On the Move

A lot has changed for cannabis moguls Rosa Cazares and Aaron Mitchell since March.

Their business relationship with Secretary of State Shemia Fagan led to her resignation, and is now the subject of three separate investigations—including a federal criminal probe. Their cozy relationship with top Democrats has disintegrated. They’ve been largely exiled from the cannabis industry they championed. They’ve moved to separate apartment buildings, a far cry from the mansion they rented together in the Northwest hills where they threw lavish political fundraisers. The couple’s nanny was indicted on criminal charges after driving Mitchell’s car last October in a high-speed police chase. They’ve been sued by a neighboring business and a landlord.

And as things have slowly fallen apart for the two, they’ve done two things that seem at odds.

First, they continue to accumulate tax liens. Three new liens filed in the past month and a half by the Internal Revenue Service and the Oregon Department of Revenue total more than $4.2 million.

Second, they continue to expand into New Mexico. The two now hold seven cannabis licenses in that state—including a giant warehouse that used to contain a furniture outlet store.

Here’s an update on the two’s persistent financial woes and simultaneous business expansion.

New Tax Liens

As WW has previously reported, the feds and the state have