SandBoxBlogs: CBS News "4 sophisticated drug tunnels found on border"

"(AP) TIJUANA, Mexico - Four drug smuggling tunnels equipped with lighting and ventilation — including one with a railcar system — have been discovered along the U.S.-Mexico border in less than a week, the latest signs that cartels are building sophisticated passages to escape heightened detection above ground.

Three of the tunnels were incomplete, including one that the Mexican army found in a Tijuana warehouse Thursday with more than 40 tons of marijuana at the entry. The passage extended nearly 400 yards, including more than 100 yards into the United States....."
(Read more?  See more photos?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within news others make since 2010"

SandBoxBlogs: KKCO 11 News "New Law Prohibits Sale and Possession of Bath Salts "

Christy Dimond:
"Yesterday, Governor Hickenlooper signed a bill making it illegal to use, sell and possess cathinones, which are the family of chemicals in bath salts.

"Yesterday was a big victory for families, for law enforcement and really the state at large," says Jim Schrant, Resident Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Bath salts have a dangerous, sometimes deadly effect on those who try it.

"Just like that, an overdose, a suicide attempt. This is really like playing with a time bomb," Schrant says.

This time bomb may be particularly hard to catch. It's sold as an assortment of things including stain remover, plant food and crystals. One thing that all forms have in common is who they're marketing to.

"This stuff is being produced in China, Mexico and India for the sole purpose of being sold to young people here in the US," he says.

"I think that that's completely wrong of local businesses to market products that aren't good for you towards kids when they're more liable to buy them," says Grand Junction Resident Christopher Little.

Schrant says the packaging is colorful with words like "excite" and "wow." Under the new law, any businesses caught selling anything with these ingredients will face a hefty penalty.

"In our view it's just like drug trafficking and will be treated legally just like drug trafficking even if it's just a convenient store or head shop," he says.

They're looking to stop the manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of bath salts. But this law doesn't solve the problem when science gets a step ahead of the law.

"They're trying new chemical compounds that aren't illegal to try to replicate the effects of bath salts," Schrant says.

That's why, he says, it needs to be a community effort.

"It needs to be a partnership with the community and law enforcement. We're going to do what we can to keep this out of the kids' hands but we really need awareness and education by the parents, teachers, kids and their friends to realize this is really a problem," Schrant says...."

(Read more?  Click title) 

SandBoxBlogs: Denver Post "'Bath salt' drugs called emerging threat in Colo"

REMA RAHMAN:
"DENVER—The strangulation death of a 19-year-old Colorado man who authorities say had ingested a synthetic drug could be an indication of the emerging threat posed by such compounds, a federal drug agent said Friday.

Investigators believe Daniel J. Richards of Grand Junction was acting violently under the influence of the drug called Alpha-PVP on April 10 and was strangled when his friends tried to subdue him.

Friends took Richards to a hospital, and he died a few days later when he was taken off life support, police said.

Toxicology tests found Alpha-PVP in Richards' body, Mesa County Chief Deputy Coroner Kim Hollingshead said. He ruled the death a homicide......

>......Hollingshead and Jim Schrant, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, believe Richards' death is the first involving bath salts in western Colorado.

"It's an emerging drug of concern," Schrant said.

The DEA issued an emergency ban in October on three ingredients often found in bath salts, and

Congress is debating whether to impose a permanent ban.

DEA spokeswoman Barbara Carreno said it is unclear whether the chemical found in Richards' body is one of the three compounds banned by the agency, but she said it could have been a substance created to provide the same effects....."
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within news others make since 2010"

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "No jail sought for Aspen cocaine defendant"

The only member of the Aspen drug trafficking ring busted by the DEA last year that SandBox would like to say thanks to is Jack Fellner.  This sentence sounds like justice would be served rather than only technical law.  We hope the judge agrees.

Rick Carroll:
"DENVER — An Aspen man arrested last year as part of a federal drug sweep is looking at no prison time.

According to a motion filed Monday in the U.S. District Court of Denver, federal prosecutors are requesting that Jack Fellner spend no time behind bars and be sentenced to three years of supervised release and nine months of home detention. The motion notes Fellner's cooperation with authorities as part of the probe.

“Mr. Fellner was interviewed by law enforcement officers assigned to this investigation, and he provided truthful information as to his involvement with this offense and the involvement of others,” the motion says. “(Fellner's) information was significant and helpful to the government's ongoing investigations of criminal activities in the District of Colorado and elsewhere.”

Fellner's sentencing hearing is set May 21 in Denver.

In February, Fellner, 62, pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally distributing and possessing cocaine...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "FBI probe is unwarranted"

The Aspen Times is either pumping out blatant 'propaganda' (information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.,the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc., the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.)  (or) they are so absorbed (entrenched, blinded, deaf-mute-blind) in the daily pursuit of community power they have no idea at all what's going on in their city and county.


Hmmmmm.......which could it be??

Hey, it's Spring and off (really off) season!  We've got the Aspen Daily (the only locally owned and operated newspaper in the Roaring Fork Valley....'ZG' is the most famous 'anonymous' avatar around...they're on it!) where we know we can find out the truth.  So take the Times with the usual grain of salt.

As 'jbend' would say:  "Riddle me this...."

1.  Are the Feds really doing a probe??  Lordy, we hope so.

2.  Is that a probe just on the geriatric drug culture of Aspen that is corrupting our youth and inviting violent Mexican Drug Cartels into the area?  Uh...hellllooo Aspen Times....it's a "public corruption and power abuse" probe if there is a probe at all.  Sheesh....

3.  Will the Aspen Times fall under the discerning eye of DEA Special Agent "James Bond" Schrant simply because they are doing such obvious brown-nose style editorial pieces to Big Money, a certain social class in Aspen and the "workers" that fuel that vicious cycle of Aspen culture?

Riddle me this....

To read the editorial on the alleged FBI probe up on the Aspen Times today, click title.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Patrol "Heavy Equipment Plows Yield Over a Ton of Marijuana at Marfa Border Patrol Checkpoint "

Click title to read up on how creative the Mexican Drug Cartels that pump dope on to the Western Slope of Colorado...all the way up to Pitkin County and Aspen....really are....

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "FBI offers no info to PitCo on sheriff’s office investigation"

See related stories and public commentary at the following links:
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/03/sandboxblogs-aspen-daily-news-fbi.html
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/152488
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/03/sandboxblogs-aspen-times-pitkin-county_28.html

Carolyn Sackariason:
"Pitkin County’s top official on Wednesday got shot down by the FBI in his quest to find out if the federal agency is investigating the local government, as part of a probe into the sheriff’s office.

County manager Jon Peacock, acting on the request of Pitkin County Commissioner Michael Owsley, attempted to confirm whether the government is the target of an investigation......

......Peacock said he wasn’t surprised by the FBI’s response, but in a small town such as Aspen, different dynamics are at play and the community, including its elected officials, want transparency.

If in fact the county government is part of the FBI’s investigation, Peacock said he and the organization plan to cooperate.

“Our position is that if there are any questions, we’re there,” he said. “We need to be transparent. ... There’s nothing to hide here.

“Right now there’s nothing to cooperate on.”......

........“I don’t think there’s anything there,” Peacock said. “Joe and I have a good working relationship.”

DiSalvo also on Wednesday briefed some employees in the sheriff’s office on what he knows about the investigation, although he has not had any contact with the FBI. He said his staff understood the situation and did not appear concerned.

“Everyone pretty much got it,” he said. ......"  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "FBI actively investigating PitCo sheriff’s office"

"Old cops know that the best performance of their duty is to prove innocence."  (first spoken by avatar 'PB' in commentary in early October, 2010)

“It’s an indictment on this whole community, lifestyle and philosophies,” DiSalvo said. “Corrupt is not the word I would use to describe this office. Enlightened, compassionate and caring is how I would describe it.” (Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo, Aspen Daily March 27, 2012)

That statement by Sheriff DiSalvo is deeply disturbing.  How can it be that someone who has worked in the Pitkin County Sheriff's Dept. for 27 years be so far out of touch with the majority of his communities within his county?

Thank goodness that the DEA, FBI and all other agencies who participated in the drug bust in May of 2011 are looking hard at the community, lifestyle and philosophy of Pitkin County and the City of Aspen.

It's about time.

'Pandora's Box' was the label a few placed on the bust within hours of word getting out on 'how' the bust was executed.  A feeling of shock swept over the folks because to their knowledge no one had ever had the courage to openly stand up to the status quo of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley

Within weeks, word of other big busts all over the Western Slope came to the front of the news.  As the months passed we learned of the presence of Mexican drug cartels and gangs of the most violent origins  actually operating as close as Grand Junction and with presence in El Jebel, Glenwood Springs and the Aspen area.

The early stages of  the courage to speak up against known corruption, intimidation by powerful individuals, oppression, represssion and power abuses within communities running from Aspen through Glenwood Springs was in its mid-strength stages in May 2011.

Within those early months we saw  more voices grow stronger, more citizens thanking the participating agencies.  We saw a very prominent Skico exec literally step down because of his support and personal, ethical and moral standards.  We saw local opinion columnists speak openly with blunt language in a wide range of viewpoints and many of them in favor of change to end the abuses of power and retaliation to others by a few.  We listened to the whispers of folks who felt better because they had sent emails and letters of encouragement, thanks and hopes for the future to DEA Agent Schrant.

When the vile Michael Cleverly and cohorts engaged in alleged federal witness intimidation and tampering against the informant in the busts we even saw for the first time ever; federal law enforcement and outlying agency law enforcement step up and enforce the law.  Something unheard of in this area when it comes to intimidation and bullying.

We've watched federal prosecutors show decisive action that has produced results.  No  fumbling, no power abusing and no coverups.  There has not been one 'Big Money' or socially dominating person receive special treatment at their hands.

Yes, Sheriff Joe.  Thank goodness the community, lifestyle and philosophies of the past are being heavily scrutinized.

It's about time.

Our thanks here on SandBox goes out again to all the agents, agencies, deputies and officers who are participating in the continuing operation.  We now can add our local and state FBI led by Special Agent Robert Gaskamp.

Will they 'get it'?  That elusive 'something' that really is not elusive at all?  Will more 'anonymous father' types keep droppin dimes on the dopeman?  Will the politics of justice in the 9th Judicial District, City of Aspen and a few of our major employers and revenue generators in the Valley finally be deeply looked into?  Will the apathy of a number of our elected officials  along with blind eyes finally be stopped enough to balance out the harm that comes to the folks as the results of that apathy come to pass in their everyday lives?

The answer should be affirmative as all of these problems stem from that core root of systemic and corrosive decay that has run for so very long throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and west I-70 corridor.

Pandora's Box.

Yes, thank goodness we have law enforcement presence.  Stay the course.
(Read the article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Defendant denied bond in federal cocaine case"

Chad Abraham:
"An exotic lifestyle involving alleged offshore bank accounts and disposable cell phones makes a former Aspen man suspected in a local cocaine-trafficking ring a flight risk, a judge ruled Tuesday.

In denying bond for Montgomery Chitty, 60, of Big Pine Key, Fla., U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen Mix wrote that the defendant has a valid passport, allegedly has offshore bank accounts in the Cayman Islands and “has traveled out of the country on 13 occasions” since 1999.

Chitty was arrested Feb. 15 in Florida in connection with an investigation into an Aspen-area distribution ring. He pleaded not guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine......

.....But Mix, in her ruling, wrote that she was not assured that Chitty would appear for court hearings or that the safety of the community could be protected if he was released on bond.

Chitty has used at least one alias and has a felony conviction for importing marijuana, the ruling says. Mix also noted Chitty’s age and that he is facing, if convicted, a possible maximum life sentence.

In addition to “a history of moving from place to place,” Chitty “has repeatedly used false addresses ... has no known bank accounts in the United States, no credit cards, reports only $1,000 per month income from his daughter [and] uses only cash and disposable cell phones,” the ruling says.

Chitty also lied both about his identity and being a former law enforcement officer to his landlord in Florida, and has no stable employment, Mix found, citing evidence provided by the government.

Despite the letters of support, Chitty, who faces 10 years to life if convicted, did not contest his continued detention, Mix wrote....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "DEA staying silent on investigation costs for cocaine ring"

Another thank you goes out to the DEA and Special Agent Jim Schrant.

Why?

For staying the course. 

Carolyn Sackariason:
"...Claiming that it’s still pursuing arrests in Aspen for alleged cocaine dealing, the Drug Enforcement Administration has refused to disclose expenditures related to the investigation that led to the apprehension of six locals last year.

The Aspen Daily News filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request last July with the DEA, two months after six area residents were arrested for allegedly being part of a Los Angeles-to-Aspen drug ring that streamlined kilos of cocaine to the upper Roaring Fork Valley.

The July 15 request asked the federal agency to provide all documents and information that tracks taxpayer dollars spent by the DEA concerning the Aspen drug ring investigation from January 2010 to the present day. The request asked for expenses on accommodations, meals, travel and other costs associated with the investigation in Aspen.

Two weeks later, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice informed the Daily News that because of a backlog of requests and that “unusual circumstances” applied to the Daily News’ query, it would take six months to provide the information. The federal agency said the unusual circumstances were that the information would have to be retrieved from DEA field offices or third-party sites.

In a certified letter dated March 5, the DEA through the Department of Justice informed the Daily News that the information is part of “an active ongoing investigation,” and a detailed account of financial information could possibly identify individuals involved in the probe.

The DEA’s FOIA/records management section withheld 66 pages but did provide one page of dollar amounts, including one line with the number $75,043. Officials wouldn’t say what the numbers refer to (see scanned copy opposite).

Jim Schrant, resident agent in charge of the DEA’s Grand Junction office, said he couldn’t provide any clarity to the expenditure amounts.

“These are going to be the numbers that we’re obligated to provide,” Schrant said. Disclosing anything more, due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the information, would compromise the investigation and the techniques employed by the DEA, he said.

Schrant confirmed that the investigation in Aspen is ongoing and the DEA is “looking into additional arrests.” The latest arrest in the investigation was of former Aspen resident Montgomery Chitty, 60, on  Feb. 13 in the Florida Keys after a grand jury handed down a separate indictment related to the same year-long investigation into the drug ring...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Coloradoan "They're called BATH SALTS and they're deceptively lethal"

Robert Allen:

"Shopping for bath salts

Aside from the Internet, smoke shops are the primary sources for bath salt substances. However, when contacted for comment, people who answered the phone at seven local shops told a Coloradoan reporter they don’t sell the product.

“The people it draws in are sketchy business,” said Morgan Lindskot, manager of One Love in Loveland. “They just gave me a very weird vibe.”

Lindskot said her store quit carrying the substances about eight months ago, and people had tried to trade gold and “weird things” for bath salts.

Kelsey Trybushyn, manager at Rock ‘N’ Robin’s in Fort Collins, said her store also quit selling bath salts because of “sketchy” clientele.

“I’m not a big fan of them,” she said. “It’s definitely not a good thing to have on the market.”


WHAT ARE BATH SALTS?

"The presumption is that most bath salts are MDPV, or methylenedioxypyrovalerone, although newer pyrovalerone derivatives are being made by illegal street chemists. Nobody really knows, because there is no way to test for these substances."

Why are they called bath salts?

"It's confusing. Is this what we put in our bathtubs, like Epsom salts? No. But by marketing them as bath salts and labeling them 'not for human consumption,' they have been able to avoid them being specifically enumerated as illegal."

What do you experience when you take bath salts?
"Agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, chest pain, suicidality.

It’s a very scary stimulant that is out there. We get high blood pressure and increased pulse, but there’s something more, something different that’s causing these other extreme effects.

But right now, there’s no test to pick up this drug. The only way we know if someone has taken them is if they tell you they have.”

Source: www.webmd.com Q&A with Zane Horowitz, emergency room physician with Oregon Poison Center

(Read the article? Find out more about this deadly drug? Click title. Comment to discuss)

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Cleverly’s letter out of line"

SandBox chose to not post up Michael Cleverly's 'Bend over ballots' Letter to the Editor off 'The Aspen Daily News' yesterday.


Why?


Michael Cleverly is the guy who wrote the now infamous "Aspen old-timers, drug enforcement and God" rant against the DEA bust in Aspen.


He's the guy who then branched out and contributed to this 'eventually headed toward infamy piece' by Rick Carroll: "Aspen Times:  DEA's trusted tipster not so confidential" .

Which then led him into meeting local hero DEA Special Agent Jim Schrant and a number of various barrels of local media ink dumped over his head. (Click all highlighted links in succession.  Yes, we know there were a lot more, but had to draw the line due to post space)

Her choice yesterday was based on the undeniable fact that there is no 'appropriate way' to respond to Michael Cleverly.  He is that repugnant.

But today, Steve Kaufman of Carbondale brings up a good point that makes it worth the effort to give Michael Cleverly more of that spotlight he so obviously craves.

If the DEA informant and Marilyn Marks were men, would Michael Cleverly be so brave and graphic?

BTW, what is going on with that Grand Jury probe into witness tampering?  We haven't heard anything more in public view.

Maybe that's because Michael Cleverly was made to deal with men who happen to be his own size.

Thank you for writing in to The Aspen Daily, Mr. Kaufman.  Women throughout the valley who happen to support Marilyn Marks and also have serious concerns over the bullying/gang mentality that flows under us all in The Roaring Fork Valley are likely very appreciative.


"Editor:

How can one appropriately respond to such an offensive letter, Mr. Cleverly’s “Bend over ballots,” published on Nov. 1? I fear a serious reply might elevate Mr. Cleverly’s letter out of gutter. Let’s try sarcasm.

I wish to congratulate Mr. Cleverly for the ingenious way in which he managed to incorporate violent, sexually offensive innuendo into an activist’s legal battle on behalf of a citizen’s right to a transparent election. It would be a shame if he did not send a copy to the hometown newspapers of the judges who unanimously ruled in favor of transparency or the local newspapers of the countless citizens throughout the country who are also fighting for these same rights. I’m appreciative of the fact that Mr. Cleverly was not cowered by political correctness and am certain he would have been as brave and graphic were his comments directed at a man.

The Daily News should also be congratulated for its tongue-in-ballot support of Mr. Cleverly’s sense of humor, as demonstrated by its clever title.

The framers would be delighted to see how well our First Amendment rights are being exercised and protected.

Mr. Cleverly and Daily News publishers, you should be proud of yourselves.
Steve Kaufman, Carbondale"

(Comment to start discussion)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."