Posted on 08/03/2005 10:02:46 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
LOS ANGELES -- Glendale resident and businessman Scott Schaffer entered a not guilty plea on Monday to charges that he sold handguns to a gang member in exchange for cocaine.
Schaffer stood in an area separated from the rest of the courtroom of U.S. District Magistrate Judge Paul Game by glass partitions and gave clear, loud responses when asked his name and if he understood the charges against him.
"Not guilty," Schaffer responded when asked how he plead to the charges. His parents and three friends were present in the courtroom for the plea.
A federal grand jury handed down a four-count indictment against Schaffer on Thursday that charges him with selling two handguns to a known felon, possessing a handgun while selling cocaine and owning 10 firearms at a time when he was regularly using cocaine.
Schaffer, 51, stood out from the other detainees in the courtroom's holding area in that he wore a dress shirt and slacks instead of the orange jumpsuit issued to federal prisoners.
Schaffer's bond was set at $1 million on Friday. But as of Monday afternoon, Schaffer remained in federal custody, said U.S. Attorney Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.
If Schaffer does make bond, he was ordered to go to a treatment facility for his cocaine habit.
Schaffer is scheduled to appear on Sept. 20 before U.S. District Judge Manuel Real. But his hearing may be reassigned because prosecutors notified Real that Schaffer's case is related to that of 43 Vineland Boyz street gang members indicted in June on charges of racketeering, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and methamphetamine, murder and attempted murder.
"Typically what happens is the two judges sit together to decide, as in this case, if the Schaffer case will be reassigned," Mrozek said. "It's totally the court's decision. We don't take a position on it."
Three of those defendants also appeared for arraignment on Monday. Javier Covarrubias, Raul Robledo, and Agustin Rodriguez all entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.
Local police and federal investigators were led to Schaffer after a search in June of the Granada Hills home of a Vineland Boyz member turned up a gun registered to Schaffer that had not been reported stolen.
An affidavit filed by David Torres, a Los Angeles Police officer assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration's Southern California Drug Task Force in order to obtain a search warrant for Schaffer's Glendale home, spelled out evidence prosecutors obtained from an informant who was a Vineland Boyz street gang member.
Schaffer met with gang members in a North Hollywood bar where weapons and drugs were exchanged, Torres said in the affidavit.
At least one Vineland Boyz member was allowed to use Schaffer's personal vehicle or the cabs of one of Schaffer's companies, Valley Cab Co., to transport drugs or collect drug-related debts, Torres said.
Also arrested July 13 was Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment.
Murphy, 47, is alleged to have had the cocaine in a bedroom and three handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition in the garage of her Lima Street home, police said.
She is free on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Burbank Superior Court on Aug. 25.
VinelandBoyzPing
(I wonder if Stacey will be tried with the Vineland Boyz too? Maybe that will bring more shame to the City Council)
Life in Burbank ~ Bump. :)
Is she a liberal? Were they "cop killer" bullets that could shoot down a 747?
Sounds like it....votes against drug testing for city council members, sells guns to gang members that kill city police officers...
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