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Newsbrief:
Eleven
Years
for
Selling
Baking
Soda
10/3/03
A judge in Ohio's Stark County
sentenced a Massillon man to 11 years in prison Tuesday for selling fake
cocaine to an undercover police officer. Kenyan Chandler, 22, was
convicted of cocaine trafficking after selling a small bag of bogus crack
-- actually baking soda -- in July. The bag was supposed to be a
sample for a larger, 4.5 ounce deal valued at $8,000.
Although no cocaine was involved,
a jury last week convicted Chandler of cocaine trafficking. Under
Ohio law, trafficking is defined as selling or offering to sell the drug.
Stark County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Vance told the Associated Press that
the fact Chandler sold baking soda, not cocaine, made no difference.
And because the supposed deal was for more than 100 grams, that qualified
Chandler as a "major drug trafficker" subject to a 10-year mandatory minimum
sentence.
"It's absurd," Chandler's
attorney, Rick Pitinii, told the AP. Chandler was convicted of the
wrong crime, Pitinii said. Under Ohio law, selling fake drugs or
"counterfeit controlled substances," is a crime. That is what Chandler
should have been charged with, he added. Chandler will appeal, Pitinii
said.
-- END --
|
Issue #305, 10/3/03
Editorial:
Rush Limbaugh and Oxycontin |
Hurwitz
Arrest Galvanizes Opposition to Justice Jihad Against Pain Doctors |
Swiss Marijuana
Legalization, Prescription Heroin Blocked by Parliament |
"Rough
Riders" Go Free For Now: Suburban Jury Fails to Convict Oakland Police
Rogues |
Drug
Czar Office Safe for Now: House Votes for Five More Years of Same
Old Drug War, Senate Vote Pending |
Newsbrief:
Hemp Food Industry Sees Looming Victory in DEA Battle |
Newsbrief:
New Hampshire Supreme Court Says Garbage is Protected Property |
Newsbrief:
Canadians Smuggling Marijuana in Garbage Exports to United States |
Newsbrief:
Alaska Marijuana Initiative Back on Track |
Newsbrief:
Eleven Years for Selling Baking Soda |
Newsbrief:
Barbarism in Office -- Australian Mayor Calls for Lethal Injections for
Drug Users |
Newsbrief:
New South Wales Medical Marijuana Approval |
Newsbrief:
This Week's Corrupt Cops Story |
DRCNet
Temporarily Suspending Our Web-Based Write-to-Congress Service Due to Funding
Shortfalls -- Your Help Can Bring It Back -- Keep Contacting Congress in
the Meantime |
Perry Fund
Accepting Applications for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 School Years, Providing
Scholarships for Students Losing Aid Because of Drug Convictions |
The Reformer's
Calendar
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