Five arrested in Lake County in first DEA medical cases under Obama
Federal agents arrested five people in Lake County on 18 August 2009 and seized 154 plants from Upper Lake resident Tom Carter, in what advocates called the first DEA medical-marijuana arrests under Obama. Carter, former dispensary manager Scott Feil, his wife Diana, Brett Bassignani and Steven Swanson were held in Oakland on trafficking conspiracy allegations tied to a reported informant deal.
🇺🇸 Upper Lake, Lake County, California · California, United States
A large DEA operation with dozens of heavily armed agents and at least four helicopters ended with five arrests in Lake County on Tuesday 18 August 2009.[1][2]Those arrested were Upper Lake contractor Tom Carter, former Los Angeles dispensary manager Scott Feil, his wife Diana, Brett Bassignani and Steven Swanson.[1][2]Agents seized 154 marijuana plants from Carter’s property, which his wife said were covered by valid medical recommendations for several patients.[1][2]
California NORML described the cases as believed to be the first DEA medical-marijuana arrests since President Obama took office, after Attorney General Eric Holder had said the federal government would not target conduct legal under state medical-marijuana law.[1]The Chronicle account says the bust grew from an alleged May deal in which an informant arranged to buy marijuana through Bassignani, with Carter’s federal defenders arguing the complaint set out no evidence that Carter himself spoke to the informant or arranged a deal.[2]Carter and Feil were held in Oakland pending detention hearings, with prosecutors asking that Carter be held as a flight risk and a danger to the community.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
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