LOS ANGELES - A jury has reached its verdict in the trial of former political donor Ed Buck, who is accused of providing methamphetamine to two men who died in his West Hollywood apartment.
The jury found Buck guilty on all nine felony counts, including two counts of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death, stemming from the deaths of Gemmel Moore in July 2017 and Timothy Dean in January 2019.
Each of the two charges carry 20-year mandatory minimums.
From an anon collaborator:
One of the mundane details that's puzzled me is he lived in a rent stabilized apartment (and was loathed by his neighbors due to the obvious nuisance noise, comings and goings). Was he as wealthy as his donor $$$ implied, or a conduit for others?
Two asides here: first, although I have seen the $500k figure widely disseminated from press orgs with fact checkers on payroll, I have not been able to verify that myself on platforms like Open Secrets or Little Sister. Second, even taking the $500k figure at face value, that is still minor leagues stuff, especially in the era of dark money.
I clearly need to spend some more time digging through the WeHoVille archives...
Ed Buck’s Landlord Tells Neighbors an Eviction Won’t Be Easy
Thursday - January 17, 2019
The owner of the apartment building at 1234 N. Laurel Ave. has responded to a petition from building residents requesting the eviction of their neighbor, Ed Buck...
In a letter to the tenants, Christopher Shane of David Shane Enterprises Inc. said “we are deeply concerned by this most recent incident and how the news coverage, and response both public and private, has effected your occupancy, use and enjoyment of the premises. We understand you fear for your safety and want to assure you that your safety is of utmost concern to us."
However, Shane said, attorneys have told him that “eviction of a tenant, in a ‘rent controlled’ jurisdiction, can be very challenging.”
“Under the law, a suspect/defendant is ‘presumed innocent until proven guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt.’ Attempts to evict a suspect who is presumed innocent, will likely be met with a vigorous defense and retaliatory action. If an action to evict is initiated, we want reasonable assurances that we will prevail.”
“If Ed is arrested, criminally prosecuted and convicted of a crime, the likelihood of an eviction is greatly increased.”
Shane said his company is in close touch with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. “We are taking reasonable steps, a permitted by law, to make sure you are safe.”
And an interesting comment on the guilty verdict from the same site:
Michael Grace
West Hollywood Politicians, along with the California Democrat Party, should be part of the guilty verdict.
When Gemmel Moore’s mother spoke to the West Hollywood City Council after her son had died, she said Ed Buck was a very sick man. She indicated he was not alone but just a part of the significant Cyrstal Meth drug problem in West Hollywood.
That didn’t impress the four West Hollywood City Council members who had taken thousands in Ed Buck’s political donations—never mentioning that to Mrs. Moore. They were Heilman, Duran, D’Amico, and Meister. They didn’t return any of Buck’s contributions, but D’Amico, who was put in office by Buck’s donations and actions, “generously,” sent $25 for Gemmel’s funeral.
Ed Buck ran his death house on Laurel Avenue for two more years and operated his Crystal Meth lab to entrap young desperate black men.
West Hollywood politicians looked the other way to the Buck Crystal meth ordeal along with California Democrat politicians that had taken over $500,000 in donations.
Ed Buck had given to Democrat candidates in California brought attention to the politicians. They, of course, distance themselves from the Buck association.
District Attorney Jackie Lacey didn’t prosecute because she was a pawn for the California Democrats who wanted the whole Buck thing swept under the rug.
California Democrat Party chairman Eric C. Bauman worked with West Hollywood and California Democrats to kill the Buck association.
Then Bauman was charged with sexual harassment by young interns and was forced to resign as Chairman of the California Democrats.
It’s excellent that Buck was convicted, but there is guilt by association. Specific political hacks from local to statewide should have been the dock with him.
Pride in WEHO, LOL!