Northampton County authorities have dropped all charges against a couple connected to a College Hill hemp store that prosecutors said sold marijuana, capping a nearly two-year legal battle that resulted in the store’s closure.
David and Susanne Allocca, the latter of whom died in February, faced 15 charges related to drug possession and distribution by the county in 2024 in relation to Mindleaf CBD, of which David Allocca is a partial owner. Susanne Allocca’s charges were dropped after her death; her husband’s charges were dropped in early April.
The Alloccas’ attorney, Gary Asteak, argued that the searches of the Allocca residence and Mindleaf CBD storefront lacked probable cause because of the “unreliable, stale, and unverified information” used to justify a warrant, according to court documents.
County Judge Michael Koury approved the suppression of evidence from the Alloccas’ residence — where officers allegedly discovered 57 pounds of marijuana, over 2,000 THC vapes and cartridges, 1,500 containers of THC edibles, 30 containers of THC resin, 2 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, 258 pre-rolled joints and 73 jars of marijuana — but not the storefront.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Weinert said that prosecutors will not appeal the decision and withdrew charges, lacking sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Asteak declined to comment.
The defense, in court documents, has also maintained that the alleged marijuana was hemp, and that the Alloccas did not have enough stake in Mindleaf CBD to be considered or held responsible as owners. Koury’s ruling on the evidence found that David Allocca is an owner, even if he did not have a large portion of ownership.
The Lafayette previously reported that David and Susanne Allocca were co-owners of the store based on a 2024 news release from the Northampton County district attorney’s office.
Founded in 2019 and located a block away from the Lafayette College campus on Cattell Street, Mindleaf CBD was popular among students.
A civil suit was filed against Elizabeth Walter, one of several co-owners of Mindleaf CBD LLC, in March 2025 by fellow co-owners, including David Allocca, accusing Walter of having “successfully schemed” the plaintiffs financially. The suit, filed in Bergen County Superior Court in New Jersey, was settled in August for an undisclosed amount.
