Category: Drug Crimes
Medical marijuana shops have posed an interesting dilemma for marijuana users, shop proprietors, and law enforcement officers alike. There is definitely a fine line between allowed and disallowed activity taking place within these shops, and any accusation of illegal activity needs to be thoroughly investigated before charges are filed against innocent individuals. However, a tendency to assume rather than investigate has led some individuals to question whether or not their legal rights are being infringed upon by overzealous officers of the law. According to a reuters.com article, the number of medical marijuana shops in Los Angeles has greatly increased over… Read More
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that the Los Angeles Police Department and federal authorities teamed up in a raid that targeted a Los Angeles street gang responsible for crimes ranging from assault to drug charges to murder. The street gang in question calls multiple cities and areas in the Los Angeles area its home, has affiliations with prison gangs, and has a long history of committing violent acts against those whom they consider outsiders. The raid involved the detainment and arrest of a large number of individuals for a wide variety of charges. In such matters, it is important… Read More
According to latimesblogs.latimes.com, a shooting occurred outside of a marijuana dispensary in West Los Angeles. Two people were seriously injured, and were taken to local area hospitals where they are in critical and serious conditions. Police investigating the matter believe that the shooting was an attempted robbery. Los Angeles police officials cited an increase in crime levels occurring around marijuana dispensaries. Although marijuana is legal for medical purposes, the very fact that it is illegal otherwise can cause for some complicated matters pertaining to the law. Marijuana users that need the drug for medicinal purposes might be subject to investigation,… Read More
According to the Los Angeles Times, the reported levels of the anesthetic propofol which contributed towards Michael Jackson’s untimely death are relatively too low to have posed any sort of risk to the pop star. Jackson’s doctor claims to have administered a dosage of 25 milligrams to Jackson, who was dependent on the drug to fall asleep nightly. However, according to medical experts, a dosage that size taken by a patient such as Jackson, someone who was accustomed to taking the drug and had therefore built up a tolerance for it, would have little effect, if any at all, on… Read More
In our legal system, an indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a criminal offense. The LA Times online published an article about one such indictment, the document charges about 40 members and associates of the Columbia Lil Cycos — a clique of the 18th Street gang — with being involved in a racketeering conspiracy that allegedly involved murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping and other crimes. According to the indictment, the Mexican mafia, a notorious prison based organization that allegedly controls Latino street gangs were angered that a baby was killed in a botched “hit” of… Read More
The website latimes.com reported in an account on June 8, 2009 that the U.S. Border Patrol has arrested a 30 year old Mexican national who was trying to smuggle 24 pounds of pot on his surfboard. According to the border patrol the suspect of the drug crime was seen early in the morning paddling north approximately 200 yards off the coast of Imperial Beach, which is in close proximity to the Mexican border. Border agents commanded the surfer to come ashore, at which point he threw a blue duffel bag in the water. Agents were forced to go in to… Read More
A latimes.com report from May 13, 2009 stated that an investigation into the offices of former assessor Bill Postmus has prompted the San Bernardino County Supervisors to file suit against Postmus and five of his co-workers in an attempt to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars. The report was done by former federal prosecutor John Hueston who gained fame for prosecuting Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling of Enron. The investigation revealed that crime, fraud, and drug use were a common occurrence in Postmus’s office. In addition, the 30 page document states that people not qualified for the job were hired… Read More
The dailynews.com website reported in an account on March 14, 2009 that Alisha Nichole Mankin, 25 is sentenced to half a year in jail for leading the police on a 90 mile chase that started in Santa Monica and ended in Oxnard. Mankin, who is from the Antelope Valley, took control of a U-Haul truck her boyfriend had rented. Mankin pled guilty to evading the police, which is a felony crime in California. She also pled guilty to a misdemeanor hit and run. Judge John Dobroth, Ventura County Superior Court, sentenced Mankin, suspended her license for one year, and placed… Read More
The latimes.com website reported in an account on March 11, 2009 that rapper and actor Coolio had been arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport for possession of rock cocaine and battery of an airport employee. Coolio’s real name is Artis Leon Ivey, 45, and he was having his baggage searched at LAX when authorities allegedly found cocaine. When the screener was getting close to his hidden cocaine, Coolio panicked and grabbed the screeners arm in an attempt to prevent the search. Police arrested Coolio for his drug crime in California and transported him to the Los Angeles Police Department’s… Read More
The cbsnews website reported in an article on March 14, 2009 that a judge in Beverly Hills has issued an arrest warrant for Lindsay Lohan, 22. It is unclear though why the warrant was issued. It is possible that it is connected to an incident in 2007 when Lohan was driving under the influence and crashed her Mercedes-Benz into a tree. Mike Foxen, Sgt. said that the warrant carries a bail of $50,000. Foxen said, ‘We believe it has to do with her arrest for DUI.” He added that there were no other details disclosed to him. Lohan’s attorney, Shawn… Read More
