Why Was Tommy Chongs Sentence Worse?
OAKLAND: Head Shop Sentencing Friday, September 19, 2003 The owner of a head shop in Oakland has been sentenced in federal court to two years of probation, including three months of home detention, for selling drug paraphernalia. Richard Kevin Jaussen, 49, operator of Tela Ropa, must also forfeit all of the marijuana pipes, bongs, rolling papers and other items seized by federal agents during a search Feb. 24. Jaussen was among 55 people prosecuted nationwide as part of Operation Pipe Dreams, a crackdown on head shops and paraphernalia distributors that also snared actor Tommy Chong. Jaussen received leniency because he cooperated with federal agents in their investigation from 2000 through this year and provided information about two major paraphernalia suppliers. Federal prosecutors said his cooperation led to other pleas and “significantly strengthened” the government’s case. http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/2030919citybriefsp9.
