Sunday, October 12, 2008

ATL is the new hub for dope!? Mexicans are providing more than TACO Bell


Mexican drug cartels set up shop in Atlanta
‘New Southwest border’ attracts narcotics trade
By BILL TORPY




The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunday, October 12, 2008

When U.S. law enforcement officials last month busted a Mexican drug cartel moving tons of dope and millions of dollars, they announced it in Atlanta.

The distribution ring stretched from Colombia to New York to Italy, but the operation’s key hub was Atlanta. Long a commerce and transportation center for giants like UPS and Delta Air Lines, Atlanta tags itself as an “international city.” This time, it embodied that definition in an illicit way.

Enlarge this image


LOUIE FAVORITE / lfavorite@ajc.com/AJC Staff

Authorities show off the 187 lbs of crystal methamphetamine and 41 kilos of cocaine (not in this picture) seized by DEA in Gwinnett County in 2006.Enlarge this image


NICK ARROYO/AJC

Police seized 310 kilos of cocaine at this Lawrenceville house in 2005..BY THE NUMBERS
$30 million — Amount of shrink-wrapped, vacuum-packed U.S currency confiscated in 2007 being sent through Atlanta to Mexico.

4 — The number of times between January 2005 and August 2006 that drug officials in the Atlanta area broke the record for the size of a methamphetamine bust in the eastern United States. The amounts grew from 125 pounds to 341 pounds.

507 — The initial number of arrests recorded in September when authorities busted a Mexican distribution ring that ran through Atlanta and stretched from Colombia to Italy.

16,771 — The number of kilograms of cocaine seized in the September bust.

9 — Number of drug-related kidnappings attributed to Mexican distribution rings in Gwinnett County this year through July.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Recent headlines:


Crematory vote expected Monday night
Police agencies target highways to stop drug smugglers
Mexican drug cartels set up shop in Atlanta
• Gwinnett County news

Federal drug agent Jack Killorin calls Atlanta “the new Southwest border.”

“All the things that make this area attractive to perfectly legitimate businesses make it attractive to drug smugglers: transportation, good communications, population, even good climate,” said Killorin, who heads the Atlanta high-intensity drug trafficking area task force, or HIDTA. “It’s a city with deep attachments to other areas. It has population connections to other cities. It has social connections.”

Mexican distribution rings supply about 90 percent of the cocaine, 80 percent of the methamphetamine and half of the marijuana used in the United States, estimates Rodney G. Benson, the agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration office in Atlanta. A huge proportion of the payload headed for the Atlantic seaboard, the Southeast and the Midwest flows through Atlanta’s interstates, a federal report said this year.

The transformation of narcotics trafficking to the Mexican networks started shifting in the 1990s. Experts say it’s a combination of population shifts, supply chain improvements, product development, criminal outsourcing, even the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“Drug distribution is capitalism at its most basic form,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter. “[Mexican rings] delivered a better product — better, cheaper, faster. Americans just got pushed out of the market.”

Porter was first elected in 1992, when the cocaine trade was run by a consortium of Cubans, Colombians and locals.

“If you put a starting date [on the Mexican involvement], it’s the explosion in the Latin community since the [1996 Atlanta] Olympics,” he said.

Gwinnett’s Hispanic population is approaching 20 percent. This has allowed traffickers to follow the population flow, giving them a measure of comfort in the community and an ability to hide in plain sight, he said.

The shift of the narcotics trade to Mexican cartels, which had for years supplied marijuana to the United States, came in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Cocaine had come from Colombia to Florida by boat or was flown in to small airfields in the southern United States. In fact, one of the first big drug cases Porter encountered as district attorney was a group of Cubans living in rural Gwinnett who frequently traveled to Florida to retrieve hundreds of kilos of cocaine coming in by boat.

But increased interdiction of the Colombian-Cuban delivery routes and the opening of the United States’ border to trade handed the Mexicans an opportunity.

“The Colombians realized they could hire them out [to transport drugs] and reduce the risk,” said Jim Martin, a federal prosecutor in Atlanta who has handled drug cases for nearly 30 years.

The networks have honed their distribution machinery. One transport team hands a shipment to another, with each crew knowing little or nothing about the next. This isolation lessens the chance of a disruption to the rest of the chain if there is a bust.

Extracting information after an arrest is a chore. “Developing a cooperation within the Mexican organization is an obstacle not as easily overcome as with other ethnic groups,” Martin said. Part of it is a code of honor not to talk, he said. But more is fear of retaliation to their families back home.

“They’re more difficult to infiltrate,” said Terry Pelfrey, who supervises GBI drug agents in North Georgia. “As the Hispanics moved in, some bad apples moved in with them. But with so many illegal immigrants, it’s harder to know who is who.”

Adelina Nicholls, executive director of the Georgia Latin Alliance for Human Rights, said: “It is not a representative behavior of that community at large.”

She said guns and the money that finances drug crimes in Mexico are supplied by American consumption. “It works both ways.”

Martin said the distributors will work with Americans, bringing into Atlanta shipments in the hundreds of kilograms and then breaking them down to 30- to 50-kilo lots before sending them elsewhere. But increasingly, the Mexican cartels want to keep the business in the family and are expanding to control a layer or two of distribution under the wholesalers’ level.

Benson of the DEA spoke of the operations like Fortune 500 organizations. “The shipment in Atlanta gets turned over to a regional coordinator who then oversees the movement of that product to their established customer base,” he said. “They have those mapping what’s going in and what’s going out.”

There are money counters, book balancers and workers heat-sealing blocks of cash in plastic wrapping to prevent pilfering. Then the cash is smuggled back to Mexico.

The cartels seized an opportunity in the late 1990s with meth, shipping huge batches to America.

Scores of labs operated here in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Pelfrey said, but the number dropped after 2005 when Georgia limited the sale of cold remedies used to make meth.

In January 2005, authorities confiscated 125 pounds in DeKalb County. It was said to be the largest bust ever on the East Coast. In March 2005, they got 174 pounds of crystal meth in Gwinnett. In August 2006, a bust in Gwinnett yielded 187 pounds. A week later, another bust in Gwinnett doubled that.

Authorities say recent busts in the region coupled with increased enforcement in Mexico have caused a shrinking supply and spiked the kilo price of cocaine to above $25,000 in Atlanta.

A Justice Department analysis in June detailed those successes but added, “Mexican trafficking organizations will quite likely become further entrenched” in Atlanta.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Can't we all leave Pacman alone....

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was involved in a fight with one of his bodyguards, according to Dallas police, the night before attending a previously scheduled team meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. No one was arrested and no one will be charged in connection with the fight late Tuesday night at The Joule, an upscale downtown hotel. Jones missed all of last season for Tennessee while serving an NFL suspension for off-field incidents. Goodell fully reinstated the cornerback, acquired by Dallas in a trade in April, just before the season opener. “Someone from the business called police,” Dallas police spokesman Cpl. Jerry Monreal told The Associated Press. “Police arrived and spoke to the parties after they had a verbal argument. Both parties agreed to leave, and they left.” The incident report lists no names, and Monreal said he did not know if Jones was involved in the fight, which was first reported by Dallas-Fort Worth TV station KTVT. But the details of the incident and Jones’ involvement were confirmed to The Dallas Morning News by Deputy Chief Vince Golbeck, who is a commander of the central patrol division, which responded to the call. Golbeck was not in the police station Wednesday night, and a dispatcher at the central patrol division declined to comment.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ik17v8NJNjJqP4LXFERRz-rRzFLAD93MQTF80

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Man shot for wearing Obama T-Shirt in London





A man told today how he was shot three times in a London street for wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt.
Dube Egwuatu was buying a mobile telephone top-up card in an off-licence when the gunman confronted him and glared at the top, which carries an image of the Democrat US presidential candidate underneath the legend 'Believe'.
The man then launched into a tirade of racist slurs, shouting 'I f***ing hate n*****s' and urging 36-year-old Mr Egwuatu to leave the shop with him.
Respect: Dube Egwuatu wearing the Obama T-shirt that provoked a racist attack


The man then left the shop but when Mr Egwuatu re-emerged, the attacker was waiting for him in broad daylight with a threatening-looking dog and holding a gun behind his back.
Realising what had sparked the increasingly violent assault, the terrified Mr Egwuatu zipped up his jacket to cover the image of Mr Obama and walked to his car.
But the shaven-headed man, who was white, followed Mr Egwuatu and after pulling open the passenger door pointed the gun at him.
After pleading with the man to leave him alone, the married former street warden put the keys in the ignition and turned the engine on.
The attacker then fired the gas-powered ball-bearing pistol three times, hitting the civil servant in the face, hand and shoulder.
Fearing for his life and bleeding heavily, Mr Egwuatu raced away in his car and found somewhere safe to call for help.
He was taken to hospital and later sent to have a piece of metal removed from his jaw.
Mr Egwuatu, a data analyst with Croydon Council, said: 'The venom in his voice was frightening.
'He was telling me that he was going to kill me.
'I couldn't believe it was happening - and just because I was wearing an Obama T-shirt. He was trying to make me walk somewhere quieter, saying: 'I've got something for you,' and 'I'm going to kill you.'
He added: 'Obama inspires me, his educational track record alone is quite unbelievable - that is why I was wearing the T-shirt.
'I did not think for one minute it could stir up such powerful feelings of hatred and I never said a word to him.'
Mr Egwuatu's wife, Angela, 35, said neither of them had experienced anything like it during their childhood in Nigeria.
Mrs Egwuatu, an immigration officer, said: 'At first my feelings were pure horror and now it is pure anger.
'If he had been carrying a real gun I would have been a widow. It is just ridiculous.
'I don't know how a person's mentality works. Why would a T-shirt get you to the point where you want to shoot someone.'
To the untrained eye, ball-bearing guns like the one used in the attack look every bit like a real firearm.
The potentially lethal weapons are often converted by criminals to fire real bullets, and can be bought easily in high-street shops and on websites.
The Met said it was investigating the incident, which took place in South Norwood, and that police searched a nearby house which the attacker was seen going into.

No one has been arrested.
















http://www.dailymail.co.uk//news/article-1070975/Man-shot-times-street-racist-gunman--wearing-Barack-Obama-T-shirt.html

Dwayne can't you wait until the ink dries?


Source http://globalgrind.com/content/153851/YBF-Exclusive-Dwyane-Wade-Gabrielle-Union-Make-It-Official


- Well ain’t this some ish. Realtor sources in Miami tell TheYBF.com that Gabrielle Union has indeed moved in with Heat baller Dwyane Wade. The two have been in a rumored relationship for a while now, but since his divorce isn’t final, they had to keep it on the hush as much as possible. But of course, we here at TheYBF.com have been reporting for over a year about their relationship and their sneaky ways of spending time together. We’re told that Dwyane bought a new condo pretty recently (he actually bought up 4 condo units next to each other to make one gigantic place) in light of his and his wife Siovaughn’s separation. He’s since semi-confirmed the split from his wife. And Miami realtor sources tell us that Gabby has definitely moved in with Mr. Wade at his new place while said realtor searches for a new condo for Gabby to lease. So it looks like Ms. Union is moving to the MIA. Hot damn! More on this when you read the rest… Interestingly enough, NBA.com reported that Gabby was kickin’ it second row at the Heat vs. Pistons game a few nights ago in Miami. And our sources in Miami’s entertainment business inner circle tell TheYBF.com that they are both bringing their relationship more and more public as the days pass by. They go to tons of party in Miami together, are spotted out eating together all the time, and they are even set to host a party together in the coming weeks. The details are being worked out as we speak, but the couple is of course a bit hesitant to make things extra public. Especially since no ink has hit the Wades’ official divorce papers yet. Gabby all your movie roles define you!
Found on The YBF 3 hours ago

A new battle over "SWAG"?

WHO CARES.... NEW ARGUMENT OVER SWAG

Posted October 7, 2008- Jim Jones wants his swagger back and he wants it now. In a recent interview with Complex Magazine, Jones openly stated his displeasure about the paricipants on T.I.’s, "Swagger Like Us" track, a song deriving from T.I.’s fifth solo lp, Paper Trail. With the exception of Lil Wayne, the Dipset head honcho explained none of the participants possessed any swagger and particularly took aim at T.I.. Jones told the magazine, “I don’t feel like he possesses any swag. Not like that. It’s fabricated. They’re watching other people, and then they try and do it. You know people that dress like T.I.? You know people that go out and say let me get a T.I. outfit or do you know people who say “yo, you’re looking like Jim Jones?” Which one? Lemme hear it!”




Of course, word trickled through the industry grapevine and eventually landed in the lap of the southern king. On the set for his new video, “Live Your Life” featuring Rihanna, radio personality, Clinton Sparks, caught up with T.I., who was unaware of the swagger turmoil, and asked his thoughts on Jimmy’s boisterous opinion.” Well you know what, it’s funny that either one of you should mention that because my clothing line, Akoo will be hitting stores in November and there will be quite a few people looking for it,” said T.I. with a devilish smirk.

Obviously undaunted by the Jimmy’s attempt to bait a competitive response from him, T.I. continued, “I ain’t tripping on that; it’s just talk and entertainment to me. Sparks then posed the question if TI ran into Jones in public, what would happen between the two and again, T.I. brushed off any speculation of any type of confrontation explaining, “As far as I know, I have no reason to perpetuate any negativity; that’s negative, you know what I’m saying? To me, that’s what people do when they want attention; to me, that’s just my personal opinion from the outside looking in. I haven’t scratched the surface to se what really lies beneath, as far as entertainment is concerned.”

T.I.’s, Paper Trail, which hit shelves September 30, landed at #1 on the Billboard 200 album


Source:http://www.bet.com/Music/msc_tiresponse_10.07.08.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished&Referrer=%7B8952391D-B74E-4B69-87D9-C7F68BFF0A06%7D

Saturday, October 4, 2008

So Bands are hazing now..... WOWOWOWOWOW

Wisconsin band suspended for hazing
The Associated Press

Friday, October 03, 2008

Madison, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin marching band has been suspended indefinitely while allegations of hazing, alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct are investigated.

The band won’t play Saturday during a nationally televised football game between the No. 18 Badgers and No. 14 Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium.

The university made the announcement at a hastily called news conference Friday night, saying the behavior is consistent with conduct that put the band on probation in 2006.

Mike Leckrone, band director since 1969, said he made the decision and it was the first time in his tenure the entire band has ever been suspended and prevented from playing at a game.

Leckrone said he informed the 300 band members at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

“My feeling was I hit them between the eyes with a sledgehammer,” he said.

No details were immediately released about the behavior, only that it involved inappropriate alcohol use, hazing and sexualized behavior. Leckrone said it involved only a small number of band members, but it was significant enough to warrant the suspension.

He and Dean of Students Lori Berquam refused to discuss any details while the investigation by Berquam’s office is ongoing.

The band will practice again starting Tuesday with the understanding that it will not perform again until the investigation is done, Leckrone said.

Penalties for students who violate the university’s code of conduct range from a reprimand to expulsion, Berquam said.

It’s the latest in a series of high profile problems for the band.

In 2000 the university established a written code of conduct for the band.

In February 2007 the marching band’s assistant director Michael Lorenz resigned after an internal report criticized his treatment of a female colleague during a rowdy band trip to Michigan in 2006.

Reports of band members’ hazing, alcohol use and inappropriate sexual behavior prompted the university to put the band on probation after the trip.

Then-Chancellor John Wiley threatened band members with losing performance and travel privileges.

Wiley, in an October 2006 letter to Leckrone, called band members’ behavior “boorish to patently dangerous and unlawful.”

At that time, seminude band members were alleged to have danced suggestively and there were reports of women being forced to kiss other women to be allowed to enter bathrooms on a bus.

The university said in a statement that the latest allegations were consistent with the 2006 troublesome behavior.

The award-winning band has a storied tradition on campus and a special place in the hearts of Badgers fans.

Leckrone said he believed the latest allegations breached the band’s code of conduct and warranted a swift and significant response.

“I don’t think it would be appropriate for me just to ignore it,” he said.

Rich and Poor Have Same Economic Views LiveScience Staff

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rich and Poor Have Same Economic Views LiveScience Staff

LiveScience.com
Fri Oct 3, 12:16 PM ET



With the financial crisis weighing on everyone's minds, many debate whether our government's economic policies cater to the rich over the poor.

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But a new study finds it would be impossible to serve only one socioeconomic group, because people's preferences tend to be overwhelmingly similar when it comes to how the federal government should spend its money.


"Even if government wanted to respond only to the interests of the rich, it couldn't, because the rich and the poor tend to share similar political viewpoints - at least on economic issues," said North Carolina State University political science researcher Chris Ellis.


Ellis and Joseph Ura, an assistant professor of political science at Texas A&M University, analyzed data from the General Social Survey on public opinion of government spending from 1973 to 2006. They found that, overall, the country would sway from being more fiscally conservative to more liberal, but that these trends occurred across all socioeconomics groups. In general, both rich and poor responded to changes in the nation's economic health, or the actions of the federal government, in broadly similar ways.


For example, the public's views of how the federal government should spend money on education, health care and the environment are similar regardless of socioeconomic level. Social issues, such as abortion, were not considered in the study.


The researchers concluded that the federal government acts on the desires of all income groups either because it can't tell the difference between the preferences of the rich versus the poor, or because politicians wish to serve the public as a whole. The study was detailed in the Oct. 3 issue of the journal Political Science and Politics.


"This does not mean that the government is actually acting in the best interests of the poor, only that what the poor want is similar to what the rich want in terms of how the government appropriates its funds," Ellis said.

The Long History of the 2008 Financial Mess
Financial Fiasco: Can America Recover This Time?
Forget Crystal Balls: Let the Power of Math Inform Your Future
Original Story: Rich and Poor Have Same Economic Views
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