WORMSCAN: WORMSCAN [PART 2 1988-1992]
Involvement of Politicians, Judges, Lawyers, & Police in the Drug Business
NOTES: I made a few corrections to spellings but left the original document mainly untouched. All dates are in YYMMDD format. These files are only a portion of the entire WORMSCAN file and includes all entries from 1988 to 1992. I had to break it up due to length. There are hundreds of pages.
This is a continuation of the file named WORMSCAN.
WORMSCAN: WORMSCAN [PART 1 1981-1987]
880105, Los Angeles, CA, CNN News. A Los Angeles Federal Grand Jury indicts nine, including three Mexican police officers for the murder of DEA agent Enrique Camerara Solarez [sp?] in Guadalajara, Mexico three years ago.
880105, Miami, FL, CNN, 3:13P. I only caught the last part of the story. A Miami cop acquitted in the case of the murder and rip-off of three drug dealers recants. On tape he says that he is sorry and that he disgraced his badge, but that there are thousands of honest police. [Maybe even several thousand honest police, if you were to look over the entire country.] Miami officials want an end to investigations of this case, as it is showing their wonderful city in a bad light, among other reasons.
880106, Miami, FL, "As It Happens", CBC. In "Miami Vice", a phone interview with Paul Miller, Special Agent, FBI, he states that there were three or four rip-offs of boatloads of cocaine by Miami Police from about May 85 to Summer 85. In the case where three drug smugglers were drowned, eight officers rushed the boat and the victims threw themselves into the sea and drowned themselves. The investigation is probing a conspiracy to kill witnesses. So far, nine have pleaded guilty, four more are cooperating, two more are on trial, two more are fugitives, and twenty more have been suspended from The Force. See 861024, 870121, 870202.
880109, The Nation, p6. Chapter 23, page 371, footnote 84 of the Iran/Contra report. In 1986 Fawn Hall asked DEA agents to meet with Michael Leeden. Leeden had a $30,000 contract with Continental Airlines to find out how to stop the DEA from seizing their airplanes when cocaine was found aboard.
880114, Charleston, WV, WHAS. 12:04P "Mad Dog" Roark, mayor of Charleston WV, plea bargains guilty on six cocaine charges, twenty-four others were dropped. Mad Dog was sentenced to 179 days in jail, three years probation, and a $5000 fine. See 871130.
880202, Lumberton, NC. An American Indian takes hostages to publicize the actions of the local sheriff. A radio tape by this hostage taker starts with the accusation that the sheriff's department was involved with drug trafficking, and then went on to complain about the killing of a Black and two Indians by the sheriff.
880204, Panama. General Noriega of Panama is indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Miami FL on thirty counts of assorted drug trafficking charges, taking millions of dollars in payoffs from The Medellin Cartel, racketeering, conspiracy with Oliver North to fake a shipment of arms from Nicaragua to El Salvador [on the Pia Vesta, which Noriega seized and kept the arms], obtaining chemicals for and protecting cocaine labs, providing airstrips for drug smuggling, providing refuge for drug traffickers, etc. Leon Keller is the Federal Attorney. Also more indictments of Noriega are opened in Tampa for conspiracy to import one million pounds of marijuana. Testimony was given by pilot Floyd Carlton and Panamanian Consul General Jose' Blandon. This was reported by Alan Tomlinson, NPR. On top of that, Noriega has been on the CIA payroll since 1966 at $200,000 per year. Senator John Kerry chaired a hearing on Noriega, with Jose' Blandon as star witness. Blandon says Noriega made $80 million per year in drug trafficking and another $20 million for emigration papers at $4000 per head, allowing Cubans to claim to be Panamanians for migration to USA.
880205, Cincinnati, OH, KET. Kentucky State Police Commissioner Marion "Butch" Campbell is appealing in Federal Court the government plans for a retrial on drug trafficking conspiracy charges. Morgan County Kentucky Sheriff Benton, convicted on conspiracy to murder witnesses to drug trafficking, is still not in prison.
880208, Columbia, USN&WR, p28. The Medellin Cartel controls 80% of cocaine imported into the United States. Fifty Columbian judges have been murdered by the cartel in the past five years. Columbia is unable [or unwilling?] to control the drug business.
880213, Nicaragua. An article in The Boston Globe by Stephen Kurkjian and Mark Hosenball reports on the Senator John F Kerry hearings. "About a dozen Nicaraguans who back the contras have been prosecuted in the United states for drug-related felonies." Michael B Palmer, 41, of Florida indicted in June 1986, walked away from an airtight drug smuggling case because a Detroit federal prosecutor dropped it in the "interest of justice". Palmer was alleged to have flown marijuana into US from Columbia from 1977 to 1986. In 1985 & 86 Palmer flew humanitarian aid to Central America for the State Department. Leigh Rich testified that the marijuana smuggling group headed by Palmer grossed billions of dollars. Customs, at the request of the CIA, did not search the planes. The plane was registered to Vortex, Inc, a State Department and CIA contractor.
880306, Nicaragua, Minneapolis Star Tribune, p17A. An article by Daniel Siegel and Jenny Yancey reports on the Senator John Kerry, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee hearings. Ramon Milian-Rodriguez, Medellin Cartel money launderer, said that he gave money, including $10 million in cocaine profits, to Felix Rodriguez between 1982 & 1985. The cocaine was flown from Columbia to the John Hull ranch in Costa Rica. Weapons for contras were flown to the Hull ranch and cocaine was flown back on return trips. Pilot Gary Betzner returned with 1000 kilo of cocaine. Pilot Michael Tolliver said that he flew 25000 pounds of marijuana into Homestead Air Force Base, Florida.
880330, Caribbean, In These Times, p 11. An article by Anne-christine d'Adesky gives a partial list of Caribbean officials alleged to have smuggled [illegal] drugs thru their respective countries. From the Bahamas, Prime Minister Pindling, top customs official John Rolle, and conservative political party leader Sammy L. Miller. From Haiti; Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Williams Regala, Army Chief Gen Henri Namphy, Chief of Narcotics Carel Occel, Police Capt Gregoire Figaro, civilians Joe Namphy (brother of Gen Namphy) and Alexander Paul (brother of Col Paul) were part of group of Haitians who smuggled cocaine from Columbia to South Florida via Bahamas and Dominican Republic. Cuba; Fidel Castro and Raul Castro and several navy officials are alleged to have smuggled cocaine from Columbia to Florida via Cuba. On Mar 16, 1988 US Attorney Leon Keller (who indicted both Noriega and Paul) told two congressional subcommittees a that a recent drug seizure produced evidence of official Cuban and Haitian involvement. Also Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama.
880405, Honduras. The Nation, May 7, 1988, p634. Ramon Matta, suspected drug kingpin and friend of several top Honduran military officers, is captured by US Marshals. The Honduran DEA office, closed between 1983 & 1988, is reopened.
880413, In These Times, April 13-19, 1988, p5. Maj Gen Richard Secord is suing Leslie Cockburn for $38 million for the loss of "business opportunities", such as the gun and drug smuggling by the CIA in Central America.
880507, Burma, The Nation, p634. Here is a summary of the Bo Gritz story. In 1986, Gritz went to Burma with White House blessings to meet with the drug warlord Khun Sa, who supposedly had information of MIAs. Khun Sa said that he wanted to end the opium and heroin traffic in his territory and to expose U. S. officials involved in the drug smuggling. Gritz claims that he took this message to the US government and was told by Tom Harvey of the National Security Council (NSC) that "there is no interest here" in the Khun Sa overture. In May 87, Gritz, with Lance Trimmer, a private detective, again visited Khun Sa in Burma. In a recent letter to George Bush, who heads the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System, Gritz maintained that Khun Sa claimed that he had once engaged in narcotics transactions with Richard Armitage, now Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Theodore Shackley, the former director for operations at the CIA, and other US officials. George Bush was head of the CIA in 1976 when Khun Sa said that he was selling drugs to top CIA officials. Gritz says that, strangely, nobody in the US government is interested in investigating this.
880601, Philadelphia, PA, Mutual News, WSFC. Seven Philadelphia, PA, cops have been arrested with $150,000 for drug trafficking over the past two years. This may be the same seven involved in drug trafficking in Owensboro, KY. See 870912, 950623.
880608, Nicaragua, In These Times, Jun 8-21, 1988, p7. Arms broker Richard Brenneke publicly charges that George Bush's office directly supervised the contra arms network which was funded by Columbian drug money in association with the Israeli Mossad. The Washington contact was Donald Gregg, Bush's national security advisor. /Is this the same Donald Gregg who in now the US Ambassador to South Korea? 9101. Yes.
880905, Detroit, MI, Newsweek, Sep 5, 1988, p37. Detroit, MI has at least 100 police officers under investigation for ties to the drug underworld. However, Chief of Police William Hart insists that His Force is free of systemic corruption. /Chief Hart was finally arrested and charged with embezzlement of 2.5M$ from the Police Department undercover narcotics fund on 910213.
881003, Columbia, U. S. News & World Report, Oct 3, 1988, p13. Elaine Shannon in _Desperados_ says that in June 1984, Oliver North, in an effort to expose alleged links between the Sandinistas and drug dealers, leaked information which exposed Barry Seal who was infiltrating The Medellin [cocaine] Cartel.
881122, Los Angeles, CA, CNN 11:05PM. Two Los Angeles DEA agents are arrested for hiding money in Switzerland. Another DEA agent, Darrell [Daniel?] Garcia who bought a $500,000 home, is still at large. These three agents had amassed $600,000 in drugs and laundered money in the past 4 years. Two drug dealers under investigation were tipped off by these Agents of Justice. CNN 3:13PM 25 Nov
881128, CNN radio, 3:43PM, quoting The Houston Chronicle. Sinsemilla Tips, V8#3p21. Drug agents nationwide have been staging phony drug busts on their own agents for years in an effort to gain the confidence of the "real" drug smugglers.
881129, Lexington, KY, KET. Marvin Washington, Lexington Fayette County Kentucky police officer for the past eleven years, is arrested for armed robbery and possession of illegal drugs. Officer Washington accosted at gunpoint two restaurant employees attempting to make a night bank deposit. He was also found to be in possession of cocaine.
881200, US Senate, (GOV DOC # Y 4.F 76/2:S.prt.100-165). In December 1988 the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate released its report. It is for sale by the U.S. G.P.O., Supt. of Docs., Washington, April 13, 1989. The Nicaraguan Contras were funded by drug trafficking, facilitated by Oliver North, John Hull, and Robert Owens. Companies used by the State Department included: SETCO Air, a company established by Honduran drug trafficker Ramon Matta Ballesteros; DIACSA, a Miami-based air company operated as the headquarters of a drug trafficker enterprise for convicted drug traffickers Floyd Carlton and Alfredo Caballero; FRIGORIFICOS DE PUNTERENNAS, a firm owned and operated by Cuban-American drug traffickers; VORTEX, and air service and supply company partly owned by admitted drug trafficker Michael Palmer. More in WORMSCAN.&
881201, New York City, NY, Monitor Radio. A retired New York City policeman was arrested in The Great Mafia Drug Bust.
881205, Nicaragua, US News & World Report, p16. Special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh is investigating allegations that the "Justice" Department deliberately stymied a Senate inquiry into contra gun and drug smuggling in the spring of 1986.
890114, Costa Rica, WBKY, 4:15 PM. John Hull is arrested by Costa Rican authorities on Thursday, 12 Jan 89 on charges of arms trafficking, drug smuggling, and espionage. Warrants were obtained in part from information from George Morales, drug smuggling pilot for the CIA. Hull steadfastly claims that he is a simple farmer and is not a CIA operative. His salary from the United States National Security Council (NSC)is $10,000 per month. /Farmer Hull has skipped bail an as of late 1990 is reported to be hiding with his 20 year old female companion in Nicaragua.
890100, Clay County, KY, KET. J.C. Lawson is arrested. A vendetta is specifically denied by the cops. This is the fellow who had the nerve to suggest that the police spend their time chasing murderers and thieves, rather than pot patches. Ain't no money in murders and thieves.
890130, Adelaide, Australia, Insight, p35. Detective Inspector Barry Moyse was head of the police drug squad and was known for his high profile attack on narcotics use. In late 1987 he was convicted of trafficking in heroin he had taken from the police property room.
890123. Newsweek, p 60. The Surgeon General's Report states that the annual death toll in the United States from cigarettes is 390,000. By 1992 the figure has risen to 450,000 deaths per year from tobacco consumption in the US.
890220, Costa Rica, Newsweek, p8. The Bush administration and a bipartisan group of congressmen are quietly pressuring Costa Rica to release an American farmer [sic] jailed there on drug charges. John Hull, whose ranch near Nicaragua's border figured in Oliver North's contra-supply network, was charged last month with cocaine smuggling. The US Embassy has protested his arrest, and 19 legislators - including Democratic Rep Lee Hamilton, a critic of contra aid - are urging the case 'be concluded promptly ... in a manner that will not complicate U.S.-Costa Rican relations.'
890220, KY, KET. On a Crime in Kentucky program, it was mentioned that 90% of prison inmates in Kentucky are imprisoned for either drug or alcohol charges.
890225, Lexington, KY, WSEK. Fayette County, Kentucky, Sheriff Lonas Taulbee and five others are indicted on cocaine trafficking charges.
890231, Lexington, KY, WBKY, KNN. Fayette County Sheriff Lonas Taulbee resigns effective 14 April. He was convicted and sentenced to 5 years for theft and malfeasance. He is yet to be tried for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
890411, Lexington, KY, KNN. Fayette County Sheriff Lonas Taulbee, convicted for stealing $15,000 from the Sheriff's Department, will resign and rerun for election.
890417, The Nation, p 512. Guillermo Tabraue received $1400 per week from CIA and did $75 million in marijuana and cocaine business between 1976 and 1987, supposedly with the blessings of the CIA.
890419, FL, WFLW, 9:58AM, also ABC. The Everglades fire of about two weeks ago was started by the burning of the records of a Miami cop arrested for cocaine smuggling.
890508, The Nation, p619. "Drugs, Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy", a report of the Senate Subcommittee on Narcotics, Terrorism and International Operations released April 13. It concludes that US knowingly used several drug traffickers in its contra supply operations. Four companies owned and operated by narcotics traffickers, SETCO Air, DIASCA, Frigorificos de Punterenas, and Vortex were selected by State Department. John Hull accused of preparing false affidavits for US Attorney Leon Kellner.
890508, Cleveland, OH, Newsweek, p26. Arthur Feckner, drug wholesaler, helped capture his supplier and 100 pounds of cocaine in 1985. Feckner was then allowed by Cleveland police to sell 13 pounds of cocaine for $452,000 [$35/gm]. An internal police inquiry had enough evidence to indict five officers. A judge ruled that state law permitted police drug sales if they were claimed to be in pursuit of a dealer. Present Police Chief Howard Rudolf was head of narcotics department at start of Feckner affair.
890803, St Louis, MO, Matt Elrod. Marijuana claims another life. At 5 a.m. on August 3, 1989, police came to the home of Bruce Lavoie, (34), a machinist with a wife and three children. Without announcing themselves and with no evidence that Lavoie was armed, police smashed the door in with a battering ram. They had a search warrant based on an informant's tip that was 20 months old. As he arose from his bed, Lavoie was shot to death as his son watched. A single marijuana cigarette was found. More in WORMSCAN.&
890810, Russell Co, KY, WKYM. Commonwealth Attorney Eddie Lovelace files suit against a Russell County KY radio station for reporting on 24 July 89 that he was suspended for 6 months for interference with the Clinton County marijuana cultivation case against Clinton County Court Clerk Lloyd Stockton. Believe it or not, it is illegal to mention that a lawyer has been reprimanded!
890815, Boston, MA, WBKY, 12:35PM. Edward O'Brien, DEA agent, was arrested at Logan airport in Boston, Massachusetts, with 62 pounds of cocaine in his suitcase. DEA Agent O'Brien is described as being "high ranking and decorated", as well as a cocaine smuggler. /Newsweek Aug 28, 1989. Edward, Paul, and John O'Brien, brothers, were all arrested. This is the fourth DEA agent arrested on drug charges this year.
890830, KY, KNN. Captain Marion "Butch" Campbell wins! On a final appeal, Judge Carl Forrester rules that evidence is inadmissible for a retrial. Kentucky State Police Commissioner makes a good front for cocaine smuggling.
890907, Owsley Co, KY, WTVQ. Jackie, son of [Bill Robert ?], Owsley Co, KY, Judge-Executive arrested on CBS TV by FBI for marijuana cultivation.
890925, OH, Insight, p 44. Democrat Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr. received $108,000 in bribes from organized crime in the 1980 race for Mahoning County, Ohio Sheriff. The 6th US Court of Appeals sez that the bribes are taxable.
890928, Clinton Co, KY, WFLW. Commonwealth Attorney Eddie Lovelace has his suspension for protecting the local marijuana industry reduced from 6 months to 45 days.
891122, Lexington, KY. Gatewood Galbraith runs for Governor of Kentucky on a marijuana platform. A tax of $1000 per pound is proposed. Kentucky consumption is estimated at 700,000 pounds per year.
891218, Detroit, MI, Newsweek, p 30. Detroit, MI, top police officials are accused by FBI of stealing more than $1 million intended for "buy and bust" operations against competing drug dealers. /Similar charges were also made in Sep 88 and Feb 91.
900118, Hopkinsville, KY, WHAS, KNN. Christian County, KY, Sheriff William Dillard & chief deputy & others arrested 17 Jan 90 on Federal indictment for cocaine distribution & accepting bribes to protect cocaine distribution after a one year FBI investigation.
900226, Mexico, Insight, p 37. Murder indictments are handed down for Manuel Ibarra Herrera, former chief of the Mexican Federal Police, and Miguel Aldana Ibarra, his deputy and former Interpol director for murder and narcotics trafficking in the death of DEA agent Enrique Camerena in 1985. The kidnapping and torture of Camerena was to find out how US officials had learned of the ties of members of then-President Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado's Cabinet to drug payoffs.
900305, East Wendover, UT, Paul Harvey. The East Wendover, UT, police chief and his wife are arrested for drug trafficking.
900400, Iran. Acres, USA p 21. Iran paid our conspirators for part of the contra arms deal with heroin & morphine.
900403, Warren Co, KY, WDCL. Bowling Green, Warren Co, KY, Jailor Bunch & 7 deputies indicted on many charges including drug dealing at the jail.
900414, Bowling Green, KY WHAS. John Roger McDonald, age 22, dispatcher at Bowling Green, KY, State Police is accused of stealing an undisclosed amount of cocaine from evidence.
900425, KY News Net. John Roger McDonald is accused of stealing 200 to 300 grams of cocaine in several thefts over 5 months from State Police Evidence.
900428, Costa Rica, The Orange County Register. Costa Rica is not happy with Contra drug smuggling through their country. Costa Rica bans former U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Lewis Tambs, former National Security Adviser John Poindexter, Lt. Col. Oliver North, ex-CIA station chief Joe Fernandez, and arms dealer Richard Secord. John Hull is stripped of citizenship. More in WORMSCAN.&
900613, The Bronx, NY, Paul Harvey. The Bronx, NY cops hold a "job action" to protest probes of corruption in the police department. They write no parking tickets.
900615, Lexington, KY, WEKU. Lexington, KY Fayette Co, KY Sheriff Taulbee loses appeal on theft & malfeasance and is sentenced to 5 years.
900616, Nicholasville, KY, KNN. Danny Allen Murphy is charged with suffocating his wife in 85. Also on trial next month on Federal drug charges. His occupation is given as Lexington-Fayette County Police Officer.
900623, Hopkinsville, KY, WKYU. William Dillard, Christian Co, KY, Sheriff is convicted of cocaine trafficking and taking a $5000 bribe from the Feds. Found not guilty on some other charges.
900717, Vine Grove, Hardin Co, KY, KNN. Police Chief Abshire pleads guilty to cocaine possession.
900718, Whitley Co, KY. Former Whitley County Judge-Executive Archie Powers is charged with cultivating 849 marijuana plants in 2 plots in the National Forest in Whitley County.
900727, Whitley Co, KY, WSEK. Former Whitley County, KY, Judge-Executive Archie Powers and Clifford Silers plead not guilty to cultivating 849 marijuana plants in 2 plots in the National Forest in Whitley County.
900808, Lexington, KY. Murphy wants change of venue.
900816, Eastern Kentucky, WSEK, WKYU. In "Operation Walking Short", the FBI produces a 42 count indictment of Kentucky law officers for conspiracy to extort and protect illegal drug traffickers. Arrested were: John Mann, Sheriff of Lee County, allegedly the master-mind, who took $38,500 in bribes from FBI agents; Lester Dickerson, Sheriff of Wolfe County; Billy MacIntosh, Sheriff of Owsley County; Dean Spencer, Sheriff of Breathitt County; Wilson Stone, Deputy Sheriff of Wolfe County; and Omer Noe, Police Chief of Beattyville. Two FBI agents masqueraded as big Chicago "businessmen", in the business of importing marijuana and cocaine. They got a business license to air-drop and outship their products from backwoods airstrips. This is supposedly the biggest [bigger than catching the Kentucky State Police Commissioner doing 3/4 million dollars per week in cocaine trafficking??] bust in Kentucky. Several newscasts emphasized that this is no reason for good citizens to question the integrity of their police; other radio stations issued an appeal for their good citizens to report such activities to the FBI hotline. 800/752-6000
900820, Lexington, KY, KET. Lexington Police Officer Dan Murphy is on trial for distribution of marijuana, and weapons charges. Judge Forrester will decide if the jury should see Murphy's Jessamine County fortress/plantation/home. The charges are worth 30 years.
900822, Lexington, KY, KET. Danny Allan Murphy, former Lexington Kentucky Police Officer is convicted on marijuana distribution and machine gun charges. He is yet to stand trial for murder in Jessamine County.
901008, Columbia, SC, USN&WR, p24. In FBI Operation Lost Trust, 10 legislators are indicted on bribery & drugs charges. 30 of 170 state legislators are implicated.
901011, Christian Co, KY, KNN. Christian County Kentucky Sheriff Dillard is sentenced to 9 years in prison for selling cocaine & stealing $12,000 from the government.
901018, Perry Co, KY, KET\WYMT. In Perry County, Kentucky, 40 state and 14 federal indictments were handed down for assorted drug dealing in a joint FBI & KSP case. 40+ have been arrested, including former county attorney Kenneth Baker who is charged with taking gratuities for influencing drug cases in court. This is thought to be independent dealers rather than a conspiracy.
901018, Boston, MA, PBS Frontline, "When Cops Go Bad", WGBH. Discussed the Miami, FL, case (see 7 previous entries from 861024 to 890419) of organized gangs of Miami police stealing and selling boatloads of cocaine. In the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, $1.4 million was skimmed by the departmental drug squad. Approximately 30 indictments were rendered, including Jim Bouden and Dan Garner. This source of revenue spread from the the Los Angeles Police Department to the Feds. DEA agents Daniel [Darrell?] Garcia, Wayne Countryman, and John Jackson liberated 150 kilograms of heroin and sent it to New York by FedEx for sale. Two have plead guilty, and the third is on trial. 50% of police corruption cases in the US are drug related, according to the FBI. 32 DEA agents have been the target of internal investigations this year, 54 Federal agents [does that include the DEA agents?], 40 State Police, and 327 local policemen. There are approximately 17000 local police departments in the US. In Sea Girt, NJ, pop 2500, 20 local people were arrested in a drug dealing ring. These included 3 of the 12 police, Sgt Joseph Beaumont, Lt Robert Hindman, and Capt G Calusleri. School officials don't know how to explain to the children how these cops could preach their drug speech while dealing at the same time. There is a Justice Dept study of police corruption.
901022, London, KY. Lee County KY Sheriff Jonathan Mann is being held without bond in the Laurel County jail. He is charged with 19 counts of drug trafficking and extortion, and taking $85,000 in payoffs from drug traffickers posing as FBI agents. He is running the Sheriff's Office from jail, having appointed his wife as administrator.
901024, Monticello, KY, WFLW. Ed Reynolds was arrested by the Wayne County Sheriff last Friday with 24 pounds of processed marijuana. Rumors are that Reynolds was a Wayne County Special Sheriff's Deputy for Drug Operations.
901029, Los Angeles, CA(?), WTHL. The drug trafficking trial of DEA agents Daniel [Darrell?] Garcia, Wayne Countryman, and John Jackson is scheduled for next month. Witness Stewart testified on videotape that that for three years he sold drugs supplied by these DEA agents, shared two million dollars in profits with them, and took lavish vacations with their families. Witness Stewart testified on videotape because he was not expected to live long enough to testify in person.
901108, Somerset, KY, WFLW & WSEK. Ten year veteran Kentucky State Police Trooper David Dick was issued a criminal summons (not arrested) as the result of his superiors finding marijuana less than two ounces in the trunk of his cruiser Sunday. He claimed that this was leftover from an arrest and that he had forgotten about it. On Monday he resigned, according to Pulaski County attorney Fred Neikirk. On Thursday he pleaded guilty, was fined $25, and immediately had his conviction voided. His attorney was Larry Whittaker. Trooper Dick has been rumored to be involved in marijuana production and marketing for several years. See 861126.
901110, Wayne Co, KY, personal communication, MG. Ed Reynolds, a member of the auxiliary police ( or Monticello Police?), who lives at Gap of the Ridge near Fred West, had a pre-trial hearing (Thursday, 8 Nov ?) for possession of 25 pounds of processed marijuana. A trial is set for May.
901207, Lexington, KY. Former Fayette County Kentucky Sheriff Lonas Taulbee loses an appeal on conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. His grounds were that since he got caught before he was actually able to have the cocaine planted in the car of his Chief Deputy, he obviously was not distributing cocaine. Appeals on the charges of theft, misfeasance, and malfeasance for stealing from his office also failed.
901217, Lockerbie, Scotland, Primary source here is from Barron's, 12/17/90, "Unwitting Accomplices?" by Maggie Mahar. Lockerbie Pan Am bombing is linked to CIA heroin smuggling. Monzer Al-Kassar, a Syrian drugs and arms smuggler, had started a heroin-smuggling operation at the Frankfurt, Germany airport. Al- Kassar "reportedly received $1.2 million from a Swiss company controlled by Albert A. Hakim and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord." These folks, in turn, were part of the Iran-Contra network. More in WORMSCAN.&
910108~, St Regis, suburb of Louisville, KY, KET? St Regis policeman Bersot (Bursoe?) is accused of planting drugs & guns on David Trigley(sp?). Trigley's crime was to date the cop's ex-wife. Captain Eppeley deplored the accusation. See 920826 & 930320. [David Trigley may have been one of the cops. A David Tingley was involved with another drug planting case on Ricky Lee Pardu.]
910213, Detroit, MI, NPR. William Hart, the Police Chief of Detroit, MI, is accused of embezzlement and tax fraud for diverting 2.5M$ from the Police Department undercover narcotics fund to his own private businesses. Chief Hart is sentenced to suspension with pay. The Mayor deplores this racist attack on the Black community. /Similar charges have previously been made in Sep 88 and Dec 89. On 920827 they made it stick, 10 years' worth.
910306, IN, KET. Barbara Grier (or is it in Grier, IN?) is listed in serious condition after the cops invaded her house to arrest her boyfriend. The shot was meant for the dog, but missed, hitting her in the stomach.
910522, Detroit, MI, Paul Harvey. 10 cops and the niece of the mayor are arrested in an Detroit, MI, FBI sting. They thought that they were taking payoffs from the real drug dealers.
910530, Cleveland, OH, KNN. 30 police officials are caught in a FBI sting on drugs and gambling. This was reported by a Cleveland TV station, but no officials will make any official statements. MacNeil/Lehrer said that 47 cops including 30 current police officers, 4 former officers, and 13 others provided security services for illegal gambling and incidentally drug distribution, over two years.
910619, Frankfort, KY, KET. 5 marijuana plants were found growing in an apartment owned by Gary Faulkner, KY Drug Czar and Commander of The Governor's Marijuana Strike Farce. This time they believed the landlord when he said that he did not know of this activity and furthermore, he had no way of knowing. 60 more plants were found in another Frankfort indoor harvest.
910712, London, KY, KNN. In the trial of Jonathan Mann etc, evidence showed that informant David Richardson was paid $77,000 by the FBI for salary & expenses. His previous career was a marijuana dealer.
910716, London, KY, WSFC. John Quinn (or maybe Flynn?) of Lebanon, OH is Jonathan Mann's attorney. Mann has had a jailhouse conversion, and now has found God, who should forgive all his sins. Mann gave an interview to a Lexington newspaper, but this was declared insufficient to grant a mistrial.
910718, London, KY, WKYM. In the Mann et al trial, David Richardson is alleged to have killed fellow agents Doug & Brenda (Davidson?). But he passed a FBI lie detector test, and that's that. These allegations are adjudged to be irrelevant and not admissible as evidence.
910719, Nicholasville, KY, KNN. Former Lexington cop Murphy pleaded guilty to suffocating his wife and was given 20 years.
910731, London, KY, WSEK. Jonathan Mann etc trial prosecution finished. James [not David] Richardson of Owsley Co given as the marijuana dealer who cooperated with the FBI. The judge is Siler.
910816, London, KY, KNN. Late today a verdict was delivered in the drug conspiracy trial of Lee County Sheriff Jonathan Mann and Associates. I think that 5 of 6 were convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, but reports are very unclear. Sheriff Dean Spencer of Breathitt Co was the odd man. Five were convicted of conspiracy of extortion, and three were convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
910821, Gridley, IL, Paul Harvey News. Judge Mark Dalton was found by Federal Drug Agents to have a commercial marijuana garden in his back yard.
910821, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. Paul Eugene "Gene" Upchurch, age 44, is found shot dead by his pickup truck on the Millsap Mountain Road.
910826, Marshall Co, KY, KNN. Bruce E Buchanan, deputy jailor of Marshall Co, KY, is charged with marijuana trafficking in the county jail, and trafficking within 1000 feet of a school, since the school is only a block from the jailhouse.
910826, Laurel Co, KY, WSEK. The Robert Foley, age 56[?], of Harlan, alleged to have recently killed two brothers (& Harry Lynn Vaughn) and dumped their bodies into Sinking Creek is a FBI informant, according to an Ohio lawyer. A Federal judge issues a gag order on the subject. Foley's father and wife are arrested and alleged to have intimidated witnesses.
910924, Lexington, KY, KNN. Gregory Drake Wahl, a Fayette County Sheriff's Deputy, was arrested Monday for selling 1/4 pound of marijuana within 1000 feet of a school.
911101, Laurel Co, KY, WSEK. Ron Pool, FBI handler for "Operation Walking Short", the Jonathan Mann case, attempted to influence Judge Watson to release Robert Foley on murder charges.
911002, Clinton Co, KY, WMKZ, WKYM. Following a two year undercover investigation, the FBI arrested David M Stonecipher, 47; John Henry Cravens, 45; Anthony "Tony" Seratto, 39; and was attempting to find Paul A Brown; on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The break came with a $14K sale by Stonecipher the previous Tuesday & Wednesday to a KSP agent. This Duvall Valley operation was a marijuana clearinghouse, exporting to GA, OH, IL. The FBI does not usually investigate mid-level drug dealers, but this was an exception. Capt Gary Lusher of the Bowling Green SP and Terry O'Connor of the FBI publicized the bust. Seratto is an 14 year veteran of the Albany police, and was charged with use of a firearm in a drug offense, an well as conspiracy.
911029, Laurel Co, KY, KNN. Robert Foley, 39, is arrested & pleads not guilty for the murder of four people found entombed in an abandoned septic tank since 1989. This was on a farm at Bald Rock, Laurel Co, owned by his father, and formerly owned by ___________, also alleged to have been murdered by Foley. Victims include Kimberly Bowersods (?) 20, of Ohio; and Calvin Reynolds, 22, of Laurel Co, KY. See also 910826 for rumor that Foley is a FBI protected informant. Note that Foley had aged -17 years during this unfortunate incident. See 940404.
911030, Breathitt Co, KY, KNN. After a two month investigation, Mike Goff of the Kentucky National Guard working in The Governor's Marijuana Task Force, is among 31 arrested for marijuana trafficking. According to Mike Powell, the Governor's mouthpiece, participants are carefully screened for drug use, criminal tendencies, and correct thinking before being allowed to participate in The Governor's Marijuana Task Force.
911101, Laurel Co, KY, WSEK. Ron Pool, FBI handler for Operation Walking Short, the Jonathan Mann case, attempted to influence Judge Watson to release Robert Foley on murder charges.
911105, Clinton Co, KY. Eddie Lovelace wins election for Circuit Judge. During the campaign, no mention is made of his suspension. However, new connections to the marijuana industry are alleged when Lovelace accepts a $500 contribution from an arrestee (Cravens?) in the 911002 FBI marijuana raids.
911121, Charleston, TN, KNN. Four of four police officers of Charleston, TN, are arrested for conspiring to have a town councilman arrested last year. Said harassee was investigating corruption in the police department.
920130, Laurel Co, KY, WSEK. Robert Foley was being handled by FBI agent "Ron Poole" at the marijuana arrest of Larry Vaughn.
920324, Knox Co, KY, WSEK. Sheriff Bingham & Judge-Executive Hampton wrote letters of recommendation of lenient sentences for growers of 300 pounds of marijuana in the Stinking Creek area. Also "Ron Poole" of the FBI is accused by Kathy Putnam, wife of his ex-partner, of buying drugs for cash and buying drugs without accompaniment. Pardner Putnam is presently serving 16 years for the murder of an informant rather than take responsibility for her pregnancy. Talk about screwing a confidential informant!
920504, The Nation, Alexander Cockburn, p582. A drug & gun trafficking operation thru Mena in western Arkansas was protected by Federal officials. A 1983 IRS drug smuggling & money laundering investigation by the Arkansas State Police, prime investigator Russell Welch, uncovered CIA connections, and was warned off by the FBI. Arkansas state agencies brokered loans to associated companies and interfered with investigations. Terry Reed was a pilot & contra trainer.
920509, Presidio Co, CA, Paul Harvey. The former Presidio County CA Sheriff is busted for cocaine trafficking. But there is no Presidio County in California. But Sheriff Rick Thompson of Presidio County, Texas, and his business partner Robert Chambers (a Senator?) have been sentenced to life in prison for cocaine smuggling according to Frontline, "What Happened to the Drug War?", 930206. I was really impressed by Sheriff Thompson's television adv for his tollfree drug smuggler hotline, 800 BE-ALERT. Apparently they were caught when another business partner reported them to the real cops.
920513, Harlan Co, KY, WMKZ. LeRoy Helton and Don Helton file a $12 million lawsuit against Sheriff Bill Redwine & 2 deputies for unlawful arrest in a 1988 drug raid.
920617, Florida, KNN. Florida Sheriffs have been shaking down people for multi millions of dollars under the guise of drug forfeiture. The people were never charged, but they never complained either. The rat got out of the bag when a woman was relieved of her Federal hurricane relief check. Rumors have it that this is a common practice everywhere.
920806, Kentucky, WMKZ. "Operation Walking Short" continues. Former Lee County Sheriff Jonathan Mann is accused of taking $40,000 in payoffs from phony drug dealers. The Feds are confiscating $132,000 in property as drug profits. Meanwhile, Sheriff Mann is serving 24 years 4 months in prison. Wolfe County Deputy Sheriff Wilson Stone was sentenced to 10 years 1 month.
920807, Nashville, TN, WKYU. Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brothers is indicted at Nashville, TN, for his part in laundering $1.3million in cocaine profits into several corporations. Also indicted are Russell Brothers, nephew of The Judge, and G Thomas Newell, their attorney.
920809, Clay Co, KNN. Marijuana claims another young victim. Melissa K Cotton (20) of Patterson, New Jersey, a Ft Campbell soldier, was killed in Clay Co, KY, as part of The Governor's Marijuana Task Force (GMTF). She was a passenger in a fuel tanker truck which ran off the road. The shoulder collapsed, and the truck rolled down a hill and into a tree. The truck was in the area supporting helicopters searching for marijuana. The claim was made on several newscasts that "The Army is not heavily involved in marijuana eradication". The GMTF score so far this year is about a half million plants.
920825, Floyd Co, KY, KNN. Floyd County Kentucky Deputy Sheriff Larry Newsome (45) plea bargains guilty to one of five counts of drug trafficking. He was charged with selling pills to an undercover agent. This must have happened a while ago, since a trial was scheduled for tomorrow.
920826, Louisville, KY, many including KNN, KET, WLKY, WAVE, WHAS. Four law officers are arrested on charges of violating the civil rights of Ricky Lee Pardu by planting cocaine and a silenced pistol in his car. Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Ron Pike was the mastermind of the operation. Saint Regis Police Captain Gary Epperly was the operations chief, and Saint Regis Policeman James Goodman his assistant. They were hired by Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff George Tingley, who supplied the cocaine. Pardu was arrested by Epperly and Goodman on 1 Nov 90. David Tingley, Charles Bookout, and John Bursoe were also involved. Epperly and Goodman were also questioned in the murder of State Policeman Johnny Eddrington with his own gun in Laurel County, but have not been charged. Pardu was believed because he was an informant passing information on activities of Special Security Services, an operation of the officers located on the Rest Haven Cemetery property. See 930225, 930723
920827, Detroit, MI, Paul Harvey. Detroit Police Chief William Hart is sentenced to 10 years for embezzlement and tax evasion for stealing millions of dollars which was supposed to have been used for undercover drug buys.
920829, Clinton Co, KY, KNN. Anthony Seratto is sentenced to 70 months for marijuana trafficking. Not mentioned was his occupation (Albany city cop) or the disposition of charges of use of a firearm in the commission of conspiracy to traffic in illegal drugs.
920911, Clay County, KY. Vicki ____ wins $70K lawsuit against Clay County jail for a BCS. While six months pregnant, her anus and vagina were searched with the same unlubricated glove. No contraband, but a nice infection anyway.
921030, Jessamine Co, KY, WSEK. Former Jessamine County Sheriff Steven Roy Walker, is given a one year diversion in lieu of a retrial on 35 counts in 1989 of illegally obtaining pain killers. This means that if Sheriff Walker stays clean for a whole year that his record will be wiped clean. Carl Forster, judge.
921113, Erlanger, KY, KNN & WSEK. Inspector David Woods (42) of the Erlanger, KY (suburb of Cincinnati, OH) police was arrested for selling confiscated drugs. The East Kentucky Task Force of DEA, FBI, KSP, ETC, charged Inspector Woods with drug trafficking and theft of government property after a five to six month investigation.
921123, Whitesburg, Letcher Co, KY, WKYU, KNN. Circuit Court Judge Larry Collins was arrested on five bribery charges for taking $7,000 and some marijuana in return for protection of a marijuana dealer. This came after a one year Grand Jury investigation. When Judge Collins took over his office in January 92, he immediately dismissed a Grand Jury which was investigating corruption.
921212, Louisville, KY, KNN. A drug sweep in Louisville, KY, catches 24 drug dealers, including a Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff. Deputy Gerald LaMotte Gray was charged with two counts of marijuana trafficking. Also paraquat has just been declared safe and efficacious for use on homegrown marijuana.
921218, Comment on Kentucky, KET. ? Estep of Lexington Herald-Leader says that the value of the marijuana crop has been forced below the value of the tobacco crop in Kentucky this year, which is 900M$. [But on 921112, the harvest was claimed to be worth $1,300,000,000.] During the 80's, marijuana was usually of more value than tobacco, 1B$ in some years. Most is produced in southeastern Kentucky, Clay, Leslie, Laurel, Harlan, Whitley, McCreary, Wayne, Clinton counties. Prices this year are $1200 to $2600 per pound. Judge Collins has been suspended with pay after continuing to hold court after his arrest on bribery charges. Al Smith speculates as how the drug trade has caused a lot of corruption.
921226, Russell Co, KY, WSEK. Matthew Gene Roy, Russell Co, KY, Magistrate is arrested in Lake Charles, LA, for marijuana trafficking in a "routine traffic stop".
921230, Eastern KY, KNN. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the "Operation Walking Short" convictions of five Eastern Kentucky cops on assorted drug trafficking conspiracy charges. It does admit that maybe the punishment of Omer Noe was too harsh.
Holy Corruption.!!
Thank you Lizzi for all you doing❤️👊🏻This Corruption needs to end! 🤬🤬🤬