Man Arrested for Breaking into Prison
June 3rd, 2009 by Russ
In the ‘watch out what you wish for’ category, an Arkansas man was arrested this week for attempting to sneak into a local state prison and join in the thriving contraband trade market. 20-year old Bobby Finley was carrying pocketfuls of coke and cigarettes when police caught him cutting down a chain link fence surrounding the Miller County Jail.
The 20-year old entrepreneur will undoubtedly serve the 19 years of his sentence trying to figure out the ins and outs of the Arkansas Prison Drug Dealing Network. Finley was sentenced to two separate three-year possession charges as well as a little known ‘furnishing prohibited substances’ charge. Apparently, this is something that you can only be charged with while operating in a prison environment.
So, not only did Mr. Finley attempt to illegally infiltrate a building full of law enforcement officials, he managed to break laws that few of us even knew existed. If he keeps this up, he may be in the running for a Darwin Award some day.
Netherlands Faces Dangerous Criminal Shortage
May 28th, 2009 by Russ
Today’s object lesson on the consequences of having a rational national drug policy comes to you from the Netherlands.
The Dutch, well known for their allowance of casual drug use and incredibly low resulting addiction rate, have found that they no longer have enough criminals to keep their prisons at capacity.
The Dutch have announced a closing of eight prisons as well as a new initiative to import Belgian criminals to fill cell vacancies.
One wonders what domestic drug warriors will have to say about the Netherlands plummeting crime rate. This situation does seem to utterly eviscerate any arguments that drug use increases violence or criminal activity.
On the other hand, this news will almost certainly scare the bejesus out of the U.S. Prison Guard Labor Force, who will undoubtedly double their efforts to stifle any drug policy reform. After all, when your job is on the line, it’s hardly the time to think about gedoogbeleid.
Former Drug Kingpin Releases Memoirs
May 21st, 2009 by Russ
As Morgan Freeman noted in The Shawshank Redemption, “Prison time is slow time.”
For one former drug trafficker, time has afforded him the opportunity to share his story with his fellow countrymen. Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, once the most powerful drug boss of his day, has released a 36-page retelling of his reign to the Mexican magazine, Gatorpardo.
Entitled Diaries of the Boss of Bosses, the manifesto covers the 18-years that Gallardo spent in the drug trade, ultimately finding himself at the top of the heap.
From his high vantage, he had a clear view of the corrupting influence of narco-dollars on his own men, and on the police and military officials that he courted.
One close associate of his, Gonzalez Calderoni, was publicly known as a Tango & Cash-like supercop. In reality, Calderoni was nothing more than a corrupt official, living off of tips and intelligence provided by friendly traffickers. When the price was right, Calderoni turned on Gallardo, and ambushed him at a local Guadalajara restaurant.
Gallardo’s story offers up some important reminders for modern drug warriors. One, is that these vast sums of drugs targeted and seized are a hugely corrupting influence on all who come across them. Another, is that regardless of who is removed from the drug trade (even the kingpin himself) it will always perpetuate itself.
83-Year Old Man Gets 20 Years for Distribution
April 7th, 2009 by Rick
Down south, in Rome, GA, at the U.S. District Court, 3 men have been sentenced to federal prison for their part in distributing hundreds of kilograms of marijuana in northwest Georgia and Tennessee. One of these men, 83-year-old Paul Faulkner, was given a virtual death sentence of 20 years.
Faulkner’s lawyer claimed that Faulkner was not a major part of the conspiracy and that 24 months would have been a more appropriate sentence due to his client’s age and health.
Judge Robert Vining said a mandatory minimum sentence was handed down to Faulkner because of his involvement in bootlegging in the 1940s and that he was last jailed on marijuana-related charges in 1999. Judge Vining said it was the most unreasonable sentence he has ever handed down, but he couldn’t go outside the statute. Execution of the sentence was stayed until August 1st.
Midtown Mafia Member Meets Salem Slammer
April 6th, 2009 by Rick
On Wednesday, Police in Salem, NJ seized undisclosed quantities of cocaine and marijuana, along with drug distribution paraphernalia, $3,416 cash and a loaded assault weapon when they raided the home of Jaquan Nichols, 21, the self-proclaimed leader of the Midtown Mafia street gang. Straight out of the James Cagney movie, Public Enemy, Police said Nichols was dragged out of his residence in his long underwear screaming “you’ll never take me alive!” An additional $7,405 in cash was found at another location that was known to be run by Nichols.
County Chief of Detectives Ralph Padilla said:
The arrest of Nichols will have a significant impact in the reduction of violent crime and drug distribution in the City of Salem.
Nichols is the first person that has been charged under a new criminal statute made effective in 2008 called gang criminality, a first-degree offense. It relates to a person involved in a criminal street gang committing a firearms crime. He faces 13 drug and weapons-related offenses, including possession of an assault firearm and high capacity magazine as well as possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a publicly-owned building.
The Midtown Mafia street gang is suspected to have ties to the Bloods organization.
The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint
August 9th, 2006 by Alex
Tommy has combined part childhood memior, part jail time experience, and part spiritual advice into something as unique as he is. The book hits personal notes while recounting Tommy’s half Irish / half Chinese heritage. Small things, like the fact he still leaves his doors unlocked even after a massive police raid, give you an endearing glimpse into his personality. Shit, only Tommy Chong can tell you to “enjoy the ride” if you’re going to prison.
This book delves into the life and thoughts behind one of the most influential counter-culture icons of our current time. From having no direction to running an improv group to starring in movies, being an entrepeneuer and going to prison – Tommy Chong has lived a life others can only imagine. Check this book out and experience a life synonymous with counter-culture and the good and bad that comes with it.
