Pubdate: Fri, 12 Sep 2003
Source: Watauga Democrat (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Appalachian Technologies, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wataugademocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2322
Author: John O'Dowd

COOPER DISCUSSES METH, 'DO-NOT-CALL'

On his way to the community meeting at the Fairfield Inn on the growing 
methamphetamine problem in the state and county, North Carolina Attorney 
General Roy Cooper sat down for an interview Tuesday afternoon to discuss 
"meth," financial identity fraud and the Do-not-call registry.

Addressing the meth problem, Cooper said that Watauga County was "ground 
zero" in the problem. Asked why methamphetamine and why Watauga County, 
Cooper said, "We know that Watauga County is the hot spot in North 
Carolina. We have busted 116 of these secret drug labs, 24 of these have 
been in Watauga County.

"As to why Watauga County, I don't know specifically. I do know that often 
times rural settings are a favorite of these criminals who cook 
methamphetamine in these secret drug labs. They like to be hidden away as 
much as possible.

"The problem is statewide in that these labs are being found in people's 
homes, in apartment buildings, in hotels; they're everywhere."

Cooper said that the manufacture of these synthetic drugs poses a greater 
risk than cocaine and heroin because of the dangerous and volatile 
chemicals used.

Mentioning community and retailer involvement in fighting this drug 
problem, Cooper referred to ephedrine, an over-the-counter cold remedy that 
is the primary "precursor" product in the manufacturing process. "If a 
person comes into the local retail store or the local pharmacy and they 
decide to buy three cases of ephedrine... it doesn't mean that they have a 
big family with a bad cold. It means that they are going to use it to cook 
methamphetamine. We have to work with retailers, pharmacists and 
agricultural chemical dealers to get them aware of the problem."

Ease of access to the ingredients and profit are the driving force for meth 
cooks, Cooper said. Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook agrees and has said 
that a $400 investment in common household products can yield a $4,000 drug 
profit.

Watauga County District Attorney Jerry Wilson has gained statewide and 
national attention for charging meth lab operators with the possession and 
manufacture of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) based on the chemicals 
used in the manufacturing process.

Questions have arisen as to whether or not Wilson was charging outside of 
the intent of the WMD statutes and was attempting to create, rather than 
enforce, law.

Cooper declined to comment on the specifics of Wilson's tactics or the use 
of the WMD statute for drug manufacturing, but said, "It's a reflection of 
the frustration that law enforcement and prosecutors feel about being 
overwhelmed by this problem of secret drug labs and not being given the 
resources and the appropriate sentencing for this type of activity.

"I'm going to work with Mr. Wilson and Sheriff (Mark) Shook and law 
enforcement and prosecution all across the state to present a package to 
the General Assembly which will include appropriate punishment for this 
type of activity.

"We have to send a message that we are not going to tolerate this, and that 
includes tough sentences."

Cooper said that he plans a statewide summit on Oct. 2 at Wake Forest 
University to gather law enforcement, prosecutors and health officials to 
plan a strategy to address the problem.

Beyond the legal and safety implications, Cooper expressed his great 
concern for the dangers to law enforcement and emergency personnel exposed 
to the drug and its by-products.

He said that children, living in meth-lab homes, had been discovered with 
health problems ranging from needle tracks caused by syringes laying around 
and turned into toys, to hepatitis C and lung and brain damage from 
exposure to the drug.

Moving on from drugs to identity theft, Cooper said that North Carolina was 
leading the nation in addressing the problem of credit card fraud and 
identity theft.

"North Carolina has probably been the model for the nation. We are working 
to pass tougher laws. We are training prosecutors and law enforcement on 
how to deal with this problem. We are getting businesses to do a better job 
in protecting our financial information.

"We just pushed through legislation this session that would prevent 
retailers from printing the whole credit card number on the receipt. Often 
times criminals use that information to steal."

Cooper said that the theft of social security numbers, bank account numbers 
and credit card numbers is a major problem for law enforcement and the 
victims of identity crimes and that his office was working with victims to 
help them clear their destroyed credit and reestablish their identities.

The thieves, Cooper said, take credit card applications from mail boxes as 
well as steal out-going bill payments from mail boxes. He said that with 
the information on the bills, receipts and bank accounts, thieves can then 
establish lines of credit, take out loans and request additional credit 
cards. The victim, he said, is often unaware of the crime until contacted 
by creditors seeking payment on the phony charges and debts. Innocent 
victims, Cooper added, have even been arrested because of crimes committed 
by people using their identity.

No one, he said, should ever give their social security number, bank 
account number or credit card number to a phone solicitor and everyone 
should buy a shredder to shred receipts and documents with personal 
information.

"The FTC (Federal Trade Commission), looking at the data they collected 
last year, they estimate that 266,000 North Carolinians were the victim of 
identity theft just this past year. The FTC is predicting that one in three 
people in this country will become a victim of identity theft.

"Businesses are losing billions of dollars. People are losing their good 
names."

Cooper said additional and stricter laws and punishments will help and his 
office is considering attempting to establish a victim "passport" or 
identity to show businesses that they have been a victim and to help them 
reestablish credit and a proper identity.

On the Do Not Call Registry to block unsolicited telemarketer calls, Cooper 
said, "Over 1.5 million North Carolinians have signed up for Do Not Call. 
That sends a loud message that people are tired of unwanted calls. "The 
beauty of the Do Not Call registry is that it is all about consumer choice. 
If you don't want to get these calls, sign up for the registry."

Cooper said that he is doing the resisting telemarketing industry a favor 
by cutting their overhead and removing from their list people who have no 
interest in their service or product. He said that culling the list will 
allow the telemarketers to concentrate time and effort on people who might 
be interested.

Cooper said, "Telemarketing is the only form of commerce that I know of 
where the seller chooses the time when you go shopping."

Cooper said that you can sign up on the state and federal Do Not Call 
registry online at: www.nocallsnc.com

"It's one-stop shopping," he said with a laugh.

Cooper said that the state law on No Call is, in some respects, more strict 
than the federal law and that North Carolina will enforce the strictest 
provision. He requested that anyone on the registry who continues to 
receive calls file a complaint with his office so that the law may be 
enforced. He said that if you have already signed up on the federal 
registry there is no reason to sign up on the state registry, the federal 
list has been incorporated into the state registry.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart