A former West Hollywood medical marijuana dispensary operator is facing 25 years in state prison when he is sentenced next month for a long-running conspiracy to seek revenge on his former landlord.
Andrew Harrison Kramer, 39, of West Hollywood, is also facing restitution that could total as much as $1 million, according to Deputy District Attorney Renee Rose.
Kramer pleaded guilty Thursday to one count each of conspiracy to commit home invasion robbery, stalking and attempt to burn, along with three counts of arson of an inhabited structure and two counts of arson with allegations that an accelerant was used.
Kramer admitted hiring others who in turn attacked his former landlord, George Lanning, and members of Lanning’s family, including his wife and three adult children, according to the prosecutor.
The family’s Beverly Hills home was set ablaze on two occasions between July 2008 and September 2012; a family-owned house under construction on San Vicente Boulevard was destroyed in an arson fire; and two Molotov cocktails were thrown onto an apartment roof above the West Hollywood medical marijuana dispensary, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On another occasion, four men entered the family’s Beverly Hills home and struck Lanning’s wife, Nansee, in the head with a metal bar and punched and kicked his son, Justin, according to the prosecution.
The attacks were investigated by the Beverly Hills Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Kramer formerly owned the Sunset Super Shop in West Hollywood and had an ongoing dispute with the Lannings, the building’s owners. At some point, the Lannings bought out the shop and Kramer worked for them as a manager, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Sunset Super Shop, at 8921 Sunset Blvd., was closed in November 2012 after the City of West Hollywood won a $48,000 judgement against the Lannings for operating a marijuana dispensary without city authorization and violating city law. Also, a creditor of the Lannings foreclosed on them.
I am flabbergasted by the violence. eYe and i had no idea about any of this “intrigue”, this is not the Andrew I knew back in the day. Did money drive him insane? Who knows, really… sad as hell I say.