Drug War Issues
Another NYPD bad apple, a probation officer with a bad habit, and more jail guards ending up on the inside looking out. Let's get to it:
In New York City, an NYPD officer has been jailed pending trial after being accused of being part of a gang that robbed drug dealers in six states ranging from New York to North Carolina. Officer Jorge Arbaje-Diaz was indicted for conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act (extortion by force), possession and distribution of cocaine, and firearms charges. Arbaje-Diaz reportedly wore his police uniform in some of the 100 armed robberies attributed to the gang, which managed to steal some 1,500 pounds of cocaine and $4 million in cash from dealers.
In Vale, Oregon, an Eastern Oregon probation officer was arrested October 30 for apparently stealing drugs. Sydnie Maglaughlin, 36, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, third-degree theft and third-degree official misconduct. Maglaughlin worked as a corrections technician for the Malheur County Work Release Program from 2004 to 2006, when she transferred to the probation office. She has posted $1,500 bail and is free pending trial.
In Panama City, Florida, a Bay County jail guard was arrested Wednesday after she was caught bringing pain pills to work. It apparently wasn't the first time. Angela Lavonne Chiles now faces charges of introduction of contraband into a detention facility and unlawful compensation for official behavior. She has now been fired and is currently looking out from the other side of the bars.
In Worcester, Massachusetts, a former jail guard at the Worcester County House of Corrections was sentenced October 30 to two years in prison for smuggling oxycodone into the jail. Matthew Mahoney, 25, had been convicted in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute. Mahoney was caught in 2007 smuggling between 80 and 100 pills into the jail. He must report to prison by December 1.
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Comments
Drug War
Although I'm very much against the use of such drugs as cocaine, speed, heroin, crack, etc., people who are using these substances are merely trying to change how they are feeling. Their choices may be stupid, ill-advised, ignorant, dumb or foolish, but they are not criminal actions, but medical choices. That this gov't's laws allow these people to be tossed into prison is what is criminal. I would say that putting someone into prison for the personal use of drugs, especially with the long sentences meted out today, definately constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, which is explicitly prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.
In reply to Drug War by Anonymous (not verified)
Drug War
I agree with your position drug use. The situation is much worse than you know. Our government routinely extorts guilty pleas from innocent or people not guilty of the "crime" they plead to because their rights are routinely violated by prosecutors. The system is corrupt through and through. It is meat grinder only interested in convection rates with NO interest in "Justice" or guilt/innocence. This "War on Drugs is an abomination. We are all guilty who accept its continuation.
Encourage Bush to declare an end to this war on drugs, grant pardons to all convicted of drug charges of related crime and send the Prisoners of War (POW's) home with all rights restored.
Donald Sheldon
well
the cop with stealing the coke deserves to go to jail not because hes a cop but because he abused his power to extort drug dealers and i don't mind some prison guards getting the inmates something to get fucked up on i mean shit there in prison what else do they got to do its better then making prison hooch.
"What Else Have They Got To do In Prison...?"
A smart con knows what those of us have learned in the underclass, that he is caught between cops & creeps (predators). Self medication is a good way of "losing one's edge" over his opponents. A much more productive way of doing time is researching law in the prison library, writing legal briefs and motions for appeal; and otherwise giving them HELL! COST THEM AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN!
David S. Schneider-Citizen
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