West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: Sccit on June 10, 2012, 12:36:54 PM
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Federal agents seize $1 million worth of marijuana, $400,00 in cash, dozens of firearms.
Thirty-two people are under arrest after a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to grow marijuana as part of an East Bay drug ring, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced late Wednesday.
More than two dozen were scheduled to be arraigned today in Sacramento Federal Court, although six of those indicted had yet to be arrested as of this afternoon. If convicted, the defendants could face the statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison.
After opening an investigation into the marijuana-growing operation early last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested 26 people associated with it May 16 and 17 and sought six others. Law enforcement agents seized more than $1 million worth of marijuana -- including thousands of marijuana plants from at least 14 indoor grow operations and dozens of pounds of processed cannabis -- as well as dozens of firearms and at least $400,000, officials said earlier this month.
Those implicated in what DEA agents are calling "Operation Disco Dazed" range in ages from 20 to 57, and reside in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno and Stanislaus counties. Agents did not offer an explanation for the moniker.
Investigators focused on Grower's Choice Hydroponics, an equipment retailer operating in Tracy and Hayward and owned by Steven Ortega Sr., 50, and Marla Ortega, 57, both of Byron.
Ortega and his 25-year-old son, Steven Ortega Jr. of Discovery Bay, allegedly directed a drug trafficking organization that used the stores to provide growing equipment to partners in exchange for a cut of profits from the marijuana sold, an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint says.
"The use of legitimate businesses to facilitate marijuana cultivation and launder the proceeds of trafficking is a classic feature of such organizations," Wagner said in a prepared statement released Wednesday.
Also charged in the indictment were Richard Serrell, 44, of Antioch; Marcus Williams, 28, of Hayward; Kevin Kuester, 43, of Fremont; Steven Adgate, 30, of Rio Vista; Jake Westerman, 22, of Livermore; Nickolas Perry, 23, Joey Figlia, 23, and Kevin Kirkpatrick, 27, of Discovery Bay; Reginald Bell, 38, of Union City; Dusty Burge, 39, Matt Ortega, 21, Jay Dupee, 50, and Bryan Swiers, 31, all of Byron; Anthony Giarrusso, 24, Brock Enrico, 25, and Kyle Schmidt, 25, all of Oakley; Todd Becerra, 38, and Joseph Mirante, 40, of Tracy; Charles Erickson, 36, and Travis Olibas, 23, of Fresno; Richard Reynolds, 34, of Modesto; Justin McMillian, 32, of Salida; Shawn Thompson, 43, of Mountain House; Frederick Laurens, 29, and Michael Kelley, 20, of Brentwood; and Derek Winters, 30, Robert Kennedy, 25, Nicholas Ojeda, 32, and Jason Siegfried, 28, of Patterson.
Bench warrants have been issued for Burge, Erickson, Figlia, Kennedy, Ojeda and Perry, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
http://berkeley.patch.com/articles/32-indicted-in-east-bay-drug-ring#photo-8165097
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seems like RR is headed back to jail. i guess rhyme doesn't pay that much after all :(
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:(
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Fucking feds. Lets hope no one does any time. Let alone 10 to life.
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Damn dats all BADD
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damn....dude has some dope shit. wasn't he signed to hoo bangin' ?
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damn....dude has some dope shit. wasn't he signed to hoo bangin' ?
yea...i believe he served time for slangin earlier in his career, as well. shit dont look too promising right about now.
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damn....dude has some dope shit. wasn't he signed to hoo bangin' ?
yea...i believe he served time for slangin earlier in his career, as well. shit dont look too promising right about now.
he did. he rapped about it on album he came out wit in like 90. damn....
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that seasoned veteran album was a classic 8) 8) 8) 8)
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season veteran was dope but Half Thang was better imo
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season veteran was dope but Half Thang was better imo
:-X nope
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RR is known for slangin. but weed shouldnt be a crime, wtf
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half thang waaaayyy better than seasoned veteran
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half thang waaaayyy better than seasoned veteran
flossin' on that ass, now you know you're in trouble 8)
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I hope his album is finished.
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I hope his album is finished.
I'll be surprised if that shit comes out
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half thang waaaayyy better than seasoned veteran
nah seasoned veteran was serious. the beats was incredible and the features was dope...that was richie rich in his prime.
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nigga almost 45 yrs old still gettin caught up in bullshit...
nigga shoulda got the lil money he made n invested in a studio..n charge the new niggas comin in the game...
say what u want bout e-40 he stayed out of bullshit..
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say what u want bout e-40 he stayed out of bullshit..
the difference is that Richie Rich never had a multi-million dollar contract that E-40 had with Jive (dude was paid 1 million dollar upfront (no advance) for each album he made with Jive). E-40 probably never had monetary issues after he started rapping since he was his own CEO, he basically a entrepreneur before being a rapper, while Richie Rich was a hustler before being a rapper, dude went to jail even after he blew up with 415. he must have had some money at some point (i doubt he was eating that good with Def Jam, and he went on a hiatus after that) since dude still drives a Bentley but he's not on a multi-million dollar status with a house on the hills next to Jerry Rice's & Gary Payton's.
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half thang waaaayyy better than seasoned veteran
real talk....
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and you would think signing million dollar deal with Hoo Bangin wouldve set him up for life?!
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and you would think signing million dollar deal with Hoo Bangin wouldve set him up for life?!
word. any news on his album anybody ?
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and you would think signing million dollar deal with Hoo Bangin wouldve set him up for life?!
1 mill aint lasting anyone for a lifetime.
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and you would think signing million dollar deal with Hoo Bangin wouldve set him up for life?!
1 mill aint lasting anyone for a lifetime.
i could make it last quite a bit if i had to
but richie rich probably wants to live like a baller like most rappers
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whatever happened to this case ? richie rich is free.
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what happend to his full length studio album? And town bidness 3?