Drug Tax

Long time readers of the Blast might remember an article I posted two years ago about an ongoing highway shakedown in Shelby County, Texas. We revisit the topic today. It appears that the Shelby County District Attorney was letting some pretty major drug runners walk if they ponied up enough cash.

Linda Kaye Russell, who has since resigned to take care of her sick mother, collected more than $800,000 in one year targeting smugglers on a well known drug route through her county. Gregory Fuller, a man accused of transporting 15 kilos of cocaine and more than $80,000 in cash, got probation after forfeiting the money to the district attorney. There are many other similar stories.

This kind of twisted behavior highlights the incestuous and symbiotic relationship between law enforcement and organized crime. One hand washes the other. Cops look the other way and the county treasuries' coffers get filled. This is a good example of the immoral behavior that propels our country's venal and corrupt war on drugs.