Feds Think Nothing Of 150 Plus Pounds Of Pot
Please click onto the comments for the post.
posted by Bob at Thursday, February 22, 2007
Custom Search
Thursday, February 22, 2007
A DEMOCRACY TOWN HALL HOME
Do you have a topic you want to discuss at the Town Hall? Email your request to A_Democracy@yahoo.com
“A DEMOCRACY” Disclaimer- While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to this forum express the views and opinions of the author and not the administrators, moderators (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.
You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-oriented or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned
THE ROOF GUYS
Mickey's Diner 1950 7th Street West, St Paul, MN
(651) 698-8387
AX-MAN SURPLUS
1639 University Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Tel:(651)646-8653
LANDLORD.COM LINK HERE
SHHHH! While we listen to words of wisdom from a wise man.
Conscience is the light of the Soul that burns within the chambers of our psychological heart. It is as real as life is. It raises the voice in protest whenever anything is thought of or done contrary to the righteousness. Conscience is a form of truth that has been transferred through our genetic stock in the form of the knowledge of our own acts and feelings as right or wrong. A virtuous and courageous person can alone use the instrument of conscience. He or she can alone hear the inner voice of the soul clearly. In a wicked person this faculty is absent. The sensitive nature of his / her conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption. Hence he or she is unable to discriminate right from wrong. Those who are leading organizations, business enterprises, institutions and governments should develop this virtue of the ability to use their own conscience. This wisdom of using the clean conscience will enable them to enjoy the freedom.
Dr APJ Kalam, President of India given during the inauguration of the seminar on “THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Previous Posts
- Expungements
- IGNORANCE DIRECTED AT HOMELESS
- Attack on Affordable Housing Widens
- CHUCK'S PLACE
- City Demolishes Another House
- Jesus Was A Radical
- New Crime Fighter In Town
- Genius Bird
- Helgen Demands Citizens Leave Neighborhood Meeting
- What You Need To Know About Councilman Helgen
6 Comments:
Not prosecuting pot case baffles some authorities
Federal authorities have declined to prosecute two drug suspects from Washington state after St. Paul auto mechanics found 157 pounds of marijuana in the gas tank of their pickup truck this week.
By Howie Padilla and Paul Gustafson, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: February 21, 2007 – 11:52 PM
Federal authorities have declined to prosecute two drug suspects from Washington state after St. Paul auto mechanics found 157 pounds of marijuana in the gas tank of their pickup truck this week.
The case has been turned over to St. Paul police.
The decision left some state and law enforcement officials scratching their heads, while in reality it shows that federal thresholds for prosecution in marijuana cases now exceed the amount found in the pickup.
"I think it is unusual," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said, regarding a lack of prosecution thus far. "This is a significant quantity of marijuana that these people were caught with."
Fred Bruno, a defense attorney not involved in the case who has defended numerous suspects in federal drug cases, said the decision isn't unheard of.
"It's a big case by state standards but a small case by federal standards," Bruno said. "That amount would raise just about every eyebrow in the state judicial system, but maybe not many in the federal system."
Fresh weld markings
The suspects, a man and a woman, stopped at a Midas shop in St. Paul on Saturday when their pickup wouldn't run.
A mechanic looking into the problem discovered fresh weld markings and a recently modified fuel tank on the pickup.
Suspicious workers, who called a state trooper, found that the gas tank held 157 pounds of marijuana worth about $157,000, authorities said.
The suspects were arrested after the discovery Monday but have been released.
Authorities said Tuesday that federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents were handling the case.
The DEA does not bring marijuana cases to the U.S. attorney's office unless the confiscated amount exceeds 500 pounds, said Kent Bailey, who heads the DEA field office in Minneapolis.
St. Paul investigating
On Wednesday, the case was turned over to St. Paul police, department spokesman Tom Walsh said. The Police Department will investigate and present its findings to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.
The man and the woman are not considered fugitives because no charges or warrants for their arrests have been filed, Walsh said.
Their whereabouts are unknown, he said.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office would say only that she had no information about the case.
Lack of penalties
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Wade Setter, who serves as chairman of the Minnesota Gang/Drug Task Forces oversight committee, said that on the surface, the case sends a dangerous message.
Setter said he understands that there are charging guidelines at every level.
He said he remembers that when he worked as a narcotics investigator in the 1990s, the threshold for federal prosecution of a marijuana crime was possessing about 100 pounds. He said he doesn't doubt the bar has been raised.
And he said criminals know there are high monetary rewards in dealing marijuana with relatively low risks.
"People talk about decriminalizing marijuana," Setter said. "Essentially, we've already done that because of the lack of penalties.
"The message being sent is the same one the criminals already know."
hpadilla@startribune.com • 651-298-1551 pgustafson@startribune.com • 651-298-1545
This is the way it should be! Saint Paul shouldn't waste their time and OUR money on it either!
Pot is less harmful than booze and cigarettes.
I had a tenant get sent back to prison for 9 months for testing postive to marijauna, the man was married, working and helping raise a newborn child. I felt he was doing well as did his parents and co-workers. One bad UA is all it tookfor him to get sent back to prison in which I am sure will also have a big impact and set back on his future.
Now welfare has to pay for this guys family to help support them. We are paying for his incarceration.
This is crazy!
I am not saying there isn't some negatives to marijuana there is, but, none that warrant us wasting time prosecuting people for it. The laws are victimizing people.
11:05, good thing you posted anonymously. Lantry would sic her Code Dogs on your whole portfolio for renting to a felon.
Lantry is nothing but an dirty overwieght sow who thinks she is so much more than she really is.
Post a Comment
<< Home