Tiffany Shorter, 26, and Jabe Satterfield, 77, owners of the Green Cactus Collective Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Palmdale, were arrested on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud. The owners failed to carry workers’ compensation benefits for their employees and allegedly told a security officer to lie about his employment status after he sustained severe injuries from two separate robberies at the dispensary, leaving him without benefits and responsible for expensive medical bills.
In November of 2013 Arcenio Tavares, a 34 year old security officer, was shot three times while suspects wearing bandanas and hoodies robbed the dispensary. After he spotted the three males approaching with guns in their hands he drew his handgun, but was shot multiple times by one of the suspects. Despite being hit by the bullets, Tavares returned fire and the suspects ran off on foot. Sheriff’s Capt. Don Ford said at the time that the dispensary itself was illegal because such businesses are not permitted in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Shorter and Satterfield allegedly told their employee to lie to hospital personnel by saying he was a volunteer and not an employee, which made him ineligible for workers’ compensation insurance benefits. The employee, without workers’ compensation benefits and in fear of losing his job, continued working.
In December of 2013, the dispensary was robbed again and the same employee, while still recovering from gunshot wounds from the prior attack, was beaten with a firearm and sustained further injuries. Again, the lack of coverage by his employers left him without medical benefits and liable for all medical expenses.
Shorter and Satterfield are facing up to four years in prison if convicted and were booked into the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Palmdale Station. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case. Shorter and Satterfield are due to appear in court on May 18, 2015 at the Criminal Courts Building, Department 30.
The Green Cactus Collective was located at 36153 Sierra Highway in Palmdale. A new medical marijuana dispensary now occupies that location but the D.A.’s office said it is not known whether Shorter and Satterfield are associated with the new business.
“This case serves as a reminder that workers’ compensation fraud is a costly crime for employees who are left uncovered when their employers cheat the system,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “The costs of these crimes are passed on to consumers through higher rates and premiums and drain the state’s economy of billions of dollars annually.”