Archive for the ‘Drugs’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Supreme Court Cripples the Fourth Amendment

May 19th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure, was weakened this week when the Supreme Court ruled on Kentucky v. King. The ruling supported the Kentucky Police’s decision to kick in the door of Scott King despite a suspicious probable cause.

Photo Courtesy of laapush.org

Police had pursued and lost a drug suspect in the vicinity of King’s residence, and when they smelled marijuana coming from his apartment, they demanded entry. After knocking loudly the police heard movement from inside the apartment and fearing the occupant was destroying evidence broke the door down.

King challenged the officers’ right to break into his house without a warrant, but the Supreme Court decided that since the attempted “destruction of evidence” was a result of their legal request to enter, the forced entry was justified. Civil libertarians are outraged over this new precedent that is so susceptible to abuse. They theorize that law enforcement can easily “smell” marijuana and “hear” an attempt to destroy evidence to break into any residence. Online petitions have begun to pop up in defense of the fourth amendment.

While abuse of this ruling is possible, the fear that police will be ignoring the fourth amendment entirely is unfounded. The fact police were in the process of chasing a drug suspect played a major role in the decision, so while this is certainly an injury to the fourth amendment, it is not a fatal wound.

If you feel that law enforcement conducted an illegal search of your property, legal representation can help protect your rights. Bloom Legal, a New Orleans law firm specializing in criminal defense, can be contacted at 504-599-9997 for a free case consultation.

Man Gets Life in Prison for Marijuana Conviction

May 6th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs by bloom | 1 Comment »

Cornell Hood II was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and a St. Tammany Parish judge decided that, in light of Hood’s prior convictions, he deserved life in prison. This was Hood’s fourth conviction, and his first in St. Tammany.

Photo Courtesy of nola.com

Hood had recently moved from New Orleans East to Slidell where he requested and received a new probation officer. On a routine visit, the officer found marijuana and alerted the authorities. In the parolee’s home, police found two pounds of marijuana in assorted bags and a digital scale, evidence of an intention to distribute.

Previously, Hood had received two convictions in Orleans Parish for distribution of marijuana, and both times he received a suspended five year prison sentence and five years probation. The St. Tammany prosecutor used these previous convictions to portray Hood as a lifetime criminal deserving a more serious sentence. The judge certainly agreed. After three convictions of a drug related crime that carries a sentence of ten or more years, offenders can be subject to life in prison, but it is rarely invoked for marijuana convictions.

If you or anyone you know is charged with the intent to distribute marijuana, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation.

E.R. and Smallville Actor Arrested for Drug Trafficking

May 4th, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

The young actor who has starred in TV shows such as Blue Mountain State, E.R., and Smallville has pled guilty to conspiracy to sell over 10,000 pills of oxycodone but is asking for leniency from the judge on account of extenuating circumstances which involve a childhood friend and an imaginary, Mexican drug cartel.

Phot Courtesy of Wkipedia

Jones says Tom Cataloni, a friend from his hometown of Boston, contacted him in desperate need of help. Cataloni had apparently gotten himself into $90,000 worth of trouble with a Mexican drug cartel. Faced with the possible murder of his friend, Jones agreed to help sell oxycodone to make up the debt. The only problem was that there was no Mexican cartel, and Jones was about to find himself in the middle of a DEA sting.

The actor faces over five years in jail for his involvement, but is looking to have that reduced. He claims that his was a minor role in the conspiracy and that a heavy sentence would be unwarranted. He has a June 22nd court date where his celebrity status may help him avoid prolonged jail time.

If you or anyone you know has been arrested for attempted distribution of an illegal substance, Bloom Legal can fight for you. We specialize in New Orleans criminal defense cases. Contact us at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation.

Drugs Coming into Louisiana from out of State

April 11th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, Local Issues by bloom | 1 Comment »

This week has seen a number of drug charges for out of state residents with a Virginia woman’s attempt to transport 81 pounds of marijuana on I-12 and an Alabama man’s hotel room meth lab.

Photo Courtesy of greenwichmeantime.com

The woman, Tasharian Riddick, was pulled over on I-12 for improper lane usage. When the officer noticed Tasharia showing “signs of nervousness,” he asked to search the car and was denied. A K-9 unit arrived on the scene and indicated the presence of drugs in the car. The officers then found 81 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the car.

In an unrelated incident, Alabama resident, Bradon Bell was arrested in connection with an explosion in a Slidell hotel room while apparently trying to set up a meth lab. The blast damaged the room’s dry wall and forced the entire floor to be evacuated, but luckily no one was injured.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with the possession of an illegal substance, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free consultation

Willie Nelson Avoids Jail Time for a Song

March 30th, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

Willie Nelson was up to his old tricks when a Border Patrol agent smelled pot smoke coming from the country legend’s tour bus in November. He was charged with marijuana possession and ordered to appear in a Texas court.

Photo Courtesy of countryrokmusic.com

To hear Willie tell it, the tour bus had just recently picked him up in California, and he had completely forgotten about a small bag of marijuana which had been left on board from his last tour. Of course, if that is true, then the agent never smelled smoke and had no probable cause for a search. Then again, the fact that it was Willie Nelson’s tour bus might have been reason enough for suspicion.

It seems Willie is used to this sort of thing by now and took the proceedings in stride. His attorney jokingly suggested that Willie perform the judge’s favorite song Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain rather than perform jail time or community service. The judge seemed to like the idea and let the county legend off with a guilty plea and a minor fine.

The in-court performance was actually just a joke between the involved parties, but media outlets picked up the story as if it were true with a mixed reaction of anger and humor. The light sentence was a result of a more lenient stance on marijuana possession.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with drug possession, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

$9 Million in Opium Found Inside Porcelain Cats

February 18th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

On Thursday U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that they had seized over 9 million dollars worth of opium at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The drug had been packed into more than thirty porcelain cats and nearly made it through security undetected.

Photo Courtesy of cnn.com

The shipment had been labeled as “plastic samples” and passed through X-ray machines without alerting any suspicion. It was not until security officials chose to open the package and crack open a figurine that the opium was discovered. Whether it was the cargo’s point of origin in Thailand or some other irregularity that convinced authorities to investigate the shipment remains to be seen.

Inside the figurine was a black, tar-like substance discovered to be raw opium, most likely used to make heroin. Over 205 pounds of the substance, valued at 9 million dollars, were seized en route to a New York address.

Opium is rarely found in that quantity compared to the abundance of cocaine and heroin passing into the country. If you or anyone you know has been charged with the possession cocaine, opium, or heroin, contact Bloom Legal at 599-9997, so we can fight for your freedom.

Marijuana Catapult Discovered on Border

January 31st, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

Alongside half-mile tunnels and submarines, catapults have been added to the list of odd devices used by smugglers to get drugs over the U.S.-Mexican border. Last week Mexican authorities seized a 9 foot tall catapult as well as 45 pounds of marijuana and two vehicles. The smugglers evaded arrest during the seizure.

The operation is being touted as an example of the capabilities of a partnership between U.S. and Mexican authorities. It was the National Guard that first discovered the device and recorded surveillance of its operation. The video was then passed along to Mexican authorities via the Tucson Border Patrol.

Tucson Sector Associate Chief Jose Cruz recognized the potency of cooperation between the nations’ law enforcement agencies. “The Border Patrol’s partnerships with Mexican authorities, the National Guard, and the public enhance our efforts to address and disrupt the organized drug trafficking threat at the border and serves to degrade the capabilities of transnational criminal organizations.”

If you or anyone you know has been arrested for the possession of an illegal substance, contact Bloom Legal today at 599-9997, so we can fight for you.

Football Star Laurence Maroney Arrested for Weapon Possession

January 19th, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

The Denver Broncos’ running back was arrested last night while riding in a car carrying marijuana and three concealed handguns. Every passenger from the vehicle was arrested. Maroney was officially charged with gun possession and released the same night.

Photo Courtesy of aurorasentinel.com

However, the ex-Patriot has released a statement and may get off without any conviction. Maroney is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but he was not carrying his wallet at the time of the arrest preventing him from providing the permit to the arresting officers. Also in a time honored celebrity tradition, Maroney will avoid drug charges because the marijuana was the property of his friend.

In an interview with the area’s local news, Maroney was apologetic and holds no ill feelings toward the arresting officers. Responding to a question on why professional athletes choose to carry guns Maroney said, “We feel like we are the targets of most people because they know who we are, and they know we have money.”

If you or anyone you know has been arrested for drug or weapon possession, contact Bloom Legal at 599-9997 for a free consultation.

Slidell Police Make First Bath Salt Arrests

January 12th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, Local Issues, NOPD by bloom | No Comments »

Slidell police made the first arrests in the State for the possession of narcotics that have been marketed as bath salts in Louisiana. The substances, which were added to the Schedule I narcotics list by Gov Bobby Jindal (more information can be found in an earlier post), have been involved in a number of overdoses across the State.

Photo Courtesy of Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office

According to reports, after sending letters and visiting local businesses to inform them of the newly illegal status of the substances which have been involved in at least 165 emergency services calls over the past 3 months, police received a tip that a Slidell convenience store was persisting in the sale of the bath salts. This prompted officers to stake out the property and stop a customer who was found to be in possession of the bath salts. Police arrested the customer and also the clerk of the convenience store who sold him the salts.

The store clerk is being held on a $75,000 bond and faces up to 30 years in jail if convicted.

These developments indicate that while classifying bath salts as an illegal substance can seem humorous, the penalties for possession are very serious. If you or someone you know are arrested for possession of an illegal substance, contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of the case.

Bath Salts Added to Illegal Substance List in Louisiana

January 10th, 2011 | Posted in Drugs, Local Issues, NOPD by bloom | No Comments »

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced last week that a substance which has recently become known for its use as an intoxicant but is marketed as a bath salt has been added to the Schedule I narcotics list.

Photo Courtesy of Datasphere.com

According to reports, a specific type of bath salt which is manufactured in China and India has been implicated in a disproportionately high number of overdoses and other adverse health effects in the State of Louisiana. The substance, referred to as “Ivory Wave”, “Ocean”, “Charge +”, “White Dove”, and other names is now classified in the same category as heroine and ecstacy and its possession carries a possible 30-year prison sentence.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s officers have been actively confiscating the substance from local businesses and spas.

State health officials were tipped off to the substance’s use as a narcotic when they received more than 165 calls over the past three months primarily from first responders or ER physicians reporting overdoses and other adverse reactions.

If you or someone you know are arrested for possession of the newly illegal bath salt, contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Available 24/7. Call 1-877-NOLATIX for immediate help.

Switch to our mobile site