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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
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Today in psychedelic history (03/31) 1
#24207285 - 03/31/17 05:36 AM (6 years, 10 months ago) |
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- 1967: Nick Sand and David Mantell are arrested for mobile LSD lab
Quote:
$1.5 Million Worth of LSD Seized in Denver
DENVER (UPI) — Federal agents, making an inch-by-inch search of a battered creamery truck that masked a laboratory-on-wheels, said Thursday they had uncovered more than $1.5 million worth of LSD in the vehicle. Agents discovered five more pounds of the hallucinogenic drug Thursday, bringing the total find thus far to 20.5 pounds. They estimated its value at $1,568.000 In black market dosages. The find. believed to be the biggest In the nation, was made last Friday (March 31, 1967] when the 19-year-old van rolled past a Western Colorado port-of-entry without stopping. The men driving the truck. David L Mantell, 26, of San Francisco, and Nicholas Sand, 25, of Lois Alta, Calif. were picked up for not stopping at the entry station and then a search warrant was issued for law officers to check the truck's contents. John S. Healey, field director of the Federal Drug Abuse Control Bureau in Denver, said two misdemeanor counts of illegally manufacturing and possessing stimulants and depressive drugs would be filed against the pair. Each count carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine upon conviction. Federal officials said the truck contained enough LSD to make 313,000 capsules worth $5 apiece on the black market. They also found records in the truck which they said could lead to other LSD handlers.
(The Daily Herald Provo Utah 07 Apr 1967 Fri Page 7)
FDA director Goddard, pressed by Congress to get to the bottom of the illicit LSD trade, wrote that there was still no reliable information as to how much LSD was actually being consumed, but between May 1,1966, and April 30, 1967, the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control had seized approximately 1.6 million doses, had arrested ninety-four people, and had an additional 460 investigations under way. To illustrate the magnitude of the problem facing the country, Goddard related the following anecdote: On March 31, a 1958 International Harvester truck with cab and insulated van had been stopped by the Colorado Highway Patrol near the Utah border. The truck matched the description of a truck that had been observed in Craig, Colorado, in the vicinity of a drugstore that was burglarized. A search warrant was obtained and In the cab the police found a plastic bag containing 800 milligrams of ISO. Further poking uncovered additional vials of LSD and DMT. But the real surprise came when they opened the back doors and looked inside: the trailer was full of lab equipment. It was a mobile LSD lab.
(Storming Heaven: LSD And The American Dream)
- 1968: Federal agents bust John Spelz DMT lab
Quote:
Two Held On Drug Charges
COVINGTON, Ky. (UPI) —John B. Spelz. 30, Covington, and Clark Moore, 22. Columbus, Ohio, are held under $10,000 bond pending court appearance Monday on federal charges concerning operation of a laboratory for illegal manufacture of DMT, and hallucinogenic drug. Also arrested Sunday [March 31, 1968] by federal and local officers at a four-room modern laboratory here, which operated under the name of Southern Scientific Co., was Charles H. Reinking, 18, a University of Cincinnati freshman chemistry major. He was released on his own recognizance in the custody of his parents. An estimated $250,000 worth of DMT, as well as a large quantity of TNT and chemicals used for explosives, was confiscated along with a cache of weapons and ammunition. Federal agents said in a three week investigation they traced the drug here from Chicago, where Moore allegedly was seen buying chemicals. When the lab was raided, the officers found two of the suspects mixing about 30 gallons of DMT, described as "dangerous but not as potent as LSD." DMT is used for "mind-expanding psychedelic trips."
(Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (Lancaster, Ohio), 02 Apr 1968, Tue, Page 12)
$250,000 Drug Cache Seized; Believed LSD
BY BOB GRONEMAN Of The Enquirer Staff
A cache of "hallucinogenic drugs" estimated worth "at least $250.000" was uncovered by Federal agents, assisted by Covington detectives, in a raid on a secret laboratory in Covington Sunday night. Three persons were arrested In the raid at the Southern Scientific Co., 413 E. 17th St. The raid was conducted by eight agents from the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control of the Food and Drug Administration and Covington Detectives Robert Owens and Emmett Ireland. , Arrested on federal warrants charging manufacture of an hallucinogenic drug and taken to the Newport jail were John B. Spelz, 30. 206 E. Fourth St., Cincinnati: Charles H. Reinking, 18, 5672 Lauderdale Dr.. Cincinnati. and Clark R. Moore 22, of Columbia, Ohio. A Federal agent said that the operation was "one of the largest and most sophisticated" setups in the country for the manufacture of illegal drugs. The agent said that a field check of some of the drugs found at the lab showed "positive" as an hallucinogenic drug, but declined to say whether it was LSD until receiving a report from an FDA chemist in Cincinnati. Conviction on the charge of manufacturing LSD is a misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of one year imprisonment and or a $1,000 fine for each count. Authorities confiscated at least ten pounds of a drug in finished crystalline form. A large quantity of an unknown drug also was found brewing In large vat. In addition to the drugs, the agents found several hundred rounds of military-issue rifle ammunition. A spokesman said that no action has yet been taken concerning that discovery. Spelz, who told agents that he was the owner of the company, claimed that he was a gun collector and that the ammunition belonged to him. A spokesman at the Newport jail, the Federal prison for Northern Kentucky, said that the suspects are to appear before U. S. Commissioner Robert C. Cetrulo this morning. A FEDERAL agent said that the raid was launched at 5:45 p. m. Sunday. He said the suspects were observed In the act of manufacturing some of the confiscated drugs. They offered no resistance, he added. He added that agents from the Cincinnati, Louisville and Chicago offices of the FDA took part In the raid. He said that Federal authorities had been working on the case for several months with Detective Chief Jesse Sanders of Covington. The five-room laboratory in a residential section of Covington's East End was described as "a front operation." A Federal spokesman contended that the company had "no legitimate business as far as we know." He said the company had been in operation at that location for several months. The agent said that the authorities had no information about distribution of the drugs manufactured by the lab. But Judging by the quantity of drugs confiscated, he said, "this place might possibly have outlets throughout the nation."
(The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati Ohio 1 Apr 1968 Mon Page 1)
SANTA CRUZ
Fugitive for 18 Years Captured
A Kentucky drug fugitive, whose 18-year flight was aided by a family member who declared him legally dead, was captured in Santa Cruz, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Friday, Two marshals, accompanied by local officers, raided the home of John Spelz on Thursday and arrested him after a struggle. Spelz evaded his Kentucky prison term in 1972 on a drug conviction. During Spelz's arrest, federal officers seized a suspected mobile drug lab parked in front of his home and recovered $250,000 in cash. Spelz's brother, his only living relative, had him declared legally dead in 1985, said Deputy U.S. Marshal David lliebert. But federal officers traced Spelz to Santa Cruz, where he was living under the alias Robert Parker.
(The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California), 17 Feb 1990, Sat, Page 47)
- 1994: Russell Harrigan of the Brotherhood Of Eternal Love has his charges dropped
Quote:
Case Against Timothy Leary Follower Dropped After 22 Years
By RENE LYNCH TIMES STAFF WRITER
April 1, 1994 Santa Ana
A former follower of LSD guru Timothy Leary and his Laguna Canyon-based Brotherhood of Eternal Love has finally escaped from his past, after 22 years on the lam from drug smuggling charges, a prosecutor said Thursday [March 31, 1994].
Since he was indicted in 1972, Russell Harrigan has turned his life around, officials said. He has moved to Northern California, raised five children and started a house-painting business.
His past caught up with him, however, after he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation earlier this year, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Carl Armbrust.
Harrigan, 53, and 29 others including Leary, a former Harvard University professor, were indicted in 1972 on charges of smuggling marijuana and LSD. The case came to symbolize the 1960s drug culture and Leary's philosophy: "Turn on, tune in and drop out."
Some of those indicted were convicted and sentenced to prison. Others, like Harrigan and Leary, disappeared, evading prosecution. Leary was later captured and sentenced to prison.
During the traffic stop earlier this year, Harrigan's outstanding warrant was discovered. He was prepared to buy his plane ticket to Orange County and face his fate in Superior Court when he learned that prosecutors would not pursue the charges against him.
Armbrust said he decided to dismiss Harrigan's case earlier this month because Harrigan has apparently lived a crime-free life for two decades. Proceeding on a case long after witnesses and evidence have disappeared would have proved difficult, he said.
"He apparently went 22 years without even a traffic ticket," Armbrust said. "A dismissal seemed appropriate in this case."
Harrigan's attorney could not be reached for comment Thursday.
(https://www.latimes.com)
Edited by Learyfan (05/24/20 09:39 AM)
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan] 1
#24207358 - 03/31/17 06:41 AM (6 years, 10 months ago) |
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Today is the 50th anniversary of Nick Sand and David Mantell being arrested for driving a creamery truck carrying an LSD lab. I wish someone with more information on the case would enlighten me as to why Sand apparently did only a year or so max (or possibly no time?) for this bust. The reason that I say he must have done a year max was because he was out in time to start the Windsor, California lab with Scully in December of 1968.
My guess is that either Sand and Mantell's case was thrown out on a technicality or that in early 1967, even "large scale" LSD manufacturing would only get you a year or so in jail. If anyone has any other information on this situation, I'd be very interested in hearing it.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 - I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD)
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,141
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 8 hours, 9 minutes
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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan] 1
#25104187 - 03/31/18 10:42 AM (5 years, 10 months ago) |
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And this year it's the 50th anniversary of the bust of John Spelz' DMT lab. It's really a great story that I wish I knew more about. His lab was one of the first big DMT lab busts. He's busted in 1968. He jumps bail in 1972. He's DECLARED LEGALLY DEAD in 1985 ( ). He's captured in 1990. He's released in 1991. He dies in 2011. There's a great documentary or movie about his life that isn't being made. His story is similar to that of Nick Sand (LSD chemist who lasted 20 years on the run) and Robert Widdowson (MMDA/MDMA chemist who lasted 19 years on the run). Nick Sand got to talk about his situation in interviews and the Sunshine Makers documentary and Robert Widdowson talked about his in his book Heaven's Tale. But unfortunately we'll probably never know more about John Spelz' story.
But since it's the 50th anniversary, here's a copy and paste of his unsuccessful appeal from 1971. This is likely to be the most detail we'll ever know about this case.
Quote:
United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Clarke Raymond Moore and John Bernard Spelz, Defendants-appellants, 452 F.2d 569 (6th Cir. 1971) Annotate this Case US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit - 452 F.2d 569 (6th Cir. 1971) Dec. 14, 1971
H. Louis Sirkin, and William B. Davis, Cincinnati, Ohio, for appellants.
Kenneth G. Haynes, Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C. (Eugene E. Siler, Jr., U. S. Atty., Lexington, Ky., James J. Tansey, Atty., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C., on the brief), for appellee.
Before PHILLIPS, Chief Judge, and WEICK and EDWARDS, Circuit Judges.
PHILLIPS, Chief Judge.
This is an appeal from a conviction for manufacturing and possessing depressant or stimulant drugs, following a jury trial and the denial of a motion for a new trial.
Clarke Moore, John Spelz, and Charles Reinking were indicted for conspiring to knowingly manufacture, compound, process and process for sale, depressant or stimulant drugs; to wit: diethyltryptamine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. § 331(q) (1) (Count 1) and unlawfully and knowingly engaging in the manufacture of diethyltryptamine, a depressant or stimulant drug, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §§ 331(q) (1); 321(v) (3) and 21 C.F.R. 166.3 (Count 2).1
Spelz was also indicted for violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 331(q) (3), 360a(c), by unlawfully and knowingly possessing dimethyltryptamine, a "depressant or stimulant drug" within the meaning of Title 21, U.S.C. § 321(v) (3) and 21 C.F.R. 166.3 (Count 3) and unlawfully and knowingly possessing chloral hydrate, a "depressant or stimulant drug" within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. § 321(v) (3), 21 C.F.R. 166.3 and 26 U.S.C. § 4744(a) (1) (Count 4).
The facts, although somewhat technical, are largely undisputed. On March 31, 1968, federal agents executing a search warrant entered commercial premises in Covington, Kentucky. They found Moore and Spelz standing over a 30 gallon plastic can containing 3-in-dolediethylglyoxylamide. The can was resting on an ice bed and its contents were being agitated by an electric mixer. They also found a large quantity of laboratory apparatus, numerous chemical reagents, including diethylamine and lithium aluminum hydride, approximately 500 parsley cigarettes, loose parsley, a paint sprayer, a chemistry handbook, a bottle containing chloral hydrate and a bottle containing a small quantity of dimethyltryptamine. Reinking was discovered in an adjacent room washing laboratory glassware.
The building was leased to Spelz. He had purchased, directly or through agents, everything on the premises. Some of the chemicals had been purchased through a Chicago mail-drop in the name of Ansonia Associates by the stamped signature of Thomas Anderson, a fictitious name. Moore, through the efforts of a Chicago acquaintance, had made arrangements for the mail-drop, had forwarded Spelz's orders for chemicals to be delivered to the mail-drop, and had picked up chemicals at the mail-drop and transported them to the laboratory in Covington.
The record contains Government testimony that hallucinogens such as diethyltryptamine (DET) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) can be ingested by smoking parsley cigarettes which have been soaked in or sprayed with the hallucinogen. The Government also introduced, as Exhibit 11, documents denominated "SYNTHESIS OF N, N-DIMETHRYLTRYPTAMINE (DMT)" and "SYNTHESIS OF TRYPTAMINES." These documents described the procedures and chemicals required for the production of DMT and tryptamines, respectively. DMT is a species of the genus tryptamine. Government agents testified that Exhibit 11 was found on a laboratory table near the plastic can.
Expert testimony by Government chemists, supported by cross examination of the defense chemist, showed that addition of lithium aluminum hydride to the contents of the can would yield DET. Exhibit 11 showed, as a final step in the production of DMT, the addition of lithium aluminum hydride to the final intermediate, 3-indoledimethylglyoxylamide. The testimony further revealed that the synthesis of DET and DMT were essentially identical except that diethylamine was used to produce DET while dimethylamine was used to produce DMT and that following the synthesis outlined in Exhibit 11 with diethylamine would yield 3-indolediethylglyoxylamide as the final intermediate.
Spelz and Moore testified that Spelz was engaged in basic organic chemistry research. They denied any connection with or knowledge of Exhibit 11. Crossexamination of Government chemists and direct examination of the defense chemist showed that, by following known procedures with various chemicals, the contents of the can could yield a vast number of organic compounds. Specific patents were introduced as representative of such procedures. Reinking did not testify and was acquitted.
Following a verdict finding them guilty, Moore and Spelz filed a motion for a new trial, alleging that Exhibit 11 was in Reinking's car at the time of the raid. The motion was denied without hearing.
Moore and Spelz attack their conviction on the following grounds: (1) that the search warrant was not based on probable cause; (2) that Exhibit 11 was not listed on the return; (3) that the verdict is unsupported by the evidence; and (4) that motion for a new trial should have been granted because the verdict is based on perjured testimony.
* The search warrant was supported by the affidavit of Agent Wysor, which is made an Appendix to this opinion. The fourth amendment mandates that "no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation . . ." The principles for evaluating supporting affidavits are well established:
" [A]ffidavits for search warrants, such as the one involved here, must be tested and interpreted by magistrates and courts in a commonsense and realistic fashion. They are normally drafted by nonlawyers in the midst and haste of a criminal investigation. Technical requirements of elaborate specificity once exacted under common law pleadings have no proper place in this area. A grudging or negative attitude by reviewing courts toward warrants will tend to discourage police officers from submitting their evidence to a judicial officer before acting." United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 108, 85 S. Ct. 741, 746, 13 L. Ed. 2d 684 (1965). Accord, United States v. Harris, 403 U.S. 573, 577, 91 S. Ct. 2075, 29 L. Ed. 2d 723 (1971).
Probable cause is made out where:
" [T]he facts and circumstances within [the agents'] knowledge and of which they had reasonably trustworthy information were sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that [a crime is being committed]." Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132, 162, 45 S. Ct. 280, 288, 69 L. Ed. 543 (1925).
We have reviewed the affidavit and hold that it contains facts from which the Commissioner who issued it appropriately could have found probable cause. The affidavit sets forth the delivery of known precursors used in the manufacture of hallucinogens to a Chicago mail-drop, the use of fictitious names in the ordering of chemicals, the transportation of the chemicals from the mail-drop to Covington, the activities within the building outside normal working hours, and the odor of ether emanating from the building. We hold that these facts constitute probable cause for the Commissioner to believe that the crime of manufacturing hallucinogenic drugs was being committed inside the premises.
Appellants contend that the affidavit is largely hearsay and is defective in that it fails to set forth underlying facts upon which the hearsay may be credited. " [A]n affidavit may be based on hearsay information and need not reflect the direct personal observations of the affiant," Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108, 114, 84 S. Ct. 1509, 1514, 12 L. Ed. 2d 723 (1964), so long as "a substantial basis for crediting the hearsay is presented." Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 269, 80 S. Ct. 725, 735, 4 L. Ed. 2d 697 (1960). A reasonable reading of the affidavit shows that the above facts were obtained by Government investigation and surveillance, rather than tips from unnamed informants. A substantial basis for crediting the hearsay is thus established. See United States v. Jensen, 432 F.2d 861 (6th Cir. 1970); United States v. Plemmons, 336 F.2d 731, 734 (6th Cir. 1964).
II
It is further contended that Exhibit 11 should have been excluded because it was not included in the inventory accompanying the return of the warrant.2 Appellants cite no authority in support of this position. Although it is clear that the return of the warrant is ministerial and any failure therein does not void the warrant, e. g., Rose v. United States, 274 F. 245, 250-251 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 257 U.S. 655, 42 S. Ct. 97, 66 L. Ed. 419 (1921), the precise issue presented appears to be of first impression at the Court of Appeals level.3 Appellants urge that the failure to include the item on the inventory, while not sufficient to invalidate the warrant, requires exclusion of the items omitted. They have failed to demonstrate that the failure to list Exhibit 11 was prejudicial. The record shows that defense counsel had an adequate opportunity to cross-examine the agents as to the location of Exhibit 11 and the reason for its omission, explored the possibility that the document was in an automobile outside the laboratory, and contested its association with the defendants. Defense counsel did not claim surprise at its introduction or request additional time to meet this evidence. Without such a showing, we decline to hold the admission of Exhibit 11 to have been reversible error.
III
The attack on the verdict as unsupported by the evidence is based on the fact that no DET was found on the premises. It is argued that the Government's proof requires an inference that appellants were manufacturing DET followed by an inference that they intended to sell the DET so made. We note at the outset that counts 1 and 2 charge manufacture of DET, not possession. Proof of manufacturing does not require that the drug actually was produced. In resolving this issue, the evidence and the legitimate inferences to be drawn therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to the Government. Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S. Ct. 457, 86 L. Ed. 680 (1942); United States v. Wolfenbarger, 426 F.2d 992 (6th Cir. 1970). While it is undisputed that the contents of the can could have been used to produce a virtually limitless number of legal products, the immediate presence of the instructions of Exhibit 11 and of the chemical required for the final step of the synthesis described therein, when coupled with the secretive manner in which the chemicals were procured and the lack of notes and apparatus supporting Spelz's explanation of basic research, warrants an inference that DET was being manufactured. The large quantity of material in the can4 considered together with the expert testimony concerning the methods of ingesting hallucinogens and the presence of parsley cigarettes further warranted an inference of an intent to sell. See United States v. Ortiz, 445 F.2d 1100, 1104-1105 (10th Cir. 1971). Accordingly, we find the evidence sufficient to support the verdict on counts 1 and 2.
We reach a different result, however, as to the conviction of Spelz under counts 3 and 4. These counts charged Spelz with unlawful possession of DMT and chloral hydrate. The evidence showed a small amount of DMT present in one bottle and that the chloral hydrate was in one sealed drugstore bottle bearing a label correctly identifying its contents. Under the law in effect at the time of the arrest, the simple possession of DMT or chloral hydrate was not illegal; the burden of proof was on the United States to show that the possession by Spelz did not come within one of the statutory exceptions.5
The record contains no evidence of an intent to sell the drugs described in Counts 3 and 4, and no facts from which a permissible inference of intent to sell could be drawn by the jury. We have summarized above the evidence supporting the conclusion that the drugs in process of being manufactured as charged in Counts 1 and 2 were intended for sale. No such evidence is in the record with respects to Counts 3 and 4.
We therefore hold that there is not sufficient evidence in the record from which the jury could have found Spelz guilty beyond a reasonable doubt under Counts 3 and 4. The judgment of conviction of Spelz under these two counts therefore must be reversed.
IV
Appellants' motion for a new trial was based on the allegation that Exhibit 11 was in Reinking's car at the time that the building was entered by government agents. However, the record shows that defense counsel did not provide an affidavit in support of the allegation,6 did not represent that such support was forthcoming or explain any reasons for a lack of support, and did not request a hearing on the motion. Under these circumstances, the denial of the motion was not an abuse of discretion and will be affirmed. Cf. United States v. Crowder, 351 F.2d 101, 104-105 (6th Cir. 1965).
Affirmed as to the convictions of both appellants under Counts 1 and 2; reversed as to the conviction of Spelz under Counts 3 and 4.
APPENDIX
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
Commissioner's Docket No. 2 Case No. 166
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
Green Brick Constructed Building W/Green Shingled Roof Known As 413 E. 17th Street, Covington, Kentucky and Occupied by Southern Scientific Co.
AFFIDAVIT FOR SEARCH WARRANT
Eastern District of Kentucky Filed Apr. 17, 1968
Davis T. McGarvey, Clerk U.S. District Court
Before Robert Cetrulo [Commissioner], Covington Kentucky.
The undersigned being duly sworn deposes and says:
That he has reason to believe that on the premises known as 413 E. 17th Street, Covington, Kentucky, in the Eastern District of Kentucky, there is now being concealed certain property, namely hallucinogenic drugs, to-wit: Diethyltryptamine and Dimethyltryptamine, commonly known as DET and DMT; and certain paraphernalia and chemical precursors utilized in the illicit manufacture of said drugs, which are the means and instrumentalities used to commit offenses in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 331(q) (1) and (3) and which are also subject to seizure and condemnation under 21 U.S.C. § 334(a) (2).
And that the facts tending to establish the foregoing grounds for issuance of a Search Warrant are as follows:
(SEE ATTACHED, WHICH IS MADE A PART OF THIS AFFIDAVIT)
/s/ Chantland Wysor, Agent, Bureau of Drug Abuse Control
Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence, March 31, 1968.
/s/ Robert C. Cetrulo, U. S. Commissioner
During the first part of March, 1968 the Chicago Field Office of the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control received information from the New York Field Office, Bureau of Drug Abuse Control, reporting that a firm using the name of ANSONIA ASSOCIATES, 100 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, allegely (sic) a Cosmetic Firm, had ordered a large quantity of chemical precursors which are known to be used in the illicit manufacture of hallucinogenic drugs, within the meaning of the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965.
Investigation then revealed the following as regards ANSONIA ASSOCIATES: Responsible person in this alleged firm is Thomas R. Anderson and it was later determined that this individual's true identity may possibly be CLARK MOORE and that the name ANDERSON is fictitious. Investigation shows that the address listed for this firm is an answering service which has been contracted to accept all telephone calls, correspondence and parcels. Persons associated with ANSONIA who transact business with the answering service are CLARK MOORE and RUTH TERRY. Investigation revealed that Moore is a resident of Columbus, Ohio and Terry is a resident of Chicago, Illinois. During the month of March, 1968 the answering service received parcels containing chemical precursors for utilization in the manufacture of hallucinogenic drugs, to be held for CLARK MOORE. Inquiry with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration revealed that this firm is not of record with that Agency as a legitimate cosmetic firm.
Further investigation determined that arrangements had been made for CLARK MOORE to travel from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago, Illinois on March 29, 1968 to pick up the chemical precursors, which were being held for ANSONIA ASSOCIATES. Surveillance determined that MOORE did arrive in Chicago on March 29, 1968 and that on March 30, 1968 the subject did pick up the chemical precursors. Continuous surveillance on subject MOORE by Agents of the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control determined that the subject did leave Chicago on March 30, 1968 with the chemical precursors in his vehicle and delivered the items to Southern Scientific Company, 413 E. 17th Street, Covington, Kentucky, on that same date. After remaining inside 413 E. 17th Street for a short period of time subject MOORE left the rear of the building, walked to an alleyway behind the building and placed a cardboard container on the ground. Examination of that container revealed that it was empty and had labeled thereon "American Indole", which is a common precursor utilized in the illicit manufacturing of hallucinogens.
Surveillance determined that subject MOORE an individual tentatively identified as JOHN SPELZ, and an unknown person, were inside Southern Scientific Company from 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM, on March 30, 1968; this being a Saturday and if the firm is legitimate these are not normal working-business hours. Surveillance again determined that the same three subjects went to the building on Sunday, March 31, 1968, at approximately 11:00 AM.
Indications that persons at Southern Scientific Company are engaged in the illegal manufacture of Hallucinogenic Drugs are: Unusual manner utilized in ordering, receiving and ultimate delivery of chemical precursors, which is a known Modus Operandi used by individuals engaged in the illicit manufacture of hallucinogenic drugs; the unusual activity at the building not during normal working-business hours; it is known that the chemical precursors in question are utilized in the illicit manufacture of Diethyltryptamine (DET) and Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which hallucinogenic drugs within the meaning of the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965; it is a known factor that ether is utilized in the illicit manufacture of DET and DMT; and during surveillance of said location on Sunday, March 31, 1968, surveillance Agents could smell strong odors coming from the building in question which is believed to be ether. In addition it is known that the chemical precursors obtained are not common in the manufacture of cosmetics.
/s/ Chantland Wysor, Agent Bureau of Drug Abuse Control
Sworn to before me, and subscribed in my presence this 31st day of March, 1968.
/s/ Robert C. Cetrulo, Commissioner 1
At the time of their commission, the offenses charged were misdemeanors. Section 331(q) was repealed by The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, Pub. L. No. 91-513, Sec. 701(a), 84 Stat. 1236, 1281. The offenses are now felonies. 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846 2
"(d) Execution and Return with Inventory. The warrant may be executed and returned only within 10 days after its date. The officer taking property under the warrant shall give to the person from whom or from whose premises the property was taken a copy of the warrant and a receipt for the property taken or shall leave the copy and receipt at the place from which the property was taken. The return shall be made promptly and shall be accompanied by a written inventory of any property taken. The inventory shall be made in the presence of the applicant for the warrant and the person from whose possession or premises the property was taken, if they are present, or in the presence of at least one credible person other than the applicant for the warrant or the person from whose possession or premises the property was taken, and shall be verified by the officer. The judge or commissioner shall upon request deliver a copy of the inventory to the person from whom or from whose premises the property was taken and to the applicant for the warrant." R. 41(d), Fed.R.Crim.P 3
The position of appellants has been rejected at the district court level. See United States v. Greene, 141 F. Supp. 856, 858-859 (D.D.C. 1956) 4
The Government chemist testified that the contents of the can could produce approximately 22,000 doses of DET 5
"(c) No person, other than a person described in subsection (a) or subsection (b) (2), shall possess any depressant or stimulant drug otherwise than (1) for the personal use of himself or of a member of his household, or (2) for administration to an animal owned by him or a member of his household. In any criminal prosecution for possession of a depressant or stimulant drug in violation of this subsection (which is made a prohibited act by section 301(q) (3)), the United States shall have the burden of proof that the possession involved does not come within the exceptions contained in clauses (1) . . .." Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965, Pub. L. No. 89-74, Sec. 3(b), 79 Stat. 226, 229 (codified at 21 U.S.C. § 360a(c), repealed 1971). Simple possession of these drugs is now illegal. 21 U.S.C. § 844 6
The affidavits presented to this court were prepared approximately six months after the motion was denied and have never been considered by the District Judge
(https://law.justia.com)
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 - I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD)
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,141
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 8 hours, 9 minutes
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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan]
#25907531 - 03/31/19 10:34 AM (4 years, 10 months ago) |
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25th anniversary of Russell Harrigan's charges being dropped today.
Pretty interesting that all three events on this date are centered around people who spent somewhere close to 20 years on the run at some point. John Spelz, 18 years. Nick Sand, 20 years. Russell Harrigan, 22 years.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 - I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD)
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,141
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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan]
#26568672 - 03/31/20 09:15 AM (3 years, 10 months ago) |
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Annual bump.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 - I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD)
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,141
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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan]
#27276668 - 03/31/21 05:05 AM (2 years, 10 months ago) |
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Annual bump.
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piperidyl veteran
Stranger
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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan] 2
#27391756 - 07/17/21 07:55 PM (2 years, 7 months ago) |
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Recently I was talking to some old friends from Cincinnati, Ohio and John Spelz' name was mentioned. I knew him for a short time in 1967 and 68, after he'd stopped producing DET. He hadn't spoken of his bust, but was then looking at creating 'legal' psychedelics, or at least substances that were mind altering, but not yet listed as illegal. I discovered your post after doing a google search on 'John Spelz' and was surprised to hear more of his life after 1968. I had heard a rumor that he was finally caught in Santa Cruz, but had no idea of the outcome. I was surprised that he only served a year in prison and lived another 20 years after being released. I remember him as an intensely paranoid individual, but one who was also engaging. Before I left Cincinnati in 68, he had branched into the soap business and was producing some incredibly powerful soap. He claimed that he'd discover that most liquid soaps were mostly water and the liquid soap he produced was astonishingly condensed. As a dishwashing liquid, a single drop was the equivalent to a half-teaspoon of regular dishwashing liquid. John's plan then was to battle Proctor & Gamble into submission. I don't know what became of those plans, but I can attest to his being a master at detergents. I must admit I'm curious about his death. Once I saw your post, I tried any number of searches for funeral notices, epitaphs and so forth and came up with nothing. I did find the appeal from his original 1967 conviction, but really found nothing else. At this point, it's just the intellectual curiosity of old age, but my friends and I are curious if you learned any more about his life after he was released from prison, or his subsequent death. He was in all a fascinating, if over-the-top individual. Thanks for the brief history you posted on this board.
pippy.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
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Pippy, thank you VERY much for sharing your memories of John Spelz. There's so little information out there about him. The only other information that I have about him is unsubstantiated. What's interesting is that you knew John before the DMT lab bust. Someone sent me a private message claiming that he knew John during his time on the run, which was long after the bust. He went into detail about his memories of John, but said that he didn't want to tell me everything over the internet and that some of it would have to wait until we met. He kept saying that we need to meet, which was weird. I don't know what he was holding back or why at this point. One thing that he did say was that John Spelz committed suicide in his trailer by hanging himself.
So I have no idea if what the guy said was true and for some reason, his private messages to me have disappeared. Thank you once again for sharing your memories with us and helping to paint a bigger picture of the John Spelz situation.
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Typerwritermonky
shboop a doop a doop


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Re: Today in psychedelic history (03/31) [Re: Learyfan] 1
#27715724 - 03/31/22 06:29 PM (1 year, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Learyfan said: Annual bump.

I wonder if those chemicals that were made for explosives were for making soap lol, a la fight club.
pip thats super cool, thanks for your words.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,141
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Yeah definitely cool. I wish he'd come back and elaborate some more. Hey, interesting thing about the Spelz case. In 1971, his manufacturing charge was upheld, but interestingly enough, his intent to sell charge was reversed. Did his attorney convince the court that a 30 gallon drum full of DMT was personal use? Or do you need a large amount of chemicals in order to get a personal use amount of actual DMT? I don't even know, but I wouldn't think so.
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Fe-Fi-Four Plus 2 - I Wanna Come Back (From the World of LSD)
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