Federal DEA Agents raid marijuana co-op

Posted on Wed, Oct. 04, 2006



Agents raid marijuana co-op



FEDERAL OFFICIALS CLAIM OPERATION WAS NOT MEDICINAL



By Josh Richman
MediaNews



Federal agents raided several Bay Area sites and arrested 15 people Tuesday morning to shut down what supporters called a medicinal marijuana cooperative, but what federal officials called a drug-dealing operation.



Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided sites, including the administrative office of New Remedies Cooperative -- formerly known as Compassionate Caregivers -- at 1710 Franklin St. in downtown Oakland; its dispensary at 1760 Mission St. in San Francisco; and what apparently was its marijuana-growing operation in a warehouse at 790 Tennessee St., on the edge of San Francisco's Potrero Hill district.



Seized were about 12,743 marijuana plants; computers; four vehicles including a Porsche Carrera convertible; $125,000 and three bank accounts belonging to New Remedies, Potent Employment Solutions LLC.



Operator Sparky Rose, 36, of San Francisco was arrested Tuesday, as were Ben Blair, 31, of San Pablo; James Daley, 56, and Sean Anderson, 22, both of San Francisco; Kevin Ellis, 28, and Jason Matthewson, 29, both of Pinole; Irene Matsuoka, 27, of Crockett; Alfaro Munoz-Bebullida, 33, and Steven Navarro, 35, both of Richmond; Johnny Seto, 32, Mark Miller, 53, and Tracy Smith, 32, all of Alameda; Mistalee Chiame Wang, 25, and Jaime Perreira, 26, both of San Leandro; and Amber Froiness, 26, of Berkeley.



All are scheduled to make their first federal court appearances today.



A California law approved by voters a decade ago permits medicinal use of marijuana, but federal law bans the drug entirely. Federal officials implied Tuesday this operation wasn't just medicinal.



``Federal drug laws prohibit the cultivation and sale of marijuana. Anyone who breaks these laws to run a lucrative drug trade, buy fancy cars, boost their bank accounts and exploit vulnerable citizens is not compassionate, they