Drugs & Vice

Michael Douglas slams U.S. prison system after Emmy win

"Backstage, Douglas elaborated: 'My son is in federal prison. He’s been a drug addict for a large part of his life. Part of the punishments — if you happen to have a slip, and this is for a prisoner who is nonviolent, as about a half-million of our drug-addicted prisoners are — he’s spent almost two years in solitary confinement. Right now I’ve been told that I can’t see him for two years. It’s been over a year now. And I’m questioning the system.' Continued Douglas: 'Obviously at first, I was certainly disappointed in my son. But I’ve reached a point now where I’m very disappointed with the system.' Cameron Douglas is currently serving a sentence of nearly 10 years for non-violent drug offenses." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Douglas slams U.S. prison system after Emmy win

Robber ran major drug ring from prison

"In state prison since 2004 for robbery, inmate Marsial 'Oso' Garcia still found a way to operate a major drug ring, federal authorities say. He used smuggled cellphones, authorities say. Garcia, 31, pleaded guilty last week in Oklahoma City federal court to cocaine distribution and a money-laundering conspiracy involving more than $200,000. He will be sentenced later. Beginning in November 2011, from prison, Garcia arranged with suppliers in California and elsewhere to send 'multi-pound quantities of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics' to Oklahoma for distribution, according to a federal indictment against 11 other defendants." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRobber ran major drug ring from prison

800 U.S. police round up 129 gang suspects in Mexican Mafia raid

"About 800 local, state and federal law enforcement officers arrested 129 suspects indicted on a variety of murder, extortion, racketeering, drug and weapons charges in Orange County as part of 'Operation Smokin’ Aces.' Police said they seized 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.5 pounds of heroin and 3 pounds of cocaine, and the FBI said undercover officers purchased 38 handguns and 29 rifles in connection with the sweep. Investigators said members of the prison gang ordered assaults on 12 inmates, including one man whose head was stapled 20 times, in the Orange County Jail for failure to pay drug taxes." Continue reading →

Continue Reading800 U.S. police round up 129 gang suspects in Mexican Mafia raid

Justice Department: ATF misplaced 420 million cigarettes in stings

"Government agents acting without authorization conducted dozens of undercover investigations of illegal tobacco sales, misused some of $162 million in profits from the stings and lost track of at least 420 million cigarettes, the Justice Department's inspector general said Wednesday. In one case, ATF agents sold $15 million in cigarettes and later turned over $4.9 million in profits from the sales to a confidential informant — even though the agency did not properly account for the transaction. The audit came as a new blow to a beleaguered agency still reeling from congressional inquiries into the ATF's flawed handling of the Operation Fast and Furious weapons tracking probes in Mexico." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJustice Department: ATF misplaced 420 million cigarettes in stings

The biggest Bitcoin win in gambling history

"In just one weekend of furious gambling, a single Internet high roller has taken home close to 11,000 bitcoins—or about $1.3 million. The man, known online as Nakowa, has turned one of Bitcoin’s most popular and profitable casinos into a loser. What no one can figure out: Is he a cheater, a genius, or the luckiest man on earth? Just-Dice.com, a European-based cybercasino offering a set of dice games played for the highly valuable digital currency Bitcoin, has been on a roller coaster ride. Nakowa’s weekend started on a losing streak that made Just-Dice richer than it had ever been, causing the site to hit its highest single profit point of all time (7,000 bitcoins or $862,400 on hand)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe biggest Bitcoin win in gambling history

Atlantis: Online Drug Black Market Shuts Its Doors

"One of the sites that was more or less a copy of The Silk Road and the second largest online black market, The Atlantis Market, was forced to shut their doors for good due to 'security' reasons. Atlantis offered black market, anonymous items, in exchange for Bitcoin and Litecoin. Users will have one week to withdraw any of their funds before the market shuts down permanently. Below is a statement from the Atlantis team." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAtlantis: Online Drug Black Market Shuts Its Doors

Dozens Of TSA Employees Fired, Suspended For Illegal Gambling Ring

"Dozens of local Transportation Security Administration workers have been fired or suspended after they were caught in an illegal gambling ring at Pittsburgh International Airport. Sources confirm TSA employees on the job set up an office betting pool of sorts, employees betting year-round on all of the big sporting events, the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, the World Series, the Stanley Cup and more. Sources confirm the employees recommended for termination did 'make a little money off of the top.' TSA sources confirm none of the betting affected any of the security at the airport." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDozens Of TSA Employees Fired, Suspended For Illegal Gambling Ring

Rand Paul: ‘I Ask That We Begin The End Of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing’

"Paul mentioned other examples of draconian mandatory minimums, including the 55-year sentence that Weldon Angelos, a 24-year-old Utah music entrepreneur, received for a few small pot sales. Brett Tolman, a former U.S. attorney for Utah, noted that the DEA could have busted Angelos after the first undercover buy but waited for two more, knowing that Angelos’ possession of a gun would trigger stacked sentences adding up to more than half a century. Paul also cited Edward Clay, an 18-year-old first-time offender who got 10 years after he was caught with less than two ounces of cocaine, and John Horner, a 46-year-old father of three who got a 25-year mandatory minimum." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul: ‘I Ask That We Begin The End Of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing’

The Purpose of Government is to Exploit — and Exacerbate — a Crisis

"[..] A similarly skewed set of priorities was displayed in the official response to the killing spree at the Washington Navy Yard. A SWAT team from the Capitol Police was dispatched in response to the shooting – but was reportedly ordered to stand down, rather than intervene in an attempt to save the victims. Twelve people were killed before the shooter was stopped. There are roughly 200 SWAT deployments each day in this country – almost none of which involve the protection of innocent people. Apparently, SWAT teams are reserved for low-risk drug raids and killing 107-year-old men armed with pistols, rather than for responding to actual danger." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Purpose of Government is to Exploit — and Exacerbate — a Crisis