US Postal Inspectors alert Pennsylvania police to 11 lb cannabis package, ends in controlled delivery, 2 men arrested.

Shitty.

Charges refiled against Erie pair in marijuana delivery case

Thursday, Oct 20, 2016 at 2:44 PM

By Tim Hahn Erie Times-News

Two Erie men are once again facing criminal charges related to a shipment of marijuana, mailed to a westside address, that Pennsylvania State Police drug investigators and U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted in early May.

State police on Thursday refiled charges of possession with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance charges against J. G. Eaton II, 42, and D. J. Dulong, 42, in an incident that occurred in the 1400 block of [ADDRESS REDACTED] on May 5.

Investigators charge that U.S. Postal Inspectors and troopers with the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Drug Law Enforcement Division, Western Interdiction Unit, which is based near Pittsburgh, came in contact on May 5 with a suspicious package being shipped to the [ADDRESS REDACTED] address. The package had indicators that were consistent with drug shipping and a search warrant was obtained, and when the package was opened it was found to contain 11 pounds of marijuana, according to information in the affidavit of probable cause filed with the criminal complaints against Eaton and Dulong.

A controlled delivery of the package was made to the Erie residence later that day and was taken into the residence, and at about 6 p.m. on May 5 Eaton and Dulong arrived at the residence. Eaton entered the residence and immediately exited with the parcel, and Dulong met Eaton at the rear of a vehicle and Dulong placed the package inside the vehicle, investigators charged in the affidavit.

Investigators moved in and detained Eaton and Dulong, and when they searched the residence after obtaining a warrant they found more suspected marijuana, guns, two pairs of brass knuckles and suspected drug paraphernalia, investigators wrote in the affidavit.

Eaton and Dulong were initially charged in the investigation on May 5. But the charges were dismissed by Erie 6th Ward District Judge Dominick DiPaolo on Oct. 3 after the trooper who filed the charges did not appear for the hearing, nor did anyone from the Erie County District Attorney's Office. The hearing had been rescheduled several times before the Oct. 3 date.

DiPaolo arraigned Eaton and Dulong on the refiled charges -- with Eaton additionally charged with one count of prohibited offensive weapon, for the brass knuckles -- early Thursday afternoon. Both were released on $50,000 unsecured bond.


Comments


[43 Points] None:

[deleted]


[22 Points] blockmains:

Its fuckin' stupid getting busted for Cannabis when half the states are legal are many more are working towards it.

Fuckin fools ruined their lives over nothin


[18 Points] jarxlots:

refiled charges of

Re, as in, repeat.

possession with intent to deliver

Drugs in any kind of container, but especially drugs in little baggies. But I'm sure the DA would accept a soda straw full of drugs as "intent to deliver."

Isn't "possession with intent to deliver" exactly what a postman is supposed to do? Possess your delivery with the intent of actually doing your job instead of saying "That smells odd" and having it inspected...

criminal conspiracy

That's the easiest crime ever. Criminal conspiracy occurs in "certain subs" constantly, on here. It's thought crime with speaking parts, that's all. It's foolishness, reserved for government agents.

criminal use of a communication facility

That's a laugh. If an incarcerated felon makes a phone call, is that not a text book example of a criminal using a communication facility? "Oh, but that's not criminal use... it has to be used in a crime." Actually, it just has to be suspected of being used in a crime, or this case wouldn't exist.

possession of a controlled substance

The only one that at least sounds like a crime.

came in contact on May 5 with a suspicious package being shipped to the [ADDRESS REDACTED] address.

I would wager that mail to that address is already "suspicious."

The package had indicators that were consistent with drug shipping and a search warrant was obtained

This is an important part.

The postal inspector scanned the package, and said "Ah, that looks just like other packages that we have seen, that have contained drugs." Which means some vendor needs to change their game. Someone's packaging is lax. Someone has been using the same method for so long, it's become a finger print to the postal inspector.

That package, addressed to 1234 fuckoff lane, is what allowed a warrant to be obtained for 1234 fuckoff lane (Clarification: The warrant appears to have been for the package. Then discovery of drugs is what allowed the warrant for the target.) That's important. You can mail ANYTHING to ANYONE, all the damn time. But, if it's suspected to be something illegal, a warrant for the DESTINATION is obtained (probably), a warrant for the PACKAGE is obtained (definitely), and an investigation into the origin of that package is started. (Paging Saul Goodman...)

I see 2 obvious loopholes and one HUGE problem with that system of warrant issuance as it concerns mail delivery.

when the package was opened it was found to contain 11 pounds of marijuana, according to information in the affidavit of probable cause filed with the criminal complaints against Eaton and Dulong.

So these 2 guys are playing Xbox, while miles away, their drug shipment is being opened by the cops, under a warrant, due to suspicion from the postal inspector. (I guess Newman was right. The Postal Inspector can fucking ruin your life.)

But the package was opened... wouldn't it be nice if you knew when your packages were opened... could be "vitally important" at some point in time... but I digress.

A controlled delivery of the package was made to the Erie residence later that day and was taken into the residence, and at about 6 p.m. on May 5 Eaton and Dulong arrived at the residence.

So... they're saying that they packaged it back up (tried to make it look pretty, or "This mail was damaged, we're sorry" from USPS.) and had the delivery appear to be normal. So the package was dropped off, and while the house was under surveillance:

at about 6 p.m. on May 5 Eaton and Dulong arrived at the residence.

(Because you only respond like that, when you've been waiting for them all damn day.) they made the delivery. And the delivered package was apparent:

Eaton entered the residence and immediately exited with the parcel

He probably recognized it on-site (typo: on sight), and that's not good. That's probably how the Postal Inspector knew what to go after, as well. So a box with a giant pot sticker on the side, and #YOLO written along the bottom...

and Dulong met Eaton at the rear of a vehicle

Someone else's vehicle? Or probably a vehicle one of them uses, but doesn't own. Doesn't matter. That's where they sunk the "intent to deliver/distribute" knife into their necks. They're moving something that is known to be drugs, into a "thing that moves shit quickly" so that's pretty solid.

and Dulong placed the package inside the vehicle,

That sounds like it was still identifiable as the package... so they never checked the whole box out? If it were wired, they probably never would have bothered to check. They moved an unknown (a presumption of "what's in the box") to their personal vehicle, on their personal property, while under surveillance, during a controlled delivery.

Couldn't, theoretically, anyone be guilty of that? So just mail 8 lbs of crack to [NAME REDACTED] at [ADDRESS REDACTED] and [STUFF I DO NOT WANT DONE TO ANYONE]

They would open it, and say "WTF" as they were arrested for something they never wanted... That seems like a travesty. If the innocent are indistinguishable from the guilty due to the methodology used to capture suspected criminals, oh wait... I know what they'll say... "That's for the courts to decide." SMH iknowhowtofixittho

Investigators moved in and detained Eaton and Dulong

when they searched the residence after obtaining a warrant they found more suspected marijuana

Hah! "Suspected marijuana" So it was K 9 or oregano, or shitty weed. Yo comprende.

suspected drug paraphernalia

Don't they have those shitty on-site test kits that always come up positive? Did their federal lawsuit finally see daylight or are they still allowed to use provably wrong practices to generate evidence? Why put "suspected" when you're just going to dip some water on it and the strip will change.

"Yep, that's drugs."

No need to be so verbose when you're using a flawed method. Like they're reasonable, responsible people, or something.

after the trooper who filed the charges did not appear for the hearing

Cue the theremin.

nor did anyone from the Erie County District Attorney's Office. The hearing had been rescheduled several times before the Oct. 3 date.

Wait a minute. No one showed up on more than one occasion, on the prosecution's side? So the case was dismissed...

But since it's not a criminal JUSTICE system, and instead, it's a CRIMINAL justice system, they "find a way" to charge him with anything that will stick, like having a "prohibited weapon" that you can have in the privacy of your own home. OH, but it was moved outside for all to see and is evidence now, so it's no longer protected by that private possession. (Bet you didn't know that. Why do you think you can buy illegal shit like that, that can't leave your home? So when you do fuck up, they'll have an endless series of charges to hurl at you until they accomplish their goal: stomping the competition.)

TL;DR : Don't ever piss off the postman.


[7 Points] rightoff303:

Hi, were you expecting a delivery?

don't know what you are talking about

:shut door:


[4 Points] TheVagWhisperer:

The loud probably stank through the package


[3 Points] Dog3Way:

Looks like Julian and Ricky are up shit creek!


[2 Points] TheKlonipinKid:

Man im kinda afraid to order any cannabis product till i get a po box


[2 Points] throwahooawayyfoe:

The package had indicators that were consistent with drug shipping

"This package contains large amounts of illegal narcotics. Please do not open unless you are the intended recipient."


[1 Points] wmurray003:

"Two Erie men are once again..." Huh?


[1 Points] Phineas-J-Whoopee:

and I worry about flipping eighths