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Comedian Tommy Chong Gets Nine Months on Paraphernalia Charges
Assoiciated Press ^
| Sept. 11, 2003
| Dan Nephin
Posted on 09/11/2003 9:14:25 AM PDT by Wolfie
Comedian Tommy Chong Gets Nine Months on Paraphernalia Charges
Pittsburgh — Tommy Chong, who played one half of the dope-smoking duo in Cheech and Chong movies, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 on Thursday for selling bongs and other drug paraphernalia over the Internet.
The 65-year-old Chong was allowed to remain free until federal prison officials tell him in a few weeks where he must report to prison.
Chong also forfeited about $100,000 for his arrest on federal drug paraphernalia charges. He'll spend a year on probation after he's released from prison.
Chong's business, Nice Dreams Enterprises, which made a line of marijuana bongs and pipes, was to be sentenced later Thursday.
Chong pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia and also pleaded guilty on behalf of Nice Dreams Enterprises, which did business under the name Chong Glass.
Chong's plea came after federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents purchased his paraphernalia and had them shipped to an undercover business in Beaver Falls, a city northwest of Pittsburgh. Agents also confiscated his company's paraphernalia during raids of "head shops" in numerous states and confiscated "thousands of marijuana bongs and pipes" in a raid of his Gardena, Calif., business.
His plea followed a series of raids in February by the DEA in which at least 55 people were charged with trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. Federal officials said the investigation targeted the nation's biggest Internet distributors of paraphernalia.
Prosecutors said Chong was the first person to plead guilty in the raids.
The actor-comedian recently had a recurring role on Fox's "That '70s Show."
TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: addiction; wodlist
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1
posted on
09/11/2003 9:14:27 AM PDT
by
Wolfie
To: Wolfie
I feel so much safer now.
2
posted on
09/11/2003 9:17:45 AM PDT
by
E. Pluribus Unum
(Drug prohibition laws help support terrorism.)
To: Wolfie
The goose steppers are on the move.
3
posted on
09/11/2003 9:18:35 AM PDT
by
corkoman
(did someone say cheese?)
To: Wolfie
This sucks, I liked his Leo character on That 70s show.
I don't understand how the government can outlaw an object and the selling of that object if it has a legal use? He was not supplying the actual drugs. Just stupid, a waste of money.
To: corkoman
Don't call them to ask for Dave.
He's not there.
5
posted on
09/11/2003 9:24:20 AM PDT
by
Mr. Jazzy
(Proud to be a charter member of the Anit-Tag Line Association.)
To: CollegeRepublican
Leagal use being... what? Smoking tobacco with a bong? Yeah, that's what people use them for...
6
posted on
09/11/2003 9:24:52 AM PDT
by
Frank_Discussion
(May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
To: Wolfie
Thank God that animal is off the streets.
7
posted on
09/11/2003 9:25:09 AM PDT
by
GSWarrior
To: CollegeRepublican
Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's an evil dude, but he did break the law. And I'm sure he knew that he was doing so. At least he's man enough to face up to the consequences.
8
posted on
09/11/2003 9:26:55 AM PDT
by
Frank_Discussion
(May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
To: Wolfie
I don't understand how this can happen when here in San Diego, at least, we still have quite a few headshops selling bongs, pipes and all manner of obvious drug paraphernalia. All with little signs that say, "Its not a Bong, its a Water Pipe" and that those who use the dreaded "B" word will be asked to leave.
Is selling this stuff illegal or not?
To: Wolfie
Should of established business in Arizona.
All kinds of smoke shops with bongs and pipes here, it's legal biz.
To: CollegeRepublican
I don't understand how the government can outlaw an object and the selling of that object if it has a legal use? He was not supplying the actual drugs. Just stupid, a waste of money. There are those who wish to apply the same logic to guns.
To: Wolfie
More Ashcroft idiocy.
12
posted on
09/11/2003 9:31:28 AM PDT
by
aruanan
To: Mr. Jazzy
"Hey man, who cut your hair"?
To: corkoman
The goose steppers are on the move.
See post 8 above for an example of equating law with morality.
14
posted on
09/11/2003 9:34:44 AM PDT
by
aruanan
To: Trampled by Lambs
Problem was selling it over the internet.
The laws prohibiting sale of paraphernalia differ greatly from state to state. And even city to city. Maybe he shipped to "dry" jurisdictions.
Thing is, the shops that sell this stuff get it from wholesalers. It moves over state lines in transit. How this differs to what Tommy did is unknown.
To: Wolfie
Another tremendous victory for the WoD!! Let's throw a few more billion dollars at this and we might be able to bust a couple of teenagers smoking a doob behind the 7-11!
16
posted on
09/11/2003 9:40:22 AM PDT
by
CheezyD
To: aruanan
Thanks for pointing that out. I assume you are saying that the law is wrong? I'm not sure that I agree, because I am not a "if-it-feels-good-do-it" kind of person. The drug war has lots of contradictions to which I have no answers. But a lack of resolution doesn't mean that those laws in regards to drugs and drug paraphenalia can be ignored without consequence.
While it is something I wouldn't have done, I can see TChong's point of view and his actions. And, at the same time, I can respect him for basically saying, "Yeah, dude, I'm guilty. I'm takin' rap for it."
That was my point, okay?
17
posted on
09/11/2003 9:44:04 AM PDT
by
Frank_Discussion
(May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
To: CheezyD
"Class! Class! CLASS!
18
posted on
09/11/2003 9:44:07 AM PDT
by
50sDad
("There are FOUR LIGHTS! FOUR LIGHTS!")
To: CheezyD
I have to notice that the other member of this semi-memorable team has grown up, gone on with his life, and is playing adult characters his own age. It's no longer 1972, folks.
19
posted on
09/11/2003 9:45:28 AM PDT
by
50sDad
("There are FOUR LIGHTS! FOUR LIGHTS!")
To: Frank_Discussion
Yup
20
posted on
09/11/2003 9:45:31 AM PDT
by
biblewonk
(Spose to be a Chrisssssssstian)
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