cannabisnews.com: Ohio Gov. Mail Room Investigated





Ohio Gov. Mail Room Investigated
Posted by FoM on May 25, 2000 at 13:01:32 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Las Vegas SUN
The State Highway Patrol is investigating a possible drug-smuggling ring run out of Gov. Bob Taft's office mail room by four minimum security prisoners on a work program.The scheme apparently involved using the mail for marijuana deliveries, The Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday, quoting unidentified sources.
The highway patrol is in charge of the investigation because it is responsible for the governor's security and for investigating crimes within state government offices.Lt. John Born, the patrol's spokesman, would not confirm the newspaper's report."An investigation is under way involving inmates at the governor's office, but we can't discuss specifics of it at this point," he said Thursday.No charges have been filed, Born said.Taft spokesman Scott Milburn did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the investigation Thursday.The inmates from Orient Correctional Institution had been assigned to handle duties such as mail sorting and news clipping.They returned to the facility after work every night.Joe Andrews, spokesman for the state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, refused to discuss the specifics of the case.But he said inmates who work in the governor's office are minimum security prisoners who have been sentenced for nonviolent crimes and have indicated they can be trusted to work outside prison under the supervision of state employees."We take into consideration their previous history and behavior while incarcerated," he said.Andrews would not say how many inmates work in state government or in the governor's office.Columbus, Ohio (AP) Published: May 25, 2000 Copyright 2000 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 25, 2000 at 16:21:36 PT
Police Say No Evidence in Drug Case
Police Say No Evidence in Drug CaseLas Vegas SUNhttp://www.lasvegassun.com/Published: May 25, 2000 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The State Highway Patrol found no evidence of wrongdoing after investigating allegations that a drug-smuggling ring was being run out of Gov. Bob Taft's office mail room by minimum security prisoners on a work program.The patrol got a tip four inmates might be involved in criminal activity that included drugs. However, investigators found no illegal substances during a search of the building Tuesday with drug-sniffing dogs, and urine tests on the prisoners detected no drugs, Lt. John Born, a patrol spokesman, said Thursday.No one was arrested or charged in the investigation, he said.Investigators had watched the inmates for months, sometimes using surveillance equipment. The Columbus Dispatch, quoting sources it did not identify, reported Thursday that the alleged scheme apparently involved using the mail for marijuana deliveries.Scott Milburn, Taft's spokesman, said inmates have worked in the governor's office for at least 20 years without incident. He said they sort mail and compile news stories relevant to state government and are returned to their correctional facility after work every night.The inmates chosen to work in the governor's office are minimum security prisoners sentenced for nonviolent crimes who have proved they can be trusted to work outside prison under the supervision of state employees, said Joe Andrews, spokesman for the state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction."We take into consideration their previous history and behavior while incarcerated," he said.Andrews would not say how many inmates work in state government or in the governor's office.Copyright 2000 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 25, 2000 at 15:30:55 PT
It is serious
Hi CD1,I'm sorry. I'm only laughing at the irony of the drug war. It is serious news! Peace, FoM!
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Comment #3 posted by CD1 on May 25, 2000 at 15:28:17 PT
NOT LAUGHING
I, for one, am not laughing. It scares me. Kaptinemo brings up a very valid point. If they were caught doing this in a private home or business, the property would be seized, and sold to give more money to the DEA. Residents in Ohio should write to their legislators and newspapers and bring up this issue.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 25, 2000 at 14:04:20 PT
That's Good!
That's really good kaptinemo! That's really good! You made me laugh! Now what are they going to do? Peace, FoM!
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on May 25, 2000 at 13:51:48 PT:
Whose building you gonna forfeit, now?
When I read this,at first I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and tears rolled down my face. But then I got to thinking:Part of the DrugWarrior's favorite SOP (standard operating procedure) requires that any dwelling involved in the drug trade be forfeited. They really love this, as they can get all kinds of nice things really cheap. But now the Ohio Governor's House is implicated. It's not Federal property, as are the forests and parks that some growers use. It's not private property, either. But it has played a pivotal role in a 'crime' as they see it. If the State can demand that your home be taken from you and sold without your consent, all under the aegis of forfeiture, then what about so-called 'public property'?Right under their noses. Under...their...noses. When will they ever learn? Evidently, never.
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