cannabisnews.com: Drug Paraphernalia Arrest 





Drug Paraphernalia Arrest 
Posted by CN Staff on February 26, 2003 at 17:50:03 PT
By Randi Rossmann, Staff Writer
Source: Press Democrat
A Forestville man was one of 55 people arrested in nationwide raids of suspected dealers of drug paraphernalia.John Matthew Patrick, 38, is due in a federal court in Pennsylvania early next month to face five charges involving possession or sales of drug paraphernalia, said his attorney, William Panzer of Oakland. The sweep, dubbed Operation Pipe Dreams, snagged five other Northern California residents, including three from Arcata.
In conjunction with another investigation called Operation Headhunter, federal agents arrested 55 people Monday in what is believed to be the largest crackdown on pipes, bongs and other drug paraphernalia ever undertaken by the federal government.A distraught Patrick, reached Tuesday at his glass-blowing business on Barham Road in Santa Rosa, declined to comment on his arrest, citing the advice of his attorney.Federal agents went to his Forestville home early Monday and arrested him at gunpoint.Then they served a search warrant at his business, California Colorchangers. They were there for hours, taking out several loads of items, workers at neighboring businesses said.The raids, orchestrated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, were meant to curtail sales of illegal drug paraphernalia over the Internet."It's wonderful to know that in these trying times, when we're on the edge of war, we can put our tax dollars into going after artwork and pipes," Panzer said.Panzer said he has little information about the evidence against Patrick, but said he thinks agents must have gone to a company Web site and ordered two of his glass pieces.Panzer said the Web site included a step where buyers had to indicate they wouldn't use any of the items for sale for illegal purposes.If convicted, Patrick could face about three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.Patrick has lived in Sonoma County since he was a toddler. He graduated from Montgomery High School and attended Santa Rosa Junior College.He said he opened the business in 1998 and employed about a dozen people.The Arcata residents arrested were Jason Vrbas, Gabriel Watson and Ryan Teurfs, all associated with The Glass House, according to the DEA.Note: Owner of Santa Rosa business among 55 charged in nationwide crackdown.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)Author: Randi Rossmann, Staff WriterPubdate: February 26, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Related Articles:Federal Crackdown Hits Lewisville Smoke Shop http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15576.shtmlOperation Pipe Dreams Is a Nightmare http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15573.shtmlRaids Take WoD's To Higher Level of Absurdityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15572.shtmlPipe Makers Free On Own Recognizance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15571.shtml 
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