Drug War Issues
An Indiana prosecutor gets slapped again over shady asset forfeiture practices, a Texas trooper gets caught with the coke, and so does a North Carolina cop. Let's get to it:
In Muncie, Indiana, the Delaware County prosecutor has been ordered to repay $18,395 in legal fees he paid himself as a drug task force prosecutor where he bypassed the courts and used confidential agreements with defendants to seize money and property. Delaware County Judge Richard Dailey ruled that because no asset forfeiture judgment was rendered in court, Prosecutor Mark McKinney is not entitled to attorney's fees. In one case cited where more than $50,000 was seized by the Muncie-Delaware County Drug Task Force, McKinney paid himself $4,193 in legal fees and took 25% of the value of seized property auctioned off. He faces an investigation by a special prosecutor to see if he committed any crime with his handling of drug forfeitures, as well as a misconduct complaint filed with the Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary commission.
In Brownsville, Texas, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper was charged Monday with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine after police watched him take delivery of two suitcases full of the drug in a motel parking lot. Trooper Jesus Larrazolo, 35, was holding 26 kilos of coke when arrested by Brownsville police and agents from the FBI's Special Investigations Unit. According to court documents, Larrazolo said he had been threatened by unknown persons if he did not participate in the drug deal. He is a six-year veteran trooper.
In Columbus, North Carolina, a former Columbus police officer was arrested last Friday on multiple drug charges. Carl David Wright, 53, faces six counts each of trafficking cocaine by possession, transportation, and manufacture. During a search of Wright's home after his arrest, police seized more than $250,000 cash and a kilo of cocaine. State and federal revenue agents seized $4,000 in cash, $1,400 in coins, three flat-screen TVs, two lawn mowers, a 2002 Chevy Camaro and a 1997 Nissan pickup to help satisfy a $39,000 tax lien Wright was assessed for possessing the cocaine. Wright is being held at the Columbus County Detention Center with bail set at $1 million. The state charges could be superseded by federal charges if a grand jury that was set to meet this week returns a federal indictment against him.
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Comments
threatened?
I don't know whether I am being naive when I believe the threat the Brownsville cop recieved. But, It sounds like the drug war is now spilling over the border even more. How many cops are going to receive threats to their kids and family, like this! The drug war has just taken another step in its destruction of our society. The cop has a great choice. Either, risk going to jail if caught, or risk losing one of your family members to asassination, by the drug lords that run the Mexican cartels.
Just one more reason to legalize drugs so that "we the people" can control (regulate) the drugs and not the cartels, drug lords, and dealers!
In reply to threatened? by mlang52 (not verified)
Naive?
No, you're just another brainwashed fool.
In reply to Naive? by Anonymous (not verified)
That's not nice!
Why is he/she a fool for voicing their own opinion on the matter? I happen to agree in saying that the government has turned this drug war into a complete utter failure; where the only ones other than the DEA who come out winning are the drug lords who push their garbage into our cities and the country of Mexico.
I think we are all fools for believing in a justice system that rewards the rich and powerful while sucking up more and more tax payer dollars for the incarceration of non violent drug offenders!
In reply to threatened? by mlang52 (not verified)
COP Out
Whenever a cop gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar, this is one of several excuses they always seem to try to use. Just follow the case to find out, and you,ll most likely see they don't fall for his story.
To bad he was in south TX if he was in LA they'd let him off. There they let them off no matter what they do or who they kill.
In reply to threatened? by mlang52 (not verified)
People -n- Power
This is a great idea. Drug cartels have Trillions of American Dollars.
And are getting Trillions every year.
We can save money by doing away with Government agents and there Depts. Put them Agencies In National Security Departments. 1200 people die a day smoking Cigarettes. My mother was one of them. You can buy a cold case of beer at the convenes stores. Bottle or liquor at the store.
Go out, Drive drunk, Kill a hole family on the way home.
Hitler made laws, Shows people can be wrong.
The people who make theses laws, Don't care of the waste in money.
Or the people then claim to protect. Or these drugs wouldn't be on the streets.
But there own self being, That's how people like, Hitler, Hussane, Stallin, and Fidell. There opinions meens more than just plain common sense.
Gerry DeLaney
...don't be mad; Anonymous is just jealous...
... and obtuse; it will take some time (and reasearch). Anonymous, do you know who are doing these drugs? Why yes, it's the rich kids from many high schools & colleges throughout our great land. From Hollywood to Manhattan, from Miami to Green Bay, people are getting high. But don't be fooled; it's the Paris', the Britneys and Lindseys who truly fuel the drug trade. They pay big bucks to party on the down low. Peace.
Naive
Is exactly what most in this country are! Not only are the police involved more times than not in the trafficing of illegal drugs, but our own government is at the top of the list. As most on the wrong side already know, the CIA is the leadership of the largest cartel in Columbia. How do you think they come up with the billions each year to fund all they're ops globally. The drug war is just a means for them to continue they,re strangle hold on the world market. This is one reason the war will probably never end. Until we open our eyes, stand up to our government and demand accountability I believe it to all be a lost cause. Which truely saddens me.
Threatened or naive?
Neither I nor anyone else commenting here could possibly know with any degree of certainty if the trooper's allegations of being threatened are true. Determining the truth of that allegation would require an in- depth investigation beyond the abilities of someone sitting at a keyboard hundreds or thousands of miles away, and it certainly would be naive to simply accept his allegations at face value. It would be equally naive, however, to discard them out of hand. Is it too farfetched to imagine a scenario where the trooper was presented with choice of cooperating , and picking up a large paycheck, or resisting and being marked for a bullet in the head? The people involved on the traffic of illicit drugs are easily capable, both morally and operationally, of both making and carrying out such a threat.
naive,threatened or naive,threatened
Are you people truly this stupid and or naive ? You've got to be kidding !
In reply to naive,threatened or naive,threatened by Anonymous (not verified)
too stupid
Your response is so limited that it is hard to understand your thoughts. Maybe a longer statement with some clear concise wording will get across the true meaning of your initial response. It was inadequate to say the least. And, you call the rest of us "stupid"?! It might help to explain yourself better, if you choose to make any more comments, again. And, for one, I was not kidding.
EXCUSES
I Live in New York and corruption will always play a big part in the police or sheriff dept, frankly i don't think he was bribed or threaten, he played a part in accepting money and drugs. As a law enforcer he had a choose. To up hold the law and serve. He sold drugs and benefit from profits. His excuses (which frankly i don't believe) is due to failure to get away with the crime. 26 Kilo's @ $ 30.000 a pop. He deserve life in prison no if or buts. We are still losing the war on drugs.
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