Attorney General Ken Paxton announced today that Brothers Market & Meat Mart in Houston has been closed down for violating the terms of a temporary injunction. The original lawsuit was filed after several undercover investigations by the Houston Police Department Narcotics Division uncovered and seized synthetic drugs sold through the location.
In the temporary injunction, the defendants, including the property owner, agreed to either hire two police officers for security or close down the store if two crimes occurred on the property within a six month period. After the judge signed the temporary injunction, six crimes, including the sale of crack cocaine and ecstasy, occurred within a six week period.
When the defendants were notified of the violation, they refused to shut down Brothers Market & Meat Mart, claiming they leased the store to a third party. However, a property owner cannot avoid temporary injunction restrictions by leasing property to a third party. During the contempt hearing, the property owner agreed to close the store. The third party leasing the property was also ordered to move out.
“My office will not stand by as the health and safety of Texans is endangered by drug peddlers looking for a quick buck,” Attorney General Paxton said. “The sale of illegal, deadly drugs must be put to a stop. My office will continue to work with local authorities across the state to send a message: businesses who sell these dangerous and illegal substances will not escape punishment.”