Flee from Justice? It's Often the Best Choice

A few years ago, a local man from a good family had just escaped from justice for the second time. We have no idea if he ever read any of our blogs, but we suggested he give himself up, or barring that, make his way to Mobile and on to Mexico where he could begin a new life. Thankfully, the man was apprehended without incident, but he now languishes in a Tennessee prison with Alabama charges still to answer upon his eventual release.

This man had no funds to speak of, but what of someone who does? Obviously all eyes are now on two or three individuals implicated in a huge Tennessee grow operation just across the state line. A source familiar with the arrest of the Muscle Shoals partner has stated he had to surrender his passport upon his release from custody. The source further commented on the huge amount of cash and two bit coin accounts* found on this man's property. Was he ready to flee if his world came crashing down?

Does this man have other assets he can easily get to? We would assume so. What would you do if you were facing years in prison? Isn't a totally new life preferable to that? 

We've always heard the Caribbean was the place to go. No extradition from the Dominican Republic. The small Latin country may have intense poverty, but it also has it's good side:

A local former law enforcement official has commented to us that Micronesia is also free from extradition treaties and might be preferable to many:

We're not even touching on the remote African and Asian countries where a wanted person could live out their lives. To each his/her own. Family? There's always Skype, and with money, it's easy for family to fly in to visit. 

Our recommendation? Don't do the crime in the first place and you won't have to make decisions concerning the best escape venue.

* Anything is possible, but it seems highly probable that any escape plans included two individuals.

A Tale of the Iron City Three

The published facts:

1. On December 18th, the Wayne County Sheriff's department and several other law enforcement agencies raided a pot growing warehouse on Highway 13 in Iron City.

2. On December 19th, Wayne County Sheriff Shane Fisher issued a press release in which he stated he anticipated three arrests stemming from the huge grow operation.

3. On December 20th, a Russellville optometrist was arrested. The raided warehouse was reportedly in his name, and Muscle Shoals police found evidence linking him to the operation in his Cypress Lakes home. He is currently free on bond.

4. On December 21st, a Sheffield janitress was arrested on similar charges and named as a partner in the operation. She remains in the Wayne County Jail.

The above four facts sum up the official status of the investigation as of now or at least what has been revealed to the public. 

The other shoe:

1. As of December 26th, the third arrest has not yet been made or at least not been widely publicized. In other words, we don't have enough official information to publish a name.

2. Sources inside the investigation are naming a Russellville businessman as the third partner in the operation. This gentleman travels widely in his work and has connections across the country. He is also a long standing friend of the optometrist. Is he the actual mastermind behind the huge grow/process operation?

Our thoughts:

1. Does anyone really think a janitress with only a modicum of formal education was in any way a real partner in this operation? Or is she someone to arrest in the hopes she'll grass on the grass grower(s)?

2. Does anyone really think that the optometrist, while incredibly naive, was the real mastermind in this crime? Remember, in a marriage be sure to get everything in your name; in an illegal activity be sure to get everything in someone else's name.

Final word: 

Let's make sure the actual punishments fit the actual crimes.