Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40 year-old Hai Thanh Bui of Pinellas Park. Bui is listed as the owner of the Oishi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi at 5800 34th Street N in Unincorporated St. Petersburg.
A search warrant was executed at the restaurant at approximately 1:22 a.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022.
The warrant was a result of several incidents were Bui sold multiple drugs, including ecstasy and powdered cocaine, to undercover agents at both his restaurant and from a business located at 5944 34th Street N. He also purchased known stolen property, including a pressure washer and a Rheem water heater, from undercover officers.
Deputies located safe keys in the possession of Bui at the time of his arrest. The safe was opened and contained the following items. It also contained a digital scale and smaller plastic bags which are commonly used to weigh and package narcotics for street level sales.
- Approximately 750 Grams of Cocaine
- Approximately 985.5 Grams of Ecstasy
- Approximately 65 Grams OF Ketamine
- Approximately 10 Grams (22 doses) OF Adderall
- Approximately 20 Grams (146 doses) OF Oxycodone
In 2004, Bui was convicted of a felony for the possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy. Based on that conviction, Bui is not allowed to possess any firearms. As part of the search warrant, officers searched his RV located at the restaurant. They located the following firearms
- Zaviar LLC .308 Rifle
- Taurus 9mm handgun
- M&P Shield 9mm handgun
- Glock Model 22 – 40 caliber handgun
- Masterpiece Arms 9mm handgun
- Ruger 9mm handgun
- Colorado Custom AR-15 .223 caliber Rifle
Bui is facing the following charges
- Trafficking of cocaine (>400 grams)
- Trafficking in Ecstasy (> 400 grams)
- Trafficking in Oxycodone (14-25 grams)
- Possession of Ketamine with intent to sell
- Possession of adderall with intent to sell/manufacturer/deliver
- Felonious possession of a firearm (7 counts)
- Operating a drug house
- Dealing in stolen property (4 counts)
- Trafficking in powder cocaine
- Sale of Ecstasy
- Possession of Ecstasy