Smoke shop owner, employee facing federal charges related to teen's death

AURORA, Ill. (WLS) -- A now-closed smoke shop owner and employee are facing federal charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance Analogues in the death of a teenager who smoked synthetic marijuana the same day he drove into a house.

Four years ago, 19-year-old Max Dobner purchased synthetic marijuana at a store in Aurora's Fox Valley Mall and then, later that same day, died when he drove his car into a house.

Max was the youngest of three brothers and wise beyond his years, says his mother.

"And the phone rang and the boy I didn't worry about was gone," said Karen Dobner, Max's mother.

Max's mother argued that the designer drug being sold in a store in a mall was illegal, and that the store owner continued to sell even after Max died, even after police made an undercover buy.

"It took a long time to get a prosecutor to take the case and run with it," Dobner said.

Previous state law covering the sale of controlled substances was less-than-clearly defined, but federal prosecutors did decide pursue charges. On Tuesday, the operator of the now closed store, Ruby Moshin, and a co-worker, Mohammed Khan, were in a federal courtroom facing criminal charges. Karen Dobner was in attendance.

Moshin and Khan were both released on bond as the criminal case against them continues. And Dobner will continue what she's been doing for the last four years: traveling the country on behalf of her son and speaking mainly to young people about the dangers, risks and consequences of designer drugs.

"I thought wow, if this could happen to Max, who was so afraid of chemicals and so cautious, not reckless at all, it could happen to any kid and parents needed to be made aware that these poisons are being sold in the stores," Dobner said.

In part because of Max Dobner's death and his mother's subsequent efforts, Illinois law dealing with over-the-counter sales of controlled substances has been tightened. If convicted, Moshin and Khan could face fines and prison time.