Georgia Criminal Defense Blog

Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would make New Jersey the 14th state to allow chronically ill patients access to marijuana for medical reasons. The bill allows patients with ailments such as cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to buy up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana a month at state-monitored dispensaries.

New Jersey's legislation authorizes the Department of Health to issue to patients with "debilitating medical conditions" registry ID cards that allow them to use marijuana. Patients with specified diseases such as cancer and glaucoma must also demonstrate severe or chronic pain, nausea, seizures, muscle spasms or wasting syndrome to qualify. Patients with registry cards would be immune from arrest or prosecution for the medical use of marijuana.

Continue reading "New Jersey Legislature Approves Bill to Make State 14th New Jersey Legislature Approves Bill to Make State with Medical Marijuana" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Drug Crime , Drug Defense , Law & Information

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A report from foxnews.com discusses the recent events of the largest drug bust of the last 10 years conducted by the Justice Department, in which New York State and many other U.S. states were main sites for receiving the shipment of illegal substances. According to the article, over 400 members of an alleged Mexico-based cartel have been taken into custody for charges of distributing tons of methamphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana in the U.S.

Aside from New York, other locations that are suspected of receiving the drug shipments include the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles, and the states of Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, North Carolina , Florida , Oregon and Washington.

Apparently, the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the assistance of more than 100 federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies, spent 20-months investigating the drug ring that is allegedly based in Sinaloa, Mexico. The investigation, referred to as “Operation Imperial Emperor,” led to the seizure of an estimated $45.2 million, 27,229 pounds of marijuana, 9,512 pounds of cocaine, 705 pounds of methamphetamine, 227 pounds of pure methamphetamine, and 11 pounds of heroin. $6.1 million in assets and property was also confiscated, in addition to approximately 100 weapons and 94 vehicles.

Drug trafficking is a serious criminal offense, and although incidents are usually not as widespread as the recent bust of the alleged Mexico-based cartel, these types of cases are some of the most complex. If a person is convicted of drug trafficking, he or she may face spending years in prison, having valuable assets taken away, and paying hefty fines, all in addition to having his or her own personal reputation and relationships compromised.

Continue reading "Mexico-Based Cartel Bust: New York One of Many Drug Shipment Sites " »

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The website onlineathens.com reported in an article on June 27, 2009 that two DUI checkpoints in Georgia patrolled by the University of Georgia police, Athens-Clarke police, and Georgia State Patrol on the second night of AthFest resulted in the arrests of 48 people for DUI in Georgia. An additional 100 citations were given for lesser offenses.

Police also believe that they apprehended a burglary suspect when a keen officer unaffected by the late hour of 3:15 a.m. and, suspiciously late at night, noticed that a man age 39 had large amounts of beer and several cartons of cigarettes along with big packs of lighters. The officer called in to headquarters to see if there had been any calls for a robbery. Sure enough there had been a robbery at the QuickSpot located at 840 Hull Road and the stolen items were similar to the ones the officer noticed. Review of the store’s security tape revealed a man that appears to be the suspect throwing a rock through the front door and stealing all the items found in the suspect’s car.

Police had another big score when a 37 year old Lawrenceville man was arrested for possession of 25 pounds of marijuana. An officer going by the vehicle happened to get a hint of the aroma of marijuana. A drug sniffing dog working the checkpoints was summoned and verified the officer’s suspicions finding 21 gallon sized bags of marijuana and a large sum of cash. The suspect was detained and charged with driving without a license and trafficking marijuana.

Continue reading "Georgia DUI Sweeps Net 4 Dozen in One Night" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , DUI Defense , Drug Crime , Drug Defense , Non-Violent Crime , Theft Crimes

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The wbstv.com website reported in an account on March 13, 2009 that Ken Tippins, former Atlanta Falcons player from 1990-1995 will serve four years in jail after pleading guilty to a cocaine charge according to Charles Stines, Alapaha Chief Assistant District Attorney. A marijuana possession with intent charge was dropped in exchange for a guilty plea. A motion has been filed to reconsider the notion of the drug possession with intent to sell in Georgia. It is scheduled for April 15, and will be heard by Alapaha Judicial Circuit Judge Howard McClain.

The Controlled Substance Act is a consolidation of laws that regulate the possession, manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled substances or illegal drugs.
The Act breaks down narcotics into 5 different categories or "schedules", the most serious being "Schedule 1" offenses for drug crimes in Georgia.

Some examples of "Schedule 1" narcotics are:
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Methamphetamine
• Ecstasy
• PCP
• LSD

Penalties for schedule 1 narcotics offenses are severe and may require the assistance of a top criminal defense attorney in Georgia. Depending on the amount of narcotic seized, a first offense conviction could mean a prison term of up to 20 years plus fines; and, if you have been convicted of 2 previous offenses, you could be facing life in prison.

Marijuana laws vary slightly from the above and are generally based on the amount of marijuana or hashish seized. However the penalties for marijuana and hashish can be equally as severe, depending upon the quantity.

Conaway & Strickler, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm, which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. For more than a decade, their aggressive and skilled Georgia criminal defense lawyers have successfully defended clients charged with serious felony and misdemeanor charges, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and possession with intent to sell. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

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The nydailynews.com website reported in a story on February 10, 2009 that Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, had been arrested on charges that he illegally sold steroids to bodybuilders. Lucente is also the main doctor involved in a steroid scandal involving NYPD officers. Lucente operated the New York anti-aging and wellness center in W. Brighton, Staten Island. He was one of the principal doctors writing prescriptions for police officers and high school athletes. Lowen’s Pharmacy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn was also indicted.

Charles Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney said, “He gained a reputation as someone who would sell to any bodybuilder, weightlifter or athlete.”

According to the authorities, Lucente wrote a prescription for Joseph Baglio, a bodybuilder who had just recently had a heart transplant because of steroid use. Police believe Baglio’s death is connected to steroid use. New York homicide charges were not placed on Lucente because medical examiners could not be absolutely sure that the steroids were the cause of Baglio’s untimely death. Therefore Lucente was charged with reckless endangerment.

Hynes said, “Dr. Lucente knew he had a heart transplant. He had no business giving him any kind of steroid.”

Continue reading " Staten Island Drug Charges Against Dr. Arrested For Prescribing Steroids" »

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The nydailynews.com reported in an account on February 10, 2009 that an undercover sting operation resulted in the arrest of parolee Kirkland Smith, 58, for selling methadone to an undercover police officer. Due to a slip up, either by the NYPD or the district attorney’s office, they botched up the drug test results and were unsuccessful in meeting a deadline to indict Smith; therefore, he walked out of jail. According to police reports Smith poured $20 worth of methadone into a water bottle and sold it to the undercover cop in this New York drug crime.

Feeling untouchable, Smith decided to take two women hostage for six hours. Police were finally able to talk Smith into surrendering without incident. Smith claimed to have been upset because he was getting evicted, although no evidence of this could be found.

Parole officials will wait to see if they will charge Smith with violating his parole until the drug case is settled.

At Conaway & Strickler, P.C. their drug offense and parole violation attorneys aggressively defend the rights of clients throughout New York and Georgia, and are nationally recognized for their successful case outcomes. Each of their attorneys has a deep, personal knowledge of the courts, judges, and other courthouse personnel in the courts in which they practice on a regular basis. For more than a decade, the Georgia and New York criminal defense lawyers have successfully defended clients charged with various felony and misdemeanor charges, and they may be able to help you in your time of need. Please call 1-800-536-1740 for a free consultation.

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The NY Daily News website reported in an account on January 29, 2009 that police had arrested 17 people for dealing drugs at a seven story apartment building located at 135 Hamilton Place. According to officials they sold crack at all times from the grand building. Police claim that the boss was so bold that he even posted rollerblading videos on YouTube.

One tenant said, “I was afraid even to look out the window at the crackdown. I'm glad to have my building back."

Boschi (Bloodie) Pope, 22 is the alleged dope gang leader, who according to authorities, ran the gang from Rikers Island Jail. Authorities were able to tape incriminating conversations. Prosecutors say the tapes allegedly contain Pope’s voice instructing his girlfriend, Tiffany DuBois, 21 on how to restock the gang’s crack stash. DuBois, the mother of Pope’s child, was also arrested and put in the position of needing a skilled NY drug crime defense lawyer.

Continue reading "Harlem Crack Supermarket Shut Down By Cops" »

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Montgomery Cocaine Ring Busted; 16 Individuals Charged with Conspiracy

According to a July 10, 2008 federal grand jury indictment, 16 Montgomery, Alabama men and women were charged with a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute powder and crack cocaine throughout the region. The federal drug crime and conspiracy charges allege that during the first half of 2008, the 16 individuals along with other co-conspirators developed, financed, and maintained a drug-trafficking organization that supplied the Montgomery region with illegal narcotics. A spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Administration suggested that the dismantling the ring could have a significant and long-lasting impact on the Montgomery, AL drug scene.

If convicted, the 16 defendants could potentially serve a decade in prison and pay as much as $4 million in fines -- just for the conspiracy charge. A number of agencies and taskforces were involved in the investigation that yielded the cocaine distribution and conspiracy charges, including the Alabama State National Guard, the DEA, the Alabama Attorney General's Office, and a special Gulf Coast drug-trafficking force.

Continue reading "Cocaine Distribution and Conspiracy Charges in Narcotic Trafficking Ring" »

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Two Modesto Residents Sentenced for Criminal Marijuana Conspiracy

On November 4, 2008, the United States District Court sentenced two Modesto, CA residents, Luke Anthony Scarmazzo and Ricardo Ruiz Montes, to two decades in jail on federal drug crime charges for their participation in a massive criminal marijuana manufacturing and distribution enterprise.

According to the prosecution, the defendants got a license from the city to run a business specializing in organic healthcare products. However, this enterprise, known as California Healthcare Collective, restricted its activities to selling and distributing marijuana.

Over the course of three years, from 2004 to 2006, the California Healthcare Collective brought in millions of dollars -- a low estimate suggests the figure at $4.5 million, while a higher estimate, corroborated by evidence, suggests that the number may have been as high as $9 million. Illegally, Scarmazzo and Montes used their earnings to buy personal property, such as a Mercedes valued at nearly $200,000.

Continue reading "Federal Drug Crime Defendants Receive 20 Years Imprisonment" »

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DMV Employee and Nine Others Indicted on Charges of Marijuana Trafficking and Corruption

On December 2, 2008, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unsealed an indictment of federal drug crime charges against 10 men and women involved in a massive inter-state conspiracy to distribute and sell marijuana illegally. The defendant, most of whom lived in Fresno, California, had (according to the indictment) concocted an elaborate scheme to export more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana throughout the United States.

One of the defendants under indictment, Michelle Meraz, worked for the California Department of Motor Vehicles and used her position as a government official to concoct a false ID by using a stolen identity and a picture of fellow-conspirator Haamid Alie Darcuiel. Charges in the case range from mail fraud to identity theft to corruption and conspiracy. Given the complexity of the arrangement and the sheer number of defendants indicted, the matter will likely take some time to settle out.

The case involved a handful of independent organizations that typically don’t work together on criminal matters. These included: the California DMV, the IRS' criminal bureau, the Fresno Police Department's narcotic division, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Eight of the defendants have been taken into custody. Two -- Jason Samuel and Haybe Dudeh -- are still at large, and authorities are currently searching for them.

Whether you have been charged as an accomplice to a criminal conspiracy, felony drug crimes or accused of some other federal crime, it’s important to recognize that your best options for justice lie in securing excellent legal representation. Fleeing from the law, retaining a second rate attorney, or otherwise under-representing your interests can result in much stricter penalties, such as heavy fines and jail-time. We at Conaway & Strickler, P.C. believe that every federal criminal defendant deserves a fair chance at justice. Our trial-tested, results-driven, nationally recognized federal crime defense attorneys can shed light on your legal options and help you prepare your best defense. Discuss your case with us discretely by dialing (888) 883-9091.

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Illegal Alien gets Life in Prison for Role in Huge Drug Ring

A U.S. District judge sentenced defendant Olivar Martinez-Blanco to life in prison without parole on December 9, 2008 on Federal drug felony charges stemming from his role in a massive cocaine distribution conspiracy. Martinez-Blanco is an illegal alien who had been deported twice from the United States and had racked-up two separate drug felony convictions. He was convicted in mid-September of his third felony, for which the federal system allows no parole.

According to the prosecution’s case, Martinez-Blanco was working as a lookout for fellow-defendant Victor Giles-Morales when the Georgia State Patrol stopped Giles-Morales' van. Martinez-Blanco fled the scene while patrollers discovered 15 kilos of narcotics in the van. After collecting nearly $1 million in cash, Martinez-Blanco fled to a safe house, where he was later discovered by drug enforcement agents, who also found illegal firearms, several more kilograms of cocaine, half-a-ton of marijuana, and a major stash of methamphetamines.

Observers of the trial suggest that the harsh sentence of life in prison without parole for this third felony offense was meant not only as a punitive measure but also as a warning to other illegal aliens who might consider running drugs or otherwise getting involved in the narcotics trade.

In cases like Martinez-Blanco's, it's easy for criminal defendants to end up out-matched by the legal fire power of the federal government. If you or a loved one has been charged with a federal crime, either for some narcotics-related offense or for any other crime that falls under federal jurisdiction, you need an expert federal crime defense attorney in your corner to ensure your rights and give you the best options possible. Look to the nationally renowned legal firm of Conaway & Strickler, P.C. For over 10 years, the firm's battled for the rights of clients at both the state and the federal level, and we can handle complex litigation and high-profile cases. Discuss your concerns with us and set up an appointment by dialing (888) 883-9091.

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Kathy Jefcoats of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on October 3, 2008 that Sheriff’s deputies from Cherokee County have discovered a marijuana growing operation. The operation was being carried out from within a home in the Golden Hills subdivision near Towne Lake Pkwy and Bells Ferry Rd. Sheriff’s deputies had responded to a domestic dispute call when they noticed the operation.

At the scene, deputies arrested Nicholas Lyle 29, and Michael Ammons, 35 on manufacturing marijuana charges. Sheriff’s deputies called in drug agents who obtained a search warrant for the house. The search warrant uncovered 98 plants and equipment for the growing of marijuana. Street value for the plants was placed at about $117,600.

Under the Family Violence Act, Michael Ammons was also charged with battery and is being held on $21,000 bond. What was initially a call to the authorities for a domestic dispute turned into a very serious situation with very serious repercussions for the accused.

At a time like this you will need only the most experienced Atlanta defense attorneys available. Not only does this person face domestic violence charges but now will also face drug crime charges that can lead to serious jail time. You do not want to fight this alone. The law offices of Conaway & Strickler, P.C., have successfully defended clients for more than 10 years; and will not rest until a satisfactory outcome is reached for their clients. Please call 404-816-5000 for a free consultation.

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According to an October 7th, 2008 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, local attorney Christopher McClurg, has taken his constitutional argument against a 1971 Georgia marijuana law all the way to the Supreme Court. McClurg argued that the Constitution guarantees jury trials to defendants charged with crimes like marijuana possession, and that since jury trials are not typically offered, the law is essentially unconstitutional. Not all justices on the court appear convinced by McClurg's case. George Carley, a veteran GA Supreme Court justice, argued that if McClurg's argument was taken to its fullest conclusion, the court system would seize-up and produce "absurd results." McClurg's client -- a juvenile arrested for possession of a small (less than 1 oz.) amount of marijuana in his pocket, in August, 2007 in Gwinnett County -- remains anonymous to the public.

Although it’s unclear whether or not the Georgia Supreme Court will rule that the 1971 law was in fact unconstitutional, analysts and scholars agree that this case could likely reshape thinking on the issue. As more and more states, such as California, become tolerant of possession of small amounts of marijuana for medicinal purposes, other states, such as Georgia, will likely follow suit by relaxing some restrictions, experts say.

If you've been arrested for possession of marijuana in Georgia or any other illicit drugs or narcotics, you need a stalwart defense attorney in your corner. Trust Conaway & Strickler, PC, to provide a dedicated and aggressive defense. We have a proven track-record for defending our clients from complex charges. We're members of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and we're happy to provide a 100% free consultation regarding your criminal defense matter. Call our offices today, or visit www.conawayandstrickler.com to educate yourself about your options.

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A joint effort by law enforcement officials from Georgia and Ohio led to the arrest of 70 suspected drug dealers last Wednesday, in Muscogee County. The undercover operation, set to become the largest in the last 20 years for the county, was led together by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Metro Narcotics Task Force, the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office and the Columbus Police Department.

According to a news article posted on The Ledger-Enquirer’s website, Police Chief Ricky Boren of the Columbus Police Department and Sheriff Ralph Johnson of Muscogee County acted on complaints from area residents over the increasing narcotics trade in public housing developments and requested assistance from the GBI. The GBI, with its extensive experience in organizing and conducting large-scale undercover stings, brought in additional funding for the operation to the tune of over $120,000; some from their grant money as well as some confiscated drug money.

The undercover investigation had officers successfully posing as drug buyers in 2006 and then tagging 100 street-level drug dealers for arrest later. Bill Malueg, deputy director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, reportedly said that by the completion of the entire operation 80 more arrests are likely to be made and over 400 drug-related charges filed. The investigation that has been ongoing for the last 10 months has also netted drugs and weapons and led to the identification of an additional 30 drug dealers.

An operation such as this, while having the potential to deliver sensational results, is also enormously complex and requires the greatest level of coordination. Needless to say, just about any number of things can go wrong during such a massive operation involving several law enforcement agencies, a variety of witnesses and informers.

If you have been arrested on a drug related charge in Georgia, and would like legal representation please call us for a free consultation.

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