Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248

AMERICAN PLEADS INNOCENT IN DRUG CASE

An American Fulbright scholar accused of dealing drugs in Russia
pleaded innocent as his trial opened with the prosecutor contesting
police evidence.

An investigator testified that she fabricated the amount of marijuana
found on John Edward Tobin. The prosecutor accused police of inflating
the amount and said she was "ashamed" to be involved in the case.

Tobin, 24, of Ridgefield, Conn., was arrested Jan. 26 outside a
nightclub, allegedly carrying a matchbox containing marijuana. The
Federal Security Service claimed Tobin was an aspiring spy, but no
espionage charges have been filed against him.
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