Pubdate: Tue, 26 Dec 2006
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2006 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Suzanne Wills

DRUG WAR INJUSTICE

Re: "Judge asks for man to be freed -- But his letters to board don't 
explain life term for probation violation," Thursday Metro story.

Unfortunately, Tyrone Brown is not the only person unjustly 
imprisoned in Texas due to the absurdity of the drug war. Loren Pogue 
is serving 22 years for failing to stop a real estate sale.

Mr. Pogue owned a real estate firm in San Vito, Costa Rica. He was an 
active member of the community, belonging to the Lions Club, Masons, 
Shriners, American Legion and VFW. He was past director of a 
children's home and had 15 adopted children. He had no history of 
involvement in the drug trade.

One day, a part-time employee asked him to sit in on the closing of a 
piece of undeveloped mountainous property. The purchasers commented 
that they intended to build an airstrip on the property and smuggle 
drugs. The part-time employee was a confidential informant who was 
paid $250,000. The purchasers were DEA undercover agents. Mr. Pogue 
did not stop the sale, so he was sentenced to 22 years for conspiracy 
to import drugs and money laundering. He is currently held at the 
Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth.

Such injustice makes a mockery of our legal system and costs untold 
thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Suzanne Wills

Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas
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MAP posted-by: Elaine