Articles Posted in Drug Offenses

Did you know that Massachusetts law enforcement are allowed to arrest you for things they were not even looking for, but accidentally found while executing a search warrant?

The fact is, if the warrant allows them to be in a certain place, and they see something without violating the parameters of the warrant, it is fair game. Let’s say police officers rang your doorbell, told you they were looking for little Johnny and showed you the proper paperwork to search your home for him.

You, a regular reader of this blog, of course, let the officers in and do not challenge the warrant. Instead, you quietly call an experienced criminal defense attorney to ask for advice. While you are doing that, the officers a looking around.

Well, it’s a Monday morning and so I am sure that you, like me, witnessed plenty of folks moaning and groaning on their way to work, school, etc. this morning. Rest assured, though, there are those who had more reason to groan about their destination than most.

Take 26-year-old Cassandra McInnis of North Adams (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) for example. She was on her way to North Adams District Court this morning.

She had a bit of a traffic incident this weekend. No, not the typical kind.

This past Sunday, you may have woken up early. 7:00 AM-type early. At the time, perhaps you were listening to Emerson College’s radio station, WERS, located at 88.9 FM on your radio dial. If so, you may have heard me talking about, what else, the criminal justice system.

The topic of the overall program was to discuss progress in various areas of our sociological life. I was there to discuss what progress has been made in criminal sentences involving incarceration. Specifically, whether the unfairness’s and inequities we have seen in the past persist.

Unfortunately, I was not exactly a beacon of hope.

In the criminal justice system, any road can lead to Drugland. Law enforcement knows this and you should too.

On June 7, in Peabody, there was the more typical drug investigation at play. It resulted in the alleged seizure of five kilograms of heroin and two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Three men, believed to be part of a large drug trafficking network based in Mexico were arrested in the Massachusetts State Police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration joint investigation. The alleged network is believed to involve distribution of the drugs from Mexico to Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Law enforcement agents were stationed at a hotel on Route 1 and observed two men leave with large duffel bags and drive away. The vehicle was stopped in Saugus and four kilograms of heroin was allegedly recovered in the duffel bag.

I have often marveled how federal law enforcement personnel, lawyers and agents, of nearly all types seem to live their professional lives with a “holier than thou” attitude. It is as if they have lived their lives pure of heart and are incapable of making mistakes that so many others do.

Often that air of superiority is based largely on pure hypocrisy. Let’s look at a case in point.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is being accused of threatening doctors associated with medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts. Apparently, the DEA agents are telling these doctors that they will lose their federal license to dispense medications unless they severe ties with marijuana companies.

Alex Bilodeau, 26, of Revere (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) has branded himself as yet another gentleman who has misunderstood the rules of causing a Massachusetts drug investigation…and then making it even more serious.

The Defendant is said to have led the police on a foot chase in Davis Square to the women’s bathroom of a restaurant where police claim they found bags of marijuana stashed in an overflowing toilet.. He was then arrested on January 23, on charges including distribution of a class D drug, and resisting arrest.

According to law enforcement, the chase began on Grove Street around 1:35 p.m. last Thursday when an officer says he spotted the Defendant throw a small black safe into a dumpster. Thinking the action was suspicious, the officer approached him and allegedly saw a bag full of marijuana fall to the ground beside his jacket, according to a police report.

Winthrop Auxiliary Police Officer Bledar Naco (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) is now facing federal criminal charges for drug trafficking. He was arrested late last week and stands accused of dealing drugs out of his cruiser, in uniform and with his police-issued gun right by his side. The arrest was orchestrated by the FBI and police officers from Winthrop and Revere.

It was the result of a six-month joint investigation between federal and state officials.

The Defendant was arraigned in Federal District Court on Friday and is held pending a Detention Hearing at Federal Court.

Throughout the Commonwealth, and the nation, kids are returning to school this week. I can tell you as, not only a longtime Boston criminal lawyer, but as a parent, it is a time of anxiety and mixed emotions.

Part of the reason for the fears underlying those feelings have gotten spelled out pretty early this year. Some of the attitude that is feared can be found in some lyrics proudly discussed in a song enjoying popularity by actress/singer Miley Cyrus.

Ms. Cyrus, who has been apparently trying to prove to the public that she is not really the fictitious character she played on the kids’ television show “Hanna Montana” years ago, has a new hit song. The song is called “We Can’t Stop“. It is a happy little tune about her (and presumably her pals) being able to do whatever they please. What pleases them, it turns out, is the taking of various illegal drugs. The song talks happily about taking cocaine and features the taking of the newer drug “Molly”.

A Norwood man was arrested and charged with the crime of distribution of a class C drug. The drug was nor cocaine, heroin or even marijuana. In fact it is a commonly prescribed medication.

The drug was Adderall.

The description reads like your typical observation sale type of criminal investigation.
Members of the Boston Police District E-5/E-18 Drug Control Unit in the Home Depot parking lot, a known place for drug transactions, according to law enforcement. One vehicle allegedly parked in the farthest spot from the store when there were plenty of other spots closer to the store. soon,
another vehicle came, and one driver got into the other’s vehicle.

Believing they were seeing a drug deal, police approached the vehicle and displayed their badges.

Apparently not regular readers of Attorney Sam’s Take, the pair decided to make statements to the police.

Inconsistent statements.

The man was arrested for the distribution of Adderall and his companion was charged for buying it.

The man and his alleged customer are not the only ones charged in such a scenario. Two other gentlemen were charged for a similar suspected drug deal in Roxbury. This time it was Percocet.

Attorney Sam’s Take On Perscription Drug Prosecution

Perhaps it isn’t a surprise to you that illegal drug transactions can involve prescription drugs. Maybe the fact that law-enforcement actually prosecutes such cases does not surprise you either. However, I find that many people do not realize that the laws regarding these medications is the same as it is with illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.
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