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Drug Trafficking felony Medical Marijuana Narcotics Uncategorized

Phoenix Narcotics

Phoenix Narcotics

Border Patrol Finds Narcotics

Sadly, drug crimes are on the rise. Times are getting desperate and it seems like people will do anything even resort to trafficking drugs.

According to reports a woman was recently arrested when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found 235 pounds of marijuana in her truck. The woman was twenty-eight years old and a Mexican national. She tried to smuggle the marijuana into the United States through the Raul Hector Catro Port of Entry.

After the officers made the arrest a second inspection of the truck, a narcotics detection canine helped the officers find around $119,000 worth or marijuana hidden throughout her vehicle. Pretty big bust.

The officers seized the marijuana as well as the truck and then arrested the woman for narcotics smuggling. She was then turned over to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

CEO Arrested for Narcotics

Being an owner of a company of something that would help people would be a hard thing. Especially if that thing is somewhat illegal.

The billionaire owner of Insys Therapeutics was recently arrested and charged for leading a nationwide conspiracy “to use bribes and fraud to cause the illegal distribution of Fentanyl spray intended for cancer patients”.

Wow. Pretty serious allegations. Seventy-four year old, Dr. John N. Kapoor of Phoenix Arizona is the founder and former CEO of Insys. He is now going to face federal charges as well as fined for many many things.

The prosecutors are claiming that the company paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to doctors in exchange for prescribing spray called “Subsys” which contained a very addictive synthetic opioid fentanyl. Three of the top three prescribers have already been convicted of taking bribes from Insys.

Narcotics Company in Big Trouble

One of Kapoor’s ex employee’s calls him a genius but evil man. She’s glad the victim’s are getting justice for his crimes. She evens says that if called to testify against Kapoor that she most certainly will.

According to studies, Subsys is 100 times more strong than morphine so that’s pretty hard to believe. It was approved by the FDA to treat patients with cancer and those with “breakthrough” pain.

Nixon, Kapoor’s ex-employee, said that it was her job to make sure that Subsys got into the hands of as many patients as possible. No matter if they had cancer or not.

Nixon’s Statement:

My job responsibilities were to contact insurance companies on behalf of the patients and the doctors to get the medication approved and paid for by their insurance company.

According to Nixon Subsys isn’t cheap. A thirty day supply can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $30,000. It pretty much just depends on what insurers will pay for it. That’s what Nixon’s job was, to trick the insurance company’s into thinking that the drug was “medically necessary”. Which if you have cancer and are in severe pain, I’m sure it is.

Nixon’s Statement:

I would say, ‘Hi, this is Patty. I’m calling from Dr. Smith’s office. I’m calling to request prior authorization for a medication called Subsys. it was a complete bold-faced lie.

According to Nixon, Sarah Fuller was one of the victim patients that was prescribed Subsys even though she didn’t have cancer.

However she did have chronic neck and back pain from being involved in two car accident. Sarah’s addiction didn’t take long. Within a month her prescription was tripled. 14 months later she was found dead on her bedroom floor.

Fentanyl technically killed her though.

Sadly, Fuller is not alone.

Insys denied any responsibility in Sarah’s death. They also claimed that they shouldn’t be blamed for how the doctor’s prescribe their products. As of right now the corporation isn’t facing criminal charges. It’s also still selling Subsys.

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 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.

 

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Categories
drug possesion Drug Trafficking Narcotics

Drug Tunnel Found

drug tunnel

Marijuana Seized From Drug Tunnel

A ton of cocaine and seven tons of marijuana were seized from a cross-border tunnel that stretched from a Tijuana, Mexico, home to a San Diego, California, suburb, U.S. authorities said Wednesday.

“We believe this to be the longest tunnel that we have discovered in this district to date,” said Laura Duffy, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California.

Half-Mile Tunnel Found on US-Mexico Border, Cocaine Seized

Authorities arrested six people and seized more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine and more than 14,000 pounds of marijuana. The cocaine is valued at around $22 million.

“We believe this to be the largest single seizure of cocaine related to a tunnel in the California-Mexico border,” Duffy said.

At about 3-feet wide, the tunnel measured the length of more than eight football fields (nearly a half-mile) and was equipped with lights, ventilation, a rail system and a motorized freight elevator capable of carrying up to 10 people, according to federal officials.

The six arrested in San Diego were charged with various drug trafficking and tunnel-related charges, including conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine and conspiracy to use a border tunnel.

Authorities said there have been more than a dozen secret passages found along California’s border with Mexico since 2006.

In the past five years, federal authorities have detected more than 75 cross-border smuggling tunnels, most of them in California and Arizona.

part 2

OTAY MESA, Calif. – A new drug tunnel was discovered at an Otay Mesa outdoor wood pallet storage facility Tuesday, marking the third such discovery in a month.

Border Patrol agents were seen standing outside the fenced-off Otay Pallets business lot on Marconi Drive, about 1000 feet from the Tijuana-San Diego border.

In Tijuana, federal officers were guarding a house east of the Tijuana airport in an area known as colonia Nueva Tijuana.

That is said to be the south point of the tunnel.

Authorities from the US Attorney’s Office would not comment on the investigation Tuesday afternoon although they’ve called for a news conference on Wednesday at the site.

One man who works in the area said he recently became suspicious of the pallet operation, which had been open for about a year.

“Once I saw them put up cameras inside I knew something was going on,” said the man who did not want to be identified.

He also said he believes agents found the tunnel on Sunday.

“They were here last night and the night before, I came in and was like what’s going on and they said they shut everything down.”

Last Friday, a cross-border tunnel was discovered near Calexico by an El Centro Sector Border Patrol agent who was conducting routine patrol duties, CBP agent stated.  The agent noticed a depression in the soil along the banks of the All-American Canal, exposing an 18-inch hole with lumber and electrical wiring inside, according to the release.

Drug tunnel found at warehouse in Otay Mesa.

About four weeks ago, four people were arrestedafter Border Patrol agents located an alleged secret drug tunnel underneath a three-bedroom house in Calexico, authorities said. The tunnel’s entrance was inside a restaurant in Mexicali, Mexico.

 

 

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Phoenix, AZ 85008
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Man Identifies Man Killed in Police Officer Shooting

Police Investigate Mans Death Involved with Officer Shooting

 

On Tuesday the police were able to identify a man who was killed in an officer involved shooting. The shooting happened around six o’clock in the evening, near 25th Avenue and Greenway Road at an apartment complex.

 

The Phoenix Police stated that the officer who was involved in the complex related shooting was actually at an unrelated call when he got another call about a drug deal happening nearby in an alleged Cadillac Escalade. The police say that when the officer approached the Escalade there were two men inside. The driver of the vehicle (thirty-four year old, Rumain Brisbon) got out of the vehicle and then went into the backseat of the SUV. Then he proceeded to remove something.

 

Officer Investigates Drug Call Before Shooting Starts

 

The officer then gave the driver several commands to show whatever was in his hands before he put one or maybe both of his hands near his waistband. That is when the officer drew his weapon and flashed the suspect with the flashlight.

 

Of course the suspect decides to run to a corridor towards the nearby apartments. The officer chased the male suspect. The officer finally catches up to the suspect and tried to detain him. The officer orders Brisbon to the ground but of course Brisbon didn’t listen. Witness say that the suspect began yelling obscenities at the officer and wouldn’t listen to the officer’s commands. The officer approached Brisbon and Brisbon again put his hand in his pocket. The officer warned Brisbon to keep his hand in his pocket. The officer believed that he had felt a handle of a gun in the suspects pocket so he tried to keep his hand there.

 

The suspect again refused to listen to the officer. What the officer actually found in the man’s pocket was a bottle of pills. There was a struggle at the apartments then that is when the officer shot after he had felt threatened. The officers immediately rushed to the victim and tried to save him by doing CPR. Firefighters came to the scene and pronounced Brisbon dead.

 

No officers were injured at the scene. The officer who had shot Brisbon was a thirty year old male who is a seven year veteran of the department.

 

Witness Statement:

I was right there on the street walking to that side when everything started going on, so that’s when I heard, saw everything, and they’re trying to give him CPR, and all that stuff, and I guess he didn’t make it.

 

Source: https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/north-phoenix/phoenix-police-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-
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assault Homicide Narcotics Personal Injury Wrongful Death

Woman Charged in Fatal Shooting At Phoenix Sports Bar

Homicide Shootings

Woman Sentenced for Fatal Shooting Outside of Phoenix Bar

 

Bars in America can either be the funnest time of your life or the scariest. Most people go to have a fabulous time, but sometimes you never know how the alcohol will settle with some people. Or maybe you’re having a fun night with someone dancing and then a jealous ex or current boyfriend or girlfriend come in and see the situation and then things get really crazy.

 

A woman has been accused of fatally shooting a man and injuring another person outside of a Phoenix Sports Bar. She has recently changed her plea to guilty in the shooting case.

 

Woman Guilty in Phoenix Bar Shooting

 

The Maricopa County prosecutors have said that Jessica Wood who is twenty-nine years old has pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a second-degree murder charge and attempted first-degree murder. Her sentencing will be on Friday, December 19th of this year.

 

Jessica has been charged for the shooting back in March of this year. The shooting happened outside of Zipps Sports Grill which is located in North-Central Phoenix.

 

According to the Phoenix Police, Jessica Wood approached two men, just before midnight. She opened fire without provocation. However, the Phoenix investigators think that she may have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the shooting.

 

Phoenix Police say that the man died that night, Thomas Allen Marcussen died from his injuries in the shooting. The other man, James Swain luckily survived that terrible night.

 

It’s horrible how much drugs and alcohol can change someone. If you’re having addiction problems, please get to the nearest rehab center and get some help. Not only are you hurting yourself, but you could be hurting other people…just like Jessica. You never know when a binge can turn into a killing, whether it’s killing you or someone else.

 

Source: https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/jessica-wood-update-woman-changes-plea-to-guilty-in-phoenix-shooting

 

Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
668 N 44th St. Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 351-6445
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drug possesion Drug Trafficking felony Narcotics

Mexican Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

Police Make Huge Cocaine Bust

Forty Year Old Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

 

On Monday, A forty year old Mexican man was sentenced for a growing crime of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to seventeen and a half years in the Arizona Federal Prison for the Drug Trafficking crime. It seems like a harsher punishment is hopefully so others will see how wrong this is and spook them into quitting.

 

According to the Federal Prosecutors, The Mexican man’s name is Luis Enrique Villegas-Lugo. Back in February, Luis Enrique Villegas-Luga pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine”. I guess one good thing is he didn’t fight the charges, but usually pleading guilty gets you a slight lesser sentence.

 

Drug Trafficking Investigation

The police authorities say that the organization that operated this drug trafficking was originally investigated from July 2006 to September 2006 over the Phoenix area. The ring of drug traffickers allegedly imported methamphetamine from Mexico and then transported it to a stash house that was located in Phoenix. The drugs were then distributed to the waiting customers.

Police Seized Meth, Guns, and Drug Packaging Materials

During the investigation the investigating police law enforcement agents seized almost twenty pounds of meth as well as two handguns, two rifles, as well as some drug packaging materials from the stash house in Phoenix. Luis Enrique Villegas-Lugo was actually charged for the drug trafficking back in February of 2009. He is just now getting his sentencing which he got seventeen and a half years. The court probably allowed him the 5 years he already served to be taken off making him have twelve and a half more years to serve.

Source : https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/mexican-man-gets-prison-in-drug-trafficking-case

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Phoenix, AZ 85008

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