Men caught in drug sting sentenced (operation Pipe Dream)

oregonlive.com ^ | August 8, 2003 | The Associated Press

[bicycle thug]

Two men swept up in the multistate federal drug paraphernalia sting known as "Operation Pipe Dreams" in February were sentenced Thursday to five years of probation, and six months in home detention. They were fined $20,000 each.

Jason Robert Harris, 31, and Saeed Mohtadi, 33, pleaded guilty in May to one count each of conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia.

The pair, both active in Eugene, Oregon's burgeoning art glass scene, operated several Internet businesses that marketed glass pipes and bongs created by a cadre of local glass artists. They advertised their wares as incense burners and labeled other items "for tobacco use only."

But Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Drug Enforcement Administration indicted them and dozens of others in a nationwide campaign aimed at dismantling the growing use of the Internet to market pipes used to smoke drugs.

As part of their plea bargain with federal prosecutors, Harris and Mohtadi forfeited thousands of dollars worth of cash and inventory seized in February. They also gave up their right to use the domain names Jeromebaker.com, Ghettoweb.com and Smokelab.com - Internet sites that marketed their goods to individuals and wholesalers around the country.

Of the 19 individuals charged in federal court for the Western District of Pennsylvania after the federal sting, 15 have pleaded guilty, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said.

Eugene lawyer Greg Veralrud, who represents Mohtadi, said the men had operated their business openly in Oregon for years without legal trouble, but attracted the attention of federal officials after they began marketing pipes and bongs through the Internet.

"There is no question in anyone's mind people were using them to smoke pot," Veralrud said. "If they had stayed in their own back yard, no one was taking an interest in it."

Veralrud said both men are talented artists and hard-working businessmen. He noted, for example, that the federal government didn't seize their homes because the two had been longtime home- owners who could show their personal assets weren't totally derived from the sale of drug paraphernalia.

Nevertheless, the federal prosecutions have left both men deeply in debt, he said.

A spokeswoman for Eugene lawyer Kelly Beckley, who represents Harris, said Beckley cannot comment about the Harris case because Harris still faces a marijuana possession charge. The case is set for trial Aug. 19.

[Lexington Green]

Judicial thuggery

[thoughtomator]

An outrageous waste of taxpayer money.

[motzman]

Two men swept up in the multistate federal drug paraphernalia sting known as "Operation Pipe Dreams" in February were sentenced Thursday to five years of probation, and six months in home detention. They were fined $20,000 each.

Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Newman conducts the investigation into Jerry's "mail/insurance fraud" and Jerry's found to be guilty.

"There will be a small fine"

[Lord_Baltar]

Thank you John Ashcroft...

First Naked Statues, now this...

[Elliott Jackalope]

Just because our borders are still wide open, and there are thousands and thousands of illegals coming over every single day, and there are thousands of employers who hire these illegals is no reason to give our glorious attorney general a hard time for going after potheads and porno hounds.

It's a matter of priorities. It's obvious that Ashcroft believes that people who make porno films and glass pipes are a bigger threat to the Republic than the thousands of illegals who swarm into our nation every day demanding free medical care, free education, free housing, free food stamps, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. It sure is a privilege to have such an enlightened attorney general in office!

[coloradan]

1. If gun manufacturers and distributers shouldn't be held liable for the criminal misuse of their 100% legal product, what is the legal basis to hold glassblowers and their distributor liable for criminal misuse of theirs?

2. If these people have been deprived of assets and income, and left heavily in debt, and can't return to the jobs that made them money before, are they more likely or less likely to engage in facially illegal behavior now?

[bicycle thug]

i quite agree. Ashcroft's people sopped around for a legal venue to procecute these cases. Very typical behavior for people not respecting the realm of law reserved for state government.

This was expensive showboating. And it has only changed the logistics of just who is selling what to whom. In fact, I am told the collector's piece market - where investors buy large, eleborate pieces they only display - has grown incredibly now the "bad boy" image of these products has been buffed up.

This operation produced much smoke, and little fire. With the taxpayer getting the tab.

[11B3]

Looks like the DEA is just trying to appear useful these days. What they don't understand is that their War On Americans isn't very popular these days. Why don't they take these agents and reassign them to the WOT?

"We don't need no steenking JBT's these days" - go out and find some actual criminals or threats to our national security.

[swarthyguy]

Wait til they start working their way thru the customer lists.

[headsonpikes]

Apparently, there is nothing beneath John Ashcroft's dignity.

He is the archtypical whited sepulcher.

[bicycle thug]

"If these people have been deprived of assets and income, and left heavily in debt, and can't return to the jobs that made them money before, are they more likely or less likely to engage in facially illegal behavior now?"

LOL! Well, many the Higher Source employees returned to work and money making before their former bosses could. But the industry does take care of their own, and these men will be fat city much sooner then later.

And those employees yet unemployed? Why, if you had a life of leisure paid for by unemployment insurance, why go back to work - above the table anyways - in any great hurry?

The state of Oregon and Lane County lost tax ncome when these businesses folded, some of it forever gone as sales shift to the underground market; and the State iand Federal Governemts are losing money to unemployed(?) glass blowers as they vacation this summer.

Yup! This is a mess.

[11B3]

"Wait til they start working their way thru the customer lists."

Think of all the investigations that will spawn. Followed by the number of them that will roll on others, followed by new investigations, ad nauseum. Nothing like job security for the JBT's.

[KEVLAR]

A waste is correct. Consider that the same functionality can be had in five minutes by reconfiguring your standard issue tinfoil hat.

[bicycle thug]

You have a point. I bet you could live well in say the Northern Mariana Islands for example where you didn't have to deal with customs as it is part of the U.S. Pacific Protectorate.

I mean, plenty of clothing companies make "Made in U.S.A." clothing there with imported to Saipan Asian workers out numbering the native Chamorros.

In any event, anything you make disguised well enough as a tobacco consuming product has all the legal protection one should ever need.

[southern rock]

He noted, for example, that the federal government didn't seize their homes because the two had been longtime home- owners who could show their personal assets weren't totally derived from the sale of drug paraphernalia.

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, lords and masters in the fedgov.

John Ashcroft is a very sick man.

[blackdog]

My local plumbing supply shop has plenty of brass fittings, threaded tubing, and pvc pipe to make blue collar bongs, pipes, etc...

Why anyone would purchase completed designer bongs is just indicative of their stupidity. What ever happenned to American know-how?

[MrLeRoy]

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