FIJA opportunity?

[Kat Kanning]

Drug suspect targeted by federal authorities
   
CONCORD ? Federal authorities are going after the property of an alleged drug kingpin from Manchester.

Authorities believe Christopher Bouchard, 33, led a trafficking network that funneled more than $1 million worth of cocaine and marijuana to the Manchester area during the last three years. He was charged Thursday with conspiring to sell cocaine and marijuana and being a drug enterprise leader, which carries a maximum life sentence.

Law enforcement officials on Friday released a list of items they believe were bought with drug money or used to launder it, including condominiums on Lake Winnipesaukee, a Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes Benz, speed boat and land in Gilford, Peterborough and Bouchard?s Manchester home, in all totaling ?well into seven figures,? said Rob Rabuck, assistant U.S. Attorney.

Bouchard was being held at Hillsborough County jail on $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 15.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Wouldn't busts for simple posession be a more realistic cause for FIJA?  I don't find dealers, particularly, sympathetic.
An argument could be made that, as they take advantage, of the laws against drugs, they are in a quasi conspiracy with the government.
Also, although, probably not on this guy's level, dealers, along with cops, are on the frontline against legalization.

[Ron Helwig]

Also, although, probably not on this guy's level, dealers, along with cops, are on the frontline against legalization.

Well then piss him off by letting him free! 

[Kat Kanning]

Simple possession doesn't seem to get you a jury trial here.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Also, although, probably not on this guy's level, dealers, along with cops, are on the frontline against legalization.

Well then piss him off by letting him free!?

I'm all for setting him free, but, that won't piss him off.  Legalization would, as his profits would plummit about 90%"

[Kat Kanning]

New Hampshire News Briefs
   

Briefs

New Hampshire

One more faces drug charges

MANCHESTER ? A 29-year-old Manchester man has been charged in what authorities said was a conspiracy that brought $1 million worth of marijuana and cocaine into Manchester for distribution statewide.

Wayne Bello entered no plea Wednesday in Manchester District Court to one count each of selling cocaine, conspiracy to distribute more than five pounds of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute more than five ounces of cocaine.

Bail was set at $100,000 for a June 28 hearing.


      


Affidavits to support the conspiracy charges against Bello were sealed but Assistant Attorney General Brian Graf said later the charges are related to the case of alleged drug kingpin Christopher Bouchard, 33, of Manchester.

Bouchard waived a probable cause hearing Wednesday on charges of being a drug enterprise leader, one count of conspiring to sell cocaine and two counts of conspiring to sell marijuana. He remained jailed on $1 million bail. The case was transferred to Hillsborough County Superior Court.

Another co-defendant, Oscar Avina, 31, of Manchester, waived his probable cause hearing on a conspiracy to sell marijuana charge and was held for superior court on $500,000 cash bail.

The probable cause hearing for a third co-defendant, Edward Berthiaume, 45, of Manchester, was continued to June 28. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to sell cocaine.

Authorities said Bouchard brought about $1 million worth of cocaine and marijuana from Arizona to Manchester for distribution statewide over a three-year period.

Bouchard?s arrest, along with the arrests of 13 other people, was the culmination of a two-year investigation involving federal, state and local agencies.

[FTL_Ian]

Most dealers sell to support a habit, but the big players are doing it for cash or both.  There are usually police-approved dealers, and the independants.  It's the police approved ones that are in the "quasi conspiracy".

[FTL_Ian]

Also, the dealers didn't create the black market, it was the State.  Don't fault them for giving people what they want.  What people want is marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Also, the dealers didn't create the black market, it was the State.? Don't fault them for giving people what they want.? What people want is marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy.

And, of course, legalization.

[JonM]

Why would the dealers want legalization?

[KBCraig]

I believe he said the people want legalization, not the dealers.

Kevin

[FTL_Ian]

I'm certain there are some dealers who would prefer do do business at a lower profit without the risk of spending time in prison. 

[Dave Ridley]

I guess we need to either find a very sympathetic defendent representing a fairly sympathetic cause...usually black marketeers in the drug business are not that sympathethic.   I wonder if we'll have to generate one from scratch or if we'll be able to work simply to  help someone who's decent but  already going on trial for hurting no one....