The ripple effect of California’s budget crisis could have an adverse effect on the high profile drug-related deaths of Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson. Click here for more information on the budget crisis: read our lips.
Negotiators have proposed cutting $20 million from the 82 year old Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, on top of $12 million, in previous cuts from the Bureau. In recent years the Bureau has added to its cadre of skill sets electronic surveillance and fugitive tracking. It was instrumental in establishing the guilt of convicted murderer Scott Petersen, who is awaiting execution for killing his pregnant wife and unborn child in late 2002.
Attorney General Jerry Brown, whose department oversees the Bureau’s operations, has publicly stated that local law enforcement agencies that hunt down drug cartels will be severely outmanned and outgunned. An example of their efforts includes tracking down surging marijuana plantations often operated by Mexican drug cartels in forests and national parks, and major methamphetamine operations in the Central Valley and rural Southern California communities which provide much of the nation’s supply. The agency, part of the California Department of Justice, works under the radar with plainclothes agents operating in often dangerous conditions.
Recently, the Bureau was instrumental in the arrest of 2 Los Angeles doctors and the lawyer-turned-boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith in connection with her passing. We hope Lady Justice continues her quest of such nefarious activities, despite the possibility of her sword getting repossessed.
They should forget about prosecuting marijuana and save lots of money.
While you might be right about the budget’s impact, I think the high profile allegations linking MJ’s death to prescription drugs may push the already hightened judicial awareness of this issue to a new level. HKS and ANS’s DR best watch out- they are very likely to be made examples of. Maybe HKS should spend more time on his criminal defense than trying to con the 9th Circuit into giving him/ANS money that legitimately belongs to the Marshall family.
The other commenter is right–the 9th should laugh Stern and his posse out of court and leave the Marshall family in peace.
If the state of CA were to allow criminals like the enablers of prescription drug addicts to skate because they don’t have a money in the budget to prosecute them correctly that is going to come back to them in future costs ten-fold. When other enablers see that high profile characters like Howard K. Stern and Anna Nicole’s doctors or Michael Jackson’s doctors get away with their crimes and receive a slap on the wrist…before too long these sorts of people will be coming out of the woodwork. An abundance of these sorts of criminals will tie up the CA legal system and the courts would have to break their previous precedent to finally send a strong message. I would urge the officials in charge of balancing CA’s budget to allow for a reasonable funding of the bureau of narcotics as well as the state’s attorney’s office so that cases against the likes of Howard K. Stern and others can reach a lawful conclusion and deter such abuse of controlled substances in the future.
personally, i think our government should get “tough” on illegal aliens…making them either apply for citzenship from their country of origin…or simply deport them…regardless of how long they have been in this country…So many have had the opportunity to apply for citizenship but don’t bother because you have bleeding heart liberals trying to create a amnesty program….I am tired of hearing about drug smuggling and mexican mafias..and also the arrogant manner in which they come across our border to deliver drugs and mayhem. When it comes to doctors “enabling” drug use to anyone…certain jail time and a revokation of their medical license is in order…