Category: Narcotics

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Major Marijuana Bust In Arizona

Narcotics Found Near the Border

Marijuana Seized In Arizona

Marijuana businesses are on the rise in America. Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Arizona’s Port of Lukeville have arrested four United States citizens and seized more than 2,800 pounds of marijuana during two weekend smuggling attempts. talk about a rotten time to smuggle drugs. But let’s be honest, if you’re smuggling drugs your moral compass probably isn’t too high.

According to reports, on Saturday, a fifty-five year old man from Glendale was traveling with a fifty-eight year old female passenger from Phoenix, was referred for a “secondary inspection” of his motor home. The reports say that a CBP narcotics detention canine led the officers to find multiple marijuana bundles. Police say the bundles weighed more than 2,600 pounds and was valued at $1.3 million!

The following day officers referred the forty year old man from Green Valley and his twenty-four year old female passenger for further inspection for his Ford truck. Also with the aid of the narcotics detection canine the officers were able to find more than 150 pounds of marijuana. That bunch of drugs was valued at $77,000.

Officers seized the drugs as well as the vehicles and then turned the suspects over to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Law Allows for Bust Charges

Federal law allows the officers to charge the individuals by complaint. This is a method that will allow them to file charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. This means that an individual is presumed innocent unless there is enough evidence presented to a jury to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

 

Maricopa County Works on Drug Suppression

Maricopa County is working hard to rid its county of drugs. The Maricopa County Drug Suppression Task Force has arrested five people and has seized hundreds of marijuana plants on Tuesday morning. This all happened from a business that tried to evade the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. Pretty crazy when that’s the way that you’re trying to make a living.

Police came armed with a search warrant to a grow warehouse near 40th and Washington streets at 7:30 in the morning. They  were able to seize more than 600 marijuana plants. This was a huge haul for the force since this is one of the biggest drug bust for the county according to Lt. Jeff Gentry of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Gentry also said they collected: hash, edibles, keif which is a dried form of marijuana. According to the reports the marijuana that was collected from the warehouse will be dried at the Drug Enforcement Administration facility then be packaged as evidence.

There were a total of twelve warrants served in Scottsdale, Phoenix and Fountain Hills in the connection with the investigation. Among the items that were seized were also guns and more than $100,000 in cash. What an amazing achievement for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Gentry said that a father and son were believed to be the had of the operation and believed to head more than ten more similar facilities in Phoenix and norther Arizona. They have been running for about a year and half and have generated around $16 million for the operators at this time.

 Marijuana Suspects

According to officials, fifty-seven year old Perry Lee Hestor, thirty-five year old Brandon Lee Hestor, thirty-six year old Christopher Neil Rafferty, sixty-two year old James Allen Donaldson, and forty-four year old Christopher Yancy Martin were all arrested and booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail. They are expected to face charges which include fraudulent schemes and illegal possession and selling marijuana.

Gentry said that those that were involved in the illegal enterprise pretended to be caregivers which is horrible. Doing things legally under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act would have allowed them to have up to 12 marijuana plants as long as they didn’t live within 25 miles of a dispensary. The task force kept a close eye on the warehouse for about four months and did not wittiness any deliveries that exceeded 25 miles.

Suspected Drug Use

Police were first directed to the warehouse after complaints of a strong odor coming in the area.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Statement:

We cannot blame Mexico for this. This is domestic. This is home grown.

Good work to the Maricopa County task force and Sheriff’s office for making this huge bust. This is income that the state needs but also an example that needs to be seen. People can’t do illegal things. The state works with marijuana growers and for someone to try to do things illegally needs to be punished. They’re no better than the gangsters on the streets.

Phoenix Federal Drug Crimes Lawyer

Drug-Related

Any federal criminal charge is a serious matter, but a federal drug crime is often a high-level felony offense, which may result in a significant term of imprisonment. Many federal drug crimes carry mandatory prison sentences. If you have been arrested for a federal drug crime, it is critical that you protect your rights by retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney.

 

Our Federal drug charge attorneys defend clients against all federal drug charges in the greater Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, including:

  • Drug trafficking (trafficking of narcotics and other controlled substances)
  • Drug smuggling
  • Drug conspiracy charges
  • Drug manufacturing
  • Drug distribution
  • Drug importation or exportation

 

Federal Drug Crime Defense Strategy

Federal drug charges can arise in a number of situations. Often such charges arise out of the transportation, sale, distribution or manufacture of large quantities of drugs. If you passed state lines while carrying drugs, you may also have triggered a federal charge.

 

  • As with any other drug charge, there are a number of defenses and effective defense strategies that may be utilized in a federal drug case, including:
  • Use of pretrial motions to seek the suppression of evidence obtained as a result of an illegal search

and seizure.

  • Use of pretrial motions to seek the suppression of evidence obtained as a result of a search

performed pursuant to a search warrant that was not supported by probable cause.

  • Fighting charges at trial if the prosecution does not have sufficient evidence to prove all necessary

elements of a drug crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

  • Negotiation of a favorable plea agreement that minimizes a defendant’s exposure to potentially harsh

penalties normally associated with the conviction of a

 

Schedule a Free Consultation – Phoenix Federal Drug Crimes lawyer

If you or someone you know has been accused of a federal drug-related crime, contact a Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation. With a wealth of expertise, a commitment to integrity and a passion for defense, the Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC – Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers – are here to support you with your case. We believe every defendant has the right to a solid defense. Call us today for a free initial consultation at 480-351-6445.

 

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
https://www.criminaldefenselawyers.me

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drug possesion Drug Trafficking felony Narcotics

Drug Findings in Phoenix

Drug Findings in Phoenix

Drug Houses Found in Bust

Three suspected drug houses were raided and 10 people were arrested in a big drug sweep in El Mirage Wednesday morning.

El Mirage police, along with SWAT teams from DPS and MCSO served search warrants at three homes in the area.

Two homes were next door to each other; a third home was right across the street.

DPS believes the homes were sites of alleged gang, drug and prostitution activities.

“Especially in a smaller community, any time you can shut down three drug houses is phenomenal,” said one DPS detective. “It’s a huge impact in the community.”

Drug Informant

With the help of someone she didn’t know was an informant, records state, Acosta-Quintana transported the supplies to men whose job entails hiding in the desert for weeks on end.

She’s part of a group of 10 U.S. citizens and one Mexican national accused by the feds of running a sophisticated resupply operation for some of the “vast network” of cartel scouts.

In a complaint (below) and indictment made public last month, an assistant Arizona U.S. Attorney describes in detail how people employed by drug cartels allegedly brought food, fuel, and other supplies from Phoenix to the scouts.

The scouts’ job, in turn, was to guide marijuana smugglers through the Tohono O’odham Nation and into Arizona, making sure they stayed far away from law-enforcement officials.

Marijuana Bust

The February 28 federal indictment charges all 11 with a single count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

Records don’t state whether the suspects are Arizona residents or members of the Tohono O’odham tribe, but implies they mostly hail from metro Phoenix or the reservation.

The Native American reservation in southern Arizona, which shares a roughly 70-mile border with Mexico, has been a focal point in the new Trump administration immigration plan.

The tribe strongly opposes the construction of a border wall on its land. But its international border, which is marked in some places by barbed-wire fence or nothing at all, has for years been a sieve for smugglers.

Homeland Security Investigations began its probe of the group in October 2015, after a confidential source outlined much of the operation.

The bust, while noteworthy, may barely make a dent in the overall scout problem. Authorities occasionally target the scouts, like in the raid of a desert area near Arizona City last June.

However, going after the people who help the scouts has been difficult. One obstacle is that it’s not illegal to drive around with supplies or drop them off somewhere.

Drug Trafficking Case

The 15-page complaint in the case, which was filed in January and unsealed late last month, outlines in detail the feds’ case against the alleged conspirators.

Drug-trafficking organizations “utilize a vast network of scouts and scout helpers” to get the marijuana through the reservation, the complaint states.

Scouts are spread out all across what’s known as the “west desert corridor,” which runs roughly from State Route 286 to Yuma, and from the Mexican border to Interstate 8, where vehicles can pick up the pot loads.

Equipped with cell phones, binoculars, and digitally encrypted walkie-talkies, they take positions in hills and rocky outcrops, relaying information to load drivers and backpackers on foot.

For each group of smugglers that reaches their destination successfully, the scouts will be typically paid $500 to $1,000 apiece.

Secret Drugs

They’re hired to work through a “smuggling cycle” of eight to 12 weeks, but take vacations on Easter, Christmas, and Three Kings Day.

Within a group of scouts, one or more people will have specialized tasks, from scoping the area with binoculars to charging radios and cellphones to cooking.

The scouts need occasional drops of food, clothes, camping equipment, and other provisions in order to conduct their mission “without interruptions.”

That’s where the resupply personnel come in. They’re usually people who are familiar with the area because they live nearby.

The cartel gives “resupply members” vehicles, which these members sometimes re-title in their names, plus money to buy the supplies.

The complaint details a few dozen of the resupply operations.

The feds charge that on October 7, 2015, Maria Roxanna “Roxy” Acosta-Quintana was involved in one of them.

Feds Get Involved

They say she instructed the confidential source to drive an SUV to Acosta-Quintana’s mother’s house in Phoenix to Llanteria Michoacano’s #2, a tire shop at 44th Avenue and Indian School Road.

At the house, the informant received the keys to the SUV, which was pre-packed with six large, black trash bags full of supplies. Acosta-Quintana’s sedan was also packed with six bags of supplies.

Acosta-Quintana led her helper-informant to the tire shop, where a pickup truck was waiting. They loaded all 12 supply bags plus two spare tires into the truck.

The informant then hopped in the pickup and told the driver, an unidentified man, how to get to Arizona City near the Tohono nation.

Once at the intersection of Sunland Gin and Green Reservoir roads, “10 Hispanic males dressed in camouflage clothing came out from behind some bushes and were given the Ford pickup,” the complaint states.

Acosta-Quintana and the informant then returned to Phoenix.

 Drug Informant

In another example, the informant told officials how bags of supplies were taken directly to scouts working in the Sheridan Mountain Foothills, Castle Mountains, and Cimarron Mountains near Federal Route 34 on the reservation. In that same operation, the helpers took bags to the Tohono villages of Hikiwan and Kaka.

Resupply members often used the Walmart at 51st Avenue and Indian School Road to pick up supplies and exchange vehicles.

Border Patrol

Another resupply member, Fawn Eveningstar Manuel, was stopped in January 2016 by the U.S. Border Patrol. During the stop, Manuel admitted that she was taking bags of supplies in her SUV to Hikiwan “to assist with illegal alien smuggling occurring in the village of Hikiwan.”

As the investigation progressed, the feds tracked certain resupply vehicles to desert locations. In one such instance in January 2016, they found and arrested nine suspected smugglers with 473 pounds of marijuana.

Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined comment on the case.

 

The indicted U.S. citizens are:

• Maria Roxanna Acosta-Quintana

• Angelica Alvarado

• Nicole Havier

• Dora Carreras

• Fawn Eveningstar Manuel

• Annai Arlene Hernandez

• Jesus Gilberto Parra-Acosta

• Jackie Ann Garcia

• Antonio Pasqual Aguilar-Sanchez

• Lawrence Juan Jr.

• Andrew Ortega

Ruben Villegas-Acosta of Mexico was also indicted.

 

 

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
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Arizona Working on Family Dispute Crisis

Human Trafficking in Phoenix

Family Dispute Ends Deadly

Family fights can sometimes get pretty heated, sure everyone threatens to stop talking to that one person in their family occasionally but you never mean it. However, one family took “family dispute” to a whole nother level.

According to the Coolidge police, a shooting involving the deaths of three different people along a rural road seems to be a case of a murder-suicide.

The police day that seventy-five year old, Francisco Renteria Valenzuela as well as married couple, Reyna Idalia Renteria (forty-five years old) and Everardo Verduzco ( fifty-seven years old) were all found dead on Wednesday. Apparently they had all suffered from gunshot wounds and there was a pistol found by Verduzco. Verduzco was married to Rayna Renteria.

Coolidge Police Sgt. Mark Tercero said that when he interviewed the family members of the victims that the evidence lead to a possible marital dispute between the group.

Sgt. Mark Tercero’s Statement:

They were going through some marital issues. She recently broke off the relationship, which I believe led up to the incident. I believe this is somewhat of a murder-suicide. I can’t commit to that yet, because I don’t have the ballistics test back that will provide more information. But we still do not believe there are any outstanding suspects.

Which makes since given the situation.

 

 

Phoenix Domestic Violence Lawyer

Criminal Defense Cases

The highly skilled Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC advise and represent people facing criminal charges for domestic violence often described as Spousal Abuse, Spousal Battery or Domestic Dispute, such charges do not always reflect a case between married people, but include those living in the same location (cohabitation), or sometimes just engaged in a domestic (dating) relationship.  Such cases can also lead to violation of a restraining order or protective orders.  They are NOT the same as a Domestic Violence Restraining Order however.

With a team of former prosecutors, Phoenix based Criminal Defense Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC offer a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system. They understand the necessary steps to take in developing an aggressive defense strategy focused on securing a dismissal or minimizing any potential penalties associated with a conviction.

Domestic Violence cases have become extremely political and are regularly treated as “guilty until proven innocent.”   Even with minor cases, that do not involve a documented injury, proactive and rapid action by a caring defense attorney may be they key to not only avoiding a damaging no contact order, but may play a significant role in custody issues and an eventual resolution in the case that does not result in a life-time ban on the possession of firearms, tragic orders separating you from your family and other consequences that can interfere with work, school and life.

At the Law Offices of Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC, we are committed to helping you achieve a resolution to your immediate problems, while seeking opportunities to improve the troubled family dynamics that might be underlying factors.

In domestic violence cases, the district attorney and the judge will be especially interested in what you’re willing to do to improve relationships, conflict resolution skills, and anger management. Your demonstration toward positive change will often make the difference in the outcome of your case. We work closely with people charged with domestic assault or battery to obtain a dismissal, diversion to community treatment or deferred entry of judgment prior to eventually achieving a dismissal.

Phoenix Domestic Violence Lawyer

Our creative approach to difficult criminal defense problems can help you avoid the consequences of a conviction in situations such as the following scenarios:

 

  • Violence or assault between spouses, unmarried parents, or cohabiting adults
  • Elder Abuse
  • Child Abuse, Cruelty to a Child, or Child Endangerment
  • Restraining Order Violations
  • Criminal Threats
  • Harassment or Stalking

 

Our ability to connect you with the programs and services that are right for your circumstances can give you an extra layer of legal protection. At the same time, we work hard to help you get the most out of the presumption of innocence that stands between you and a conviction.

Schedule a Free Consultation – Phoenix Domestic Violence Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been accused of a Violent Crime such as Domestic Violence, contact a Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation. With a wealth of expertise, a commitment to integrity and a passion for defense, the Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC – Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers – are here to support you with your case. We believe every defendant has the right to a solid defense.

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
https://www.criminaldefenselawyers.me

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assault Burn Injury felony Narcotics Personal Injury

Sexual Abuse Cases in Phoenix

Homicide By Hammer

Several Recent Sexual Abuse Hearings in Phoenix

 

A convicted felon has recently been arrested for claiming to be a rapist. He even threatened to rape an entire family and several children at the Hermosa Park on a Tuesday, according to the local police.

 

Fifty-six year old, Russell Theodore was arrested for the following charges: one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation, one count of threatening and intimidating, and one more count of criminal trespassing in the first degree in a residential yard.

 

Theodore has been accused of confronting the victim as well as her twelve year old daughter near 20th street and southern avenue. He even told them that  he was a “rapist”.  Theodore (the suspect) had allegedly threatened to rape both of the girls as well as the other children nearby, According to the police reports.

 

The mother was luck enough to catch the attention of a park ranger. The ranger then followed Theodore and called the police. Theodore fled to a residential area at 20th Place and Roeser Road. That is where he got in trouble for the trespassing.

 

A second witness from the scene had told the local authorities that Theodore had actually been seen and heard threatening to rape several people. Theodore was then arrested and booked into the 4th Avenue jail. Theodore’s record wasn’t exactly clean to begin with, he was previously convicted of burglary, theft of means of transportation, and public indecency.

 

Thank goodness the authorities was able to catch this pervert before something happened to those women and children.

 

Child Sexual Abuse in Colorado

 

The police have now charged a twenty-six year old man with sexually assault of a fourteen year old girl in Colorado. He has had “varying degrees of contact” with the girl. Arizona authorities say that the contact include, illegal and physical contact.

 

The twenty-six year old young man, Anthony Martinez was tracked all the way to Flagstaff, Arizona. On May 11 of this year, the police arrested him. He is now in the Coconino County Jail.

 

The Police say that Anthony had been communicating with young girls around 2011-2015 through social media. He had asked them to exchange photographs and would sometimes even meet the girls at “locations often frequented by younger members of our community” according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

 

The investigation for the sicko started back in November 2014. The police had opened a sexual assault investigation that involved a fourteen year old girl. During that particular investigation, the police were able to find information that would lead them to a search within other states.

 

The police are trying to identify anyone who might have been in physical contact with Anthony or even had exchanged photos with him. If so, please contact the Colorado Springs Police at 719-444-7000. If you call, please just let the investigators know that you’re calling about the Anthony Martinez case.

 

Police say that this isn’t a one state case, they have leads in Montana, New Mexico, New York, and California.

 

Phoenix Violent Crimes Lawyer

Criminal Defense Cases

If you are suspected of murder, aggravated assault or another violent crime, an experienced criminal defense attorney can secure your rights. A skilled lawyer will not only look for ways to get the charges against you reduced or dismissed but will also focus on developing an effective criminal defense trial strategy. At Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC, we have a substantial background defending clients accused of violent crimes in the state of Arizona and the greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Our lead criminal defense attorney, Daniel Perlman, is a former prosecutor who previously pursued charges against individuals suspected of violent crimes. Mr. Perlman and the entire Perlman Law Group offer a comprehensive view of the criminal justice system and know the right steps to take in developing a defense strategy while seeking to mitigate any potential damage.

 

Our ability to work with the facts in plea negotiations can turn a weak defense into a strong one. In our experience, a creative approach to your defense strategy can result in a sentence of probation or work release, even on a felony plea.

 

Effective Defensive Strategy for Violent Crimes

As a starting point for an effective defense strategy, we will evaluate the police report, witness statements and any physical evidence. Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC takes its approach a step further through identifying creative solutions by focusing on the actual risk of punishment you are currently facing. The threat of prison will probably be based as much on your prior record as it will be on the facts of the current criminal charges.

 

Our firm handles cases involving all types of Violent Crime allegations, including:

  • Assault and Assault with a Deadly Weapon
  • Murder, Attempted Murder and Manslaughter
  • Weapons Offenses
  • Armed Robbery
  • Kidnapping and False Imprisonment
  • Criminal Threats
  • Gang-Related Crimes
  • Resisting Arrest and Assault on an Officer
  • Domestic Violence

 

If weaknesses in the government’s case mean that you stand a good chance of success at trial, we will aggressively represent your interests before a jury. If the evidence against you makes a trial too risky, we will advise you and work with all parties — including prosecutors, probation officers, court services and community agencies — to show that you are an excellent candidate for favorable treatment.

 

Schedule a Free Consultation –  Phoenix Violent Crimes lawyer

If you or someone you know has been accused of a Violent Crime, contact a Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation. With a wealth of expertise, a commitment to integrity and a passion for defense, the Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC – Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers – are here to support you with your case. We believe every defendant has the right to a solid defense. Call us today for a free initial consultation at 480-351-6445.

 

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
https://www.criminaldefenselawyers.me

Categories
Drug Trafficking felony Narcotics

Marijuana Drug Bust in Phoenix

Dispensary Causes Suspicion

Police Finds Crate Carrying Marijuana

 

Metro police intercepted a crate containing 140 pounds of marijuana shipped from Phoenix for distribution to street dealers in Nashville Thursday.

When detectives received information that the 327 pound wooden crate located at a local freight company could be tied to criminal activity, they sent Caine, a police dog, to check, police said.

With the help of a Caine, officers found 140 pounds of marijuana inside the cargo during a search warrant, repackaged the marijuana and followed the shipment to a home in the 5000 block of Ryan Allen Court, the affidavit continues.

Police arrested Tusabi Edwards, 40, and Terrence Reames, 38, in connection with possession with intent to sell, deliver, or manufacture a controlled substance in a school zone.

Depending on the grade of the marijuana, current drug prices provided by Metro police show it’s valued at anywhere between $385,000 to $630,000.

His co-defendant, Reames, told police Edwards came to Nashville to oversee the load of marijuana and that Edwards was supposed to sell the marijuana in Nashville. Reams also said he was to receive $2000 for his part to distribute the marijuana for providing a place to receive and break down the marijuana for re-sale in Nashville, the affidavit states.

Edwards is being held in lieu of $200,000 bond. Reames’ bond is set at $50,000.

As of Friday morning both men remained incarcerated at the Metro jail.

PART 2

The Maricopa County Drug Task Force removes Marijuana plants and growing materials after shutting down an allegedly illegal grow operation at a warehouse located near 40th Street and Washington on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, in Phoenix, Ariz. Danny Miller / azcentral.com | The Republic

Armed with a search warrant, authorities arrived at a grow warehouse near 40th and Washington streets at 7:30 a.m. and seized more than 600 marijuana plants in what may have been one of the county’s largest drug busts, said Lt. Jeff Gentry of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Hash, edibles and kief — a dried form of marijuana — also were found at the warehouse.The marijuana collected from the warehouse will be dried at a Drug Enforcement Administration facility and then will be packaged as evidence, Gentry said.

A total of 12 warrants were served in Scottsdale, Phoenix and Fountain Hills in connection with the investigation. Among the items seized were guns and more than $100,000 in cash, according to officials.

A father and son are believed to head more than 10 similar marijuana grow facilities in Phoenix and northern Arizona that have been running for about a year and a half and have generated at least $16 million for the operators during that time, Gentry said. That dollar amount is a conservative estimate, he said.

Arrested Tuesday were Perry Lee Hestor, 57, Brandon Lee Hestor, 35, Christopher Neil Rafferty, 36, James Allen Donaldson, 62, and Christopher Yancy Martin, 44. All have been booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail and face charges including fraudulent schemes and illegal possession and selling of marijuana, officials said.

Gentry said those involved in the illegal enterprise posed as caregivers, which, under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, would allow them to grow up to 12 marijuana plants provided they did not live within 25 miles of a dispensary. The task force kept the warehouse under surveillance for about four months and did not witness any deliveries that exceeded 25 miles, Gentry said.

A Sheriff’s Office statement said the business is believed to have grown over 2,000 pounds of marijuana per year since they began their operation in late 2013.

Authorities were initially directed to the warehouse after complaints of a strong odor wafting in the area.

In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, sheriff’s spokesman Joaquin Enriquez explained the business flouted state standards for legal dispensaries by neglecting to have background checks for employees, dispensary fees, agent cards, safety regulations, product inspection, inventory controls, taxes and transportation limits or regulations.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said detectives believe up to 25 individuals were involved in the illegal enterprise and about 15 more suspects are under investigation.

He said the operation involved people “just trying to make money” and that investigators found no connection between the business and Mexican drug cartels.

“We cannot blame Mexico for this,” Arpaio said, tapping the wooden podium forcefully with his finger. “This is domestic. This is home grown.”

The Maricopa County Drug Suppression Task Force includes law-enforcement personnel from agencies including area police departments, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
https://www.criminaldefenselawyers.me

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Marijuana Problems in Phoenix

Marijuana Problems in Phoenix

Synthetic Marijuana Issues in Phoenix

 

According to the police officials, synthetic marijuana is on the rise. Not just in Phoenix either. A lot of major U.S. cities have recordings of the rise in synthetic marijuana. There’s been a surge of overdoses according to police officials. Even, a rise in violent crime.

The situation is becoming pretty severe. It actually escalated enough that police chiefs had a meeting in Washington has called for development or field tests that can hopefully help the police figure out who the suspects are on the synthetic marijuana.

Police say that the Marijuana is sold in “slickly marketed packets” with names like K2, Scooby Snax and Spice. The drugs are crazy and not smart to be messed with, being that they are made up of a “variety of chemicals” and actually have very little to do with real marijuana.

Chemicals in Synthetic Marijuana

The chemicals that are found in the packets vary. Even the packets that are identically branded have very different ingredients. Most users probably don’t even know what the heck they are smoking.

July the poison control centers in the United States had tallied 4,377 reports of people who suffered from the effects of synthetic marijuana. Last year the numbers were a little lower at 3,682, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

The users of the synthetic marijuana are now finding their way onto “police crime blotters”. There was a survey of thirty-five major city police departments across the United States has found out that thirty percent have contributed to some of the violent crimes related to the fake marijuana use.

William Bratton who is the New York Police commissioner has said during a press conference, that he’s calling it “weaponized marijuana”. He also said that it is a growing and huge concern.

 

William Bratton’s Statement:

These dangerous products do not belong on store shelves within our neighborhoods and are a threat to public health.

 

The New York Police Department has also said that there has been more than one hundred overdoes cases in just one month at the Bellevue Hospital trauma center.

In Washington the Metropolitan Police Department has said that there was a man who they believed to be suffering from the effects of synthetic marijuana. The man was on the synthetic marijuana and actually committed a gruesome, fatal stabbing on a metro train. The stabbing wasn’t a secret…he did it in plain sight of anyone who was on the subway on July 4th. The toxicology reports are not public at this time.

The EMS Department has said that their reports show that they have transported 439 people who were suffering from suspected synthetic marijuana overdoses in June.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, most of the synthetic marijuana actually comes from China. It’s then imported to the United States.

Law Enforcement have been trying to crack down on the synthetic marijuana situation. Convenience stores have even pulled items from their shelves. Now users have to use/know code names to get the drugs from store clerks or they can buy it from the street dealers.

The drugs can be very harmful. Causing hallucinogenic effects, nausea, agitation, seizures, and can even get as bad as causing suicidal or violent reactions.  The DEA says that the synthetic Marijuana falls under a “broad label of depressant-hallucinogens”. It actually has trouble classifying due to the several different types of chemicals that the manufacturers are using.

Homeless populations are on the front of heavy overdoses in some of the cities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington is planning to start giving the homeless shelters presentations about the harmful usage of this drug and other drugs.

Of course the drugs are illegal. However, it’s hard to stop all use of the many different chemicals used to make the synthetic drugs.

There’s some speculation that police officers are looking to “blame” the synthetic drug for the heavy spikes in crime. It’s a big problem in several different communities.

 

Washington’s Metro Police Chief, Cathy Lanier’s Statement:

In some cities, synthetic cannabinoids is a huge issue, in other cities its just beginning to grow. Its connection to violence, that’s a gap that can be fixed.

 

 

Marijuana Drug Bust

 

Drug busts around the border are sadly not uncommon. A recent find by the Customs and Border Protection officers lead to the arrest of two different men. They used “get away” cars to hide a crime.

In July, there were two separate incidents where officers at the Port of Douglas had to inspect as well as confiscate two different cars. Both hiding a total of two hundred pounds of marijuana!

A man from Douglas, who was seventy-years old at the time, got arrested after officers found forty-three pounds of marijuana in the car’s bench set after they inspected the Ford truck he was driving.

The officers also made an arrest against a sixteen year old male from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. This was after they also inspected his Pontiac Sedan vehicle and found over one-hundred and fifty-six pounds of marijuana hidden throughout the whole car. Who knew a Pontiac could hold that much?

The drugs and of course, the vehicles had to be seized. The two men then got arrested and taken to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations .

 

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