Meth dealers laundered drug money with comic books

This gentleman is Aaron Castro, who was arrested with his brother Alfonzo for allegedly selling speed in the Denver, Colorado area and laundering the drug money through rare comix. That'll be one police auction not to miss. From CNN:

While arresting the alleged ringleaders... law enforcement officers seized about 100 boxes of first-edition collectible comic books. Investigators say one title alone is worth $3,500 and the total collection of comics is worth half a million dollars.

"It appeared they were working on a startup company for high-end comic books," said Don Quick, the district attorney in Adams County near Denver.

Quick said the seized comic books included some first-edition Superman and Batman titles. The fragile, vintage comics were stored in plastic bags for protection.

"Meth ring used comic books to launder cash, authorities say"

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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airshowfan

Gilbert #8, I think Geek Mafia (which I did pick up due to Cory’s review) had a part of the plot where they forge and sell rare comics.
strangefriend

@Ugly Canuck
Reminds me of Swimming to Cambodia where Spalding Grey is talking to the soldier on the train who says he uses Peruvian coke because the pisstests won’t pick it up . .
Also, shouldn’t they have flipped something easier such as cars, like in At Close Range:
BRAD SR.: “I just bought this car down the street for $6000. I’ll let you have it for $5500 . .”
SALESMAN: “Why are you getting rid of it, sir?”
BRAD SR.: “I don’t like the radio . .”
Darren Garrison

Maybe they were just selling drugs to support their comic habit.
Charlie Lesoine

Yep. That’s how you do it.
Anonymous

Just one more story of comic book sales being used to support meth dealers. How many more do we have to hear before we crack down (on the comic books)?
Ugly Canuck

Yeah, they just invested their profits…no “laundering” until it’s cash again…this is rather more of a “proceeds of crime” seizure.

You don’t launder money by buying a boat: you’ve got to resell it, too. But they can still seize the boat, if they can trace it to the “proceeds of crime”.
BDiamond

Lends a new meaning to “Mile High Comics,” doesn’t it?

*crickets* Anyone? Is this mic on? *crickets*
Timothy Hutton

Ugly Canuck – Well, that’s one point of view.

I think there’s a problem with your logic – you ask:

Why use meth when harmless marijuana is more fun?

Then you answer your own question thusly:

I’ll answer my own question: because the US Government wants it that way. Because meth clears the system fast enough, to show clear on drug tests: marijuana shows up for months….and that will get you out of a job, a career, all yer property, and the loss of yer children, too..into a jail system where violence between inmates is encouraged.

Wouldn’t the government prefer the use of a drug that remains in your system for an extended period? It would be the user that prefers the “quick purge” drugs, wouldn’t it? (assuming, of course, their goal is to “get you out of a job, a career, all yer property, and the loss of yer children, too” and “into a jail system where violence between inmates is encouraged.”
Fred H

Aaron…Alfonzo, what would Batman say? I don’t even want to THINK about the lecture Superman would give you two.
mdh

Methamphetaman Unmasked!
normd

weird eyes. weird haircut. result of rare comic books?
Anonymous

Apparently, anybody who has a business interest, in addition to their drug-dealing enterprise, is “laundering” money…
mrsomuch

ha! I thought LONGTENGDOTWS was making a witty comment about being a meth dealer!

synchronicity bot win!

+1 internets for timing
-10 internets for being a shitbasket
sobreiro

Comic collecting hasn’t been the same ever since Wimbledon Green passed away…
Ugly Canuck

Quick purge drugs are used, rather than marijuana, in order to avoid detection and punishment: a response to the Gov. sanctioned approved and encouraged drug-tests… I think the the Gov intends the actual results of its policies. Drug tests are great at catching marijuana users…but not speeders. Drug tests are good for pushing people into the unsafe and addictive “alternatives”.
Anonymous

There are many persuasive arguments on why America should legalize marijuana, and the reasons are sound, but the fact that many millions of Americans have used pot has not translated into real political pressure on the people who can change the laws. One of the problems inhibiting legalization is that people that smoke a glass pipe are not considered serious or mature. It is This stigma that scares many pot users to hide that they smoke pot. Therefore the Reality of who smokes pot and how much the smoke is very different than it seems. The last three presidents were admitted pot users and by my Understanding the same is probably true of the first three presidents as well. Marijuana Legislation is very serious and has everything with how we define what it means to be American. What credence do we as Americans give the rights of the individual to the pursuit of happiness as well as a right to privacy? In the end it is up to us to be public about our choices and to Voice our opinions to the ones that ultimately decide what the rules are. Every hand written Letter that makes it to a representative is considered to be the voice of a thousand people who did not take the time to write. Send an email, send a letter make a phone call and get counted.
IMPIart.com
mdh

ugly canuck – massachusetts new marijuana laws do not allow for a criminal record for simple possession. We’re working on it.
bjacques

This would make a great episode of Dragnet or the Mod Squad. Commence wavy flashback/daydream lines.
Gilbert Wham

I’m sure I’ve read a book with a similar premise. Just can’t remember what it is. I think Cory recommended it on here, as it goes.
Geoff Sebesta

I’m having a tough time getting upset about this.
Ugly Canuck

Why use meth when harmless marijuana is more fun?

Argentina has now joined Mexico in the War on Evil Drug Laws:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8221599.stm

Sure, USA/DEA, keep on “lockin’ ‘em up, for their own good”…
Legalize marijuana!
Ugly Canuck

I’ll answer my own question: because the US Government wants it that way. Because meth clears the system fast enough, to show clear on drug tests: marijuana shows up for months….and that will get you out of a job, a career, all yer property, and the loss of yer children, too..into a jail system where violence between inmates is encouraged.
urederra

The poor guy is blind in one eye.

I know a person with the same looks. The medical condition is called ptisis bulbi
Timothy Hutton

“Laundered? As in they actually sold the comics to clean their “I’ll-gotten booty”? Seems like they had a plan to launder their drug money, but hadn’t yet… Like they were caught in the rinse cycle.

Seems like a couple foolish folks watched a few too many episodes of the US TV show Breaking Bad and thought this was a great way to secure funding for their start-up venture (comic book store) in this challenging business market.