Clerk Convicted Of Selling Meth Ingredient (10 Bottles of Cold Medicine Could Bring 10 Years)

The Oklahoman ^ | Oct. 2, 2003

[Wolfie]

CLERK CONVICTED OF SELLING METH INGREDIENT

ENID -- A convenience store clerk has been convicted of selling an over-the-counter decongestant used to make methamphetamine. Claude Allen McFalls, 70, sold 10 bottles of cold medicine to an undercover police officer at Mac's Mart No. 1 in Enid. He was convicted Wednesday of unlawful sale of precursor substances.

McFalls could face up to 10 years in prison.

McFalls testified that he did not hear most of what Sgt. Kevin Morris said to him during the sale last August. The clerk said he would not have sold the pills if he understood the officer intended to use them to manufacture methamphetamine.

Morris said McFalls initially refused to sell him more than five bottles of pseudoephedrine tablets, even though he complained he could not cook up much dope with that many pills.

"I said, 'It's kind of hard to make meth when you can only get five bottles at a time,'" Morris said.

McFalls eventually consented to sell Morris another five bottles if he went out to his car for a few minutes then re-entered the store, the narcotics officer said.

Selling pseudoephedrine is not illegal unless the seller knows it is intended to be used for manufacturing methamphetamine.

McFalls was one of seven people arrested Aug. 22, 2002, on charges of illegally selling pseudoephedrine.

McFalls' sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2.

[OXENinFLA]

How many ways can you spell E-N-T-R-A-P-M-E-N-T.

[robertpaulsen]

"And setting up a 70 year old store clerk is reprehensible."

Less reprehensible to me than allowing the possible consequences of homemade meth.

Spotting Meth Lab Affected Kids(Mesa County Colorado Human Services)
Typical symptoms in lab-kids:
Chronic cough
Skin rashes
Red, itchy eyes

In Mesa Co. children studied:
50% had learning disabilities
90% were reliant on inhalers
Most malnourished
Most have erratic sleeping habits

That's why I call them scumbag drug dealers.

[dfwgator]

Are they going to stop selling glue too?

[dread78645]

I bought $80 worth of medicine last night; 10 big bottles I think.

Tweaker.
;=)

[ellery]

This is a good point that I have yet to see answered: what evidence must an undercover cop provide to corroborate his story? I aks in the wake of that case in Texas where the cop falsely accused a ton of people of drug crimes...

[jmc813]

For the children.....sigh.

[Stone Mountain]

So you don't have any problem with what was done to this clerk? Wow...

[Dead Corpse]

Legalize it and enviromental workplace standards from OSHA would apply.

Who'd you rather buy an ingestible substance from? Backyard Bob, or Happy Mart? Especially when production costs would be much lower for a mass marketed chain store.

Throwing 70 year olds in jail for something like this, even a bootlicker like you should be ashamed of.

[ellery]

Great -- Mr. Ellery and I stocked up on sinus medication a few weeks ago for our recent vacation (we both get crazy allergies in the fall). So when PA gets one of these laws, I'll have to make two trips to the store next time we need to stock up? It won't stop meth producers, but boy will it increase the time and gas spent on controlling our allergies. Forcing people to make extra trips is a great way to decrease our reliance on foreign oil, by the way.

[ellery]

They'd better start restricting paint and all the other substances crazy people "huff" too. Who will I need to see to get a prescription to paint my living room blue?

[ellery]

Meth is allowed in Mesa County, Colorado? Or do your stats signify that they do it anyway?

And of course they're scumbag drug dealers.

[nothingnew]

What a haunting picture. Reminds me of "A Christmes Carol" scene of the two children under the robe of Christmas Present....I think they were "Want" and "Ignorance"? (I may be wrong on that)

FMCDH

[nothingnew]

He was convicted Wednesday of unlawful sale of precursor substances.

In a related story, the same 70 year old was arrested for "Moping With The Intent To Gawk" shortly after leaving the "Courthouse".

FMCDH

[robertpaulsen]

"Legalize it and enviromental workplace standards from OSHA would apply."

You're right. But until then, which by my watch should be right after hell freezes over, we'll just go about trying to close down the clandestine labs.

[twittle]

Its a shame we allow law enforcement to engage in this kind of dumbass entrapment in the first place.

We're really making this country a better place, aren't we, by tricking a clerk into selling cigarettes to a 17 year old or beer to a 20 year old.

[Dead Corpse]

By arresting 70 year old clerks? Do you fill your swimming pool with a teaspoon as well?

Why don't we all just report to jail? Wouldn't that solve the probelm?

Oh... that's right. You can get illegal drugs even in JAIL.

[robertpaulsen]

Well, he was one of seven arrested. It's not like he was picked on, or anything.

But you're saying we should not arrest him because of his age? Let him go, but keep the other six (assuming they're not too old, or too young, or a minority, or have a disability, etc.) Right?

Ah, selective laws. Gotta love 'em.

Here's an idea. Let's have a jury of his peers make the decision of what to do with this guy. Pretty radical thinking, huh?

[robertpaulsen]

"For the children.....sigh."

Hey, my "for the children" references are running about 10:1 behind "The DEA SWAT shot my dog" threads.

I got a lot of catching up to do (from the toga party scene).

[Cobra Scott]

The legislation targets over-the-counter medications containing pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that is also a key ingredient in making the highly addictive and illegal stimulant methamphetamine.

Exactly when did some brilliant mind come up with a way to change the laws of chemistry? Methamphetamine indeed....

[Cobra Scott]

Not to mention that anything less than a complete dismissal renders him unable to defend himself with a firearm in his own home. Forced euthenasia IMO.