Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 Source: Bristol Herald Courier (VA) Copyright: 2002 Bristol Herald Courier Contact: http://www.bristolnews.com/contact.html Website: http://www.bristolnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1211 Author: Kathy Stilll Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) PROCEEDS FROM MARIJUANA CASE TO HELP FIGHT DRUG WAR BIG STONE GAP -- Part of the proceeds from a $1 million marijuana operation was donated to Southwest Virginia law enforcement agencies Wednesday to help the fight against drug crime. Nothing upsets a drug dealer more than having his money spent by police officers," said U.S. Attorney John Brownlee. The federal prosecutor doled out almost $50,000 each to seven law enforcement agencies during a gathering at the C. Bascom Slemp Federal Building here. The money is the cash proceeds seized from a marijuana manufacturing operation in Scott County. Claude Sloan, a Scott County man, pleaded guilty in March to manufacturing marijuana and agreed to forfeit the money, Brownlee said. The case was the result of a two-year investigation by the Southwest Virginia Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force, the Virginia State Police, the Internal Revenue Service's criminal division, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshal's Service. Sloan was ordered to serve a 30-year state prison sentence and a five-year term in federal prison, Brownlee said. "Mr. Sloan had it coming for a long time," he said. Brownlee said police worked hard during the investigation and made the case easier for attorneys to prosecute. Local and state police officers worked in tandem with federal authorities in a textbook example of federal, state and local cooperation, he said. "This was good, joint police work," Brownlee said. "We were able to build a case, and the IRS and Virginia State Police took the lead in the financial investigation. Claude Sloan had assessed over $1 million in land and cash." Eric Hurt, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, said giving the drug proceeds to law enforcement was the right thing to do. "He took the money from the citizens of your county, and it's only right to give it back to you," Hurt told local sheriff's and police chiefs. The Big Stone Gap Police Department; the Norton Police Department; sheriff's departments from Lee, Wise and Scott counties; the State Police and the IRS's criminal division received the money. Sam Mongle, Norton's police chief, said his department would use the money to match funds for law enforcement grants, to update 911 equipment and to purchase equipment to help officers enforce drug laws. Wise County Sheriff Ronnie Oakes said the money would be used to equip and train officers and to purchase drugs in undercover sting operations. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk