Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jun 2007
Source: Daily Review, The (Hayward, CA)
Copyright: 2007 ANG Newspapers
Contact: http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/writealetter
Website: http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1410
Author: Josh Richman, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

MORE CHARGES IN HAYWARD POT-CLUB BUST

Federal authorities have added more charges against the two people 
arrested in the December raid of a Hayward medical marijuana 
dispensary, claiming the storefront operation's purpose was avarice, 
not altruism.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's San Francisco office 
announced Wednesday that it had filed a new criminal complaint Friday 
against Shon Matthew Squier, 34, and Valerie Lynn Herschel, 23, both 
of Hayward.

"The Hayward Local Patients Cooperative attempts to disguise the 
breadth of its criminal activity by claiming that it caters 
exclusively to persons suffering from medical illnesses, when in fact 
persons without any medical condition can purchase marijuana at the 
retail establishment," the DEA's news release said.

Squier and Herschel were arrested Dec. 12 as agents searched the 
Local Patients Cooperative on Foothill Boulevard -- which Squier 
owned and Herschel managed -- as well as their homes and their cars. 
They were charged at the time with conspiracy and marijuana distribution.

"As a result of the searches law enforcement seized indoor marijuana 
grows, hundreds of marijuana plants, marijuana laced cookies, 
brownies, popcorn, pies, candy, two inert grenades, U.S. currency and 
several high value vehicles including a Mercedes, Hummer, Cadillac 
Escalade, Volvo, Dodge truck, (and) Harley Davidson and Ducati 
motorcycles," the DEA's release said.

Last week's new complaint charges both Squier and Herschel with one 
count each of conspiracy to grow and distribute marijuana; growing 
and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute; managing or 
controlling a place for growing, storing and distributing marijuana. 
It also accuses Squier of three counts of money laundering -- for 
using illegal proceeds to buy a house and a truck -- and Herschel of 
one money-laundering count, for using illegal proceeds to make a down 
payment on a house.

The conspiracy and cultivation counts each are punishable by a 
mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison with a maximum of 
40 years, as well as a fine of up to $2 million. Managing a place for 
growing is punishable by up to 20 years and $2 million, and each 
money-laundering count is punishable by up to 10 years and $250,000 
or twice the amount involved.

Squier and Herschel entered "not guilty" pleas Friday before U.S. 
Magistrate Judge Wayne Brazil of Oakland, and are scheduled to appear 
next before U.S. District Judge Martin Jenkins on Aug. 9.

"I really don't know where it's going," Herschel's lawyer, Frederick 
Remer of Hayward, said Wednesday. "It's just in the preliminary 
stages, we just entered a plea."

Squier's attorney didn't immediately return a call. 
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