High Hopes ICT owner charged with federal firearm, drug trafficking crimes
The owner of High Hopes ICT has been indicted on more than 20 federal firearm and drug crimes following a raid of his home and several dispensary stores in November.
Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said investigators seized more than 30 firearms, a flamethrower, illegal marijuana and other evidence of drug sales from the home of the 36-year-old dispensary chain owner, Justin Lane, the residence of a business associate and the six High Hopes ICT locations.
Lane opened the first High Hopes ICT dispensary in 2019, and at the end of 2025 had five storefront locations in Wichita and one in Maize. The business markets marijuana products “derived from federally legal hemp” that contains “less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight, in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill,” according to its website.
In the state of Kansas, Delta-9 THC is legal only if it comes from hemp and contains no more than 0.3% THC by weight. Easter and prosecutors allege Lane sold marijuana products above this threshold.
Additionally, Lane had pleaded guilty to felony possession of an unregistered firearm in 2015, court records show. As part of his sentencing, and as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from owning a firearm, ammunition, destructive device or any other dangerous weapon.
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas says Lane was charged with one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, two counts of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and eight counts of owning an unregistered firearm in connection with the 28 firearms, five silencers and ammo found during the raids.
He was also charged with 13 drug crimes, including one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, six counts of using or maintaining a drug premises and six counts of distribution of marijuana.
40-year-old Sauntsye Love of Wichita was also indicted after being arrested March 2 on suspicion of one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in connection with Lane’s case. Lane’s drug charges are limited to marijuana; Love is accused of intending to distribute more than 40 grams of a substance mixture containing fentanyl.
A detention hearing for Lane is scheduled for March 4 in U.S. District Court, court documents show. A request was also filed through the courts for the trial to be held in Wichita.
