Drugs & Prohibition

U.S. Drug Czar: Federal Prosecutors Will Go After Washington And Colorado Marijuana Distributors

"Federal prosecutors will crack down on recreational marijuana dispensaries and growers even in states where they are legal, U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske told a Canadian news magazine this week. The statement appears to be the first from a federal official to state explicitly that the federal government will prosecute dispensaries and producers once they are licensed in Washington and Colorado. Washington and Colorado’s laws explicitly make both production and distribution of marijuana legal under state law if the entities are licensed and follow regulations." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Drug Czar: Federal Prosecutors Will Go After Washington And Colorado Marijuana Distributors

Prison time for former cop trafficking in steroids

"A former Philadelphia police officer has been ordered to serve six months in federal prison for his role in a multi-state steroid distribution ring orchestrated by a former police colleague. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McIntyre routinely bought steroids from former police Detective Keith Gidelson and redistributed the performance-enhancing drugs to his own customers. Gidelson obtained the steroids from overseas and had them shipped to Philadelphia directly or via contacts in California, authorities said. Both men were active duty cops at the time of the criminal activity but were later fired from the police force." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrison time for former cop trafficking in steroids

Judge sets $10,000 bond for cop, former deputy and civilian accused in cocaine payoffs

"Three men, all from different backgrounds, sat in their orange prison jumpsuits waiting to hear the words from federal court Judge Alan Baverman, that their bonds would be granted. Baverman set conditions and gave each man a $10,000 bail. The men are former DeKalb County Sheriff's Deputy Monyette McLaurin, current DeKalb County police Officer Dorian Williams, and a civilian Gregory Lee Harvey. An indictment in federal court states that McLaurin and Harvey worked together to protect drug dealers during cocaine transactions. In return for their protection, the men were given thousands of dollars in payouts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge sets $10,000 bond for cop, former deputy and civilian accused in cocaine payoffs

Illinois: High-Ranking Cop Caught Lying About DUI Arrests

"According to US Attorney Gary S. Shapiro, Timothy J. Veit was caught creating 122 bogus drunk driving arrests in an effort to boost the police department's revenue with federal overtime payments. Between 2009 and 2012, the effort generated $132,893 in bogus payments. The source of the funds was the US Transportation Department, which funnels federal gas tax dollars through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to bankroll traffic ticket-writing blitzes that typically take place on holiday weekends. City officials discovered the discrepancy in March 2012 and allowed Veit, who is 55, to retire in April." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIllinois: High-Ranking Cop Caught Lying About DUI Arrests

Will Grigg: Put Not Your Trust In Federalized Sheriffs

"'I will not enforce an unconstitutional law against any citizen of Smith County,' insisted Sheriff Larry Smith. The sheriff wants his constituents to believe that he would refuse to participate in a federally mandated gun grab, or permit one to be carried out by federal officials within his jurisdiction. Yet ten days before Smith offered that assurance, his office had taken part in an early-morning SWAT rampage throughout East Texas in which 73 warrants were served as part of the federal government’s patently unconstitutional war on drugs. There isn’t a single county sheriff’s office in the country that hasn’t compromised itself by accepting federal funds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Grigg: Put Not Your Trust In Federalized Sheriffs

Former Camden cop sentenced to nearly 4 years for conspiracy

"From May 2007 to October 2009, Stetser engaged in a conspiracy with other Camden police officers to deprive individuals of their due process rights by charging them with planted evidence; threatening certain individuals with arrest using planted evidence if they did not cooperate with law enforcement; conducting illegal searches without a search warrant or consent; stealing money during illegal searches and arrests; paying for cooperation and information with illegal drugs; failing to report found drugs and stashing them to use as planted evidence; and preparing false police reports or testifying falsely in court to conceal his actions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Camden cop sentenced to nearly 4 years for conspiracy

NYPD officer threatened to shoot grandmother of killed teen, lawsuit claims

"After shooting dead an unarmed teenager in his bathroom, a New York City police officer threatened to kill the boy’s distraught grandmother, a newly filed lawsuit alleges. Filed Friday, a day before the one-year anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham, the suit accuses the NYPD of improperly training its officers, disproportionately targeting minority youth through its controversial stop and frisk practices and covering up the facts surrounding the death. The suit names police officer Richard Haste, the man responsible for shooting Graham, as well as NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly and a number of other officers as defendants." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYPD officer threatened to shoot grandmother of killed teen, lawsuit claims

We’re Locking Up Fewer Black People and More White People

The USA incarcerates a higher percentage of its citizen than any other nation on earth. (We're #1!) Needless to say, we've accomplished that feat largely on the backs of minorities, particularly black people, who are incarcerated at more than six times the rate of white people. But, the broader takeaway is that the racial mix of those we incarcerate (particularly women) is changing, but the fact of America's mass incarceration is not. 'The overall rate of incarceration in the United States remains at five times the rate that prevailed in 1970.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWe’re Locking Up Fewer Black People and More White People

Former Lake County sheriff’s officer seeks lighter sentence for weapons trafficking

"Kabella, 42, and former officers Joseph Kumstar and Ronald Slusser, all of Crown Point, were indicted on charges of conspiring to use Lake County Sheriff's Department letterhead to buy automatic machine guns and laser sights intended strictly for law enforcement departments or the military and selling the parts for a profit online. The laser sights are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kabella, Kumstar and Slusser have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing. The three have since resigned from the Lake County Sheriff's Department." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Lake County sheriff’s officer seeks lighter sentence for weapons trafficking

Apparently, Perjury Isn’t a Crime When Police Commit It

"Last October third, a Salt Lake City SWAT team, working with a federal Drug Task Force, kicked in the door of a 76-year-old woman. It turned out that the raiders had attacked the wrong home; the target was the house next door. An internal review learned that officer responsible for the raid, Detective Cooper Landvatter, falsified information in the affidavit filed to obtain the warrant. Police Chief Chris Burbank imposed a 20-hour suspension on Detective Landvatter. However, the officer faces no further disciplinary action or criminal charges for committing perjury and abetting a home invasion that terrorized an elderly woman." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingApparently, Perjury Isn’t a Crime When Police Commit It