, Blanchester and Mason, as well as a company warehouse in Norwood. WCPO 9 observed a raid at the VIP Smoke Shop off Kings Center Court in Mason.

The probe started with parents. Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell has said the investigation began after parents complained the stores were selling drugs to minors, and that undercover officers documented workers handing over drugs from a separate stash, according to the Springfield News-Sun.

A Butler County grand jury indicted the brothers in 2024 after the nearly two-year investigation found their shops were selling illegal substances to minors in southwest Ohio. Investigators seized hashish in the form of oils, resins and vape cartridges containing illegal amounts of Delta-9 THC, a potent form of cannabis. They also found products containing an analog of psilocin, a hallucinogenic compound found in psychedelic mushrooms.

Under the plea agreements, the brothers must close or sell all VIP Smoke Shops before sentencing on Dec. 1. They will also forfeit at least six vehicles, more than $338,000 seized from their shops and related bank accounts, at least three firearms, and all illegal products. The agreements bar them from owning, operating or working for smoke shops during a probation period the court will set.

Attorney General Andy Wilson said in a statement that the case was driven by the goal of keeping dangerous drugs away from children, and that anyone who traffics illegal substances will face consequences.

The brothers had previously filed civil lawsuits against law enforcement and Warren County, claiming they were wrongly targeted. They agreed to dismiss those suits as part of the plea deal.

The investigation also led to charges against five other men connected to the shops. One, Oday Ali Ahmad Darweesh, 36, was sentenced in April 2026 to one year of supervised community control after pleading guilty to possessing criminal tools, a misdemeanor, and possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor. He was fined $1,150. Four others were indicted in June 2025 on trafficking and criminal tools charges, but none could be located. Warrants remain outstanding for their arrest.

Residents who suspect illegal drug sales can contact the Warren County Sheriff's Office or local law enforcement.