Mobile meth labs busted in casino parking lot

Two men were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of manufacturing methamphetamine inside motor homes parked at Feather Falls Casino.

[Tim Pro]

Ahh.. more positive contributions to the community from the casinos. Smart businessmen though... shortening their time to get the product to market by manufacturing it right where the demand is.

[Ed G]

A few points not mentioned in today’s article:
We do not allow RVs to park in our parking lots. We have an RV park, so when we saw RVs parked by themselves in a lower, seldom used parking lot off casino grounds, we needed to remedy the situation. While on our way to ask them to leave, law enforcement noticed the RVs from a past investigation and asked us not to tell them to leave. We cooperated.
We allowed them to use our surveillance equipment and asked our Tribal law enforcement to not ask the RVs to leave.
After a few hours, the RVs left the property and were pulled over by law enforcement about a quarter mile away off property. They were then brought back to the Rancheria’s parking lot to execute the bust. This is how we are thanked for our cooperation. This article makes it sound like we were either part of the operation or not very observant as to the goings-on on our property.
Now the State Attorney General issues a statement that “the suspects disguised their mobile meth operation by hiding amongst legitimate visitors who were parking in the casino’s parking lot.”
So, after years of cooperating with local law enforcement to get rid of the drug element from our local business just so we would not receive this type of press, we receive it anyways after fully cooperating and assisting local law enforcement in the bust.
One investigative phone call by the local media would have showed that we were part of the solution, not the problem.
Thank you for listening.

[Batman]

Tim Pro wrote:

Ahh.. more positive contributions to the community from the casinos. Smart businessmen though... shortening their time to get the product to market by manufacturing it right where the demand is.

Meth is bad, don't let this loser shove his beliefs down your throat

[sawblade]

Good job by the casino detecting these white boy low lifes! It is not about the casino... It is about sending these LOSERS to prison! You guys at the casino need not defend yourselves! GOOD JOB!

[sawblade]

Tim Pro wrote:

Ahh.. more positive contributions to the community from the casinos. Smart businessmen though... shortening their time to get the product to market by manufacturing it right where the demand is.

Pull your head out! The casino did its job! By the way .. you look like a tard holding your paint gun in your silly picture!

[onenation]

sawblade still has nothing to say worth listening to

[Tim Pro]

The casinos are leeches, sucking life from the community from the lowest common denominator that visits their establishments. They've always been, and always will be, regardless of how they try and spin PR. They are a steady source of crime and drugs. Although, it started out with the local people trading food stamps for cash to gamble, and my, look how they've grown. "You've come a long way, baby!" Don't beleive how taxing (pun intended) they are on law enforcement? Go to http://www.buttecounty.net/sheriffs/Publiclog... , view the logs, and search for "casino".

[South County]

It sounds like they did a good job assisting law enforcement, but I think the casinos are an attractive nuisance.
More traffic, more crime, more lowlifes.
The traffic signals on Ophir Rd. are maddening if you are not headed to/from the casino. You had better stand on the gas when the light turns green, or you won't make it across the intersection before it turns red.
The trucks hauling base rock for the new hotel destroyed the roads they were using (hot weather and overloaded) a couple of summers ago. The roads are still trashed, and I have to dodge the holes every day to avoid damaging my vehicle.
I also get to play Russian Roulette with the Kamikaze tour bus drivers.
I am reminded every day that the influence of the casinos reaches far beyond the parking lot.

[La Migra]

Q. How many tweekers does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Who cares? Powers been out for months.

[The Truth]

I usually don't respond to these but feel the need on this one. What many don't realize is that this particular casino employees 500 (local) people with good jobs. ALL of which pay local, state and federal taxes. ALL of which support families and the local economy. To think that casino's are the cause of drug problems in our community is just wrong. We all know that the Oroville area never had a drug problem before casinos, right?(Sarcasm intended here for those that are incapable of reading into this). Lets see, casino's provide jobs in an economically depressed area, employees pay taxes. Not a bad deal as far as I am concerned. Maybe we would be better off getting rid of liquor stores because they cause alcoholism?(Sarcasm again). Ever go to Walmart on the first or fiftenth? Should we get rid of Walmart. Rember "Tim Pro". "It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt".

[Tim Pro]

"The Truth", you make the same arguments the brothels make in Nevada. But, in addition to the prostitutes paying taxes on their income, the brothels also pay taxes, which gives them more validity than our local casinos.

[The Truth]

Tim Pro. Interesting point, however brothels (according to my research) don't pay taxes. Neither do the workers. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_...

See also http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7805733/

However you may have far more experience and knowledge than I do in this area. Casinos and casino employees do however pay taxes.
Casinos pay licensing fees to the state of California in the millions of dollars per year. In the fiscal year 2005 to 2006 Tribes paid to California's General fund 27 million, 33 million to non-gaming tribes, 140 million to the Special Distribution fund which includes to a problem gambling fund. This is not commonly known nor in many cases cared about. Tribal Governments also make millions of dollars (State Wide) in charitable donations.
Most casinos also use local venders. This helps local business and the communities that casinos are located in. Bottom line is that casinos provide income to local communities, people and tax dollars to the State. And the point of my comments are, that you can find tweekers in any store, any business and on any street corner in most cities. To blame casinos for the use and manufacturing of drugs, or to say that casinos contribute in any way to drug problems is just very uninformed.

[Tim Pro]

I suspected you were a casino PR person, and my opinion that that is a possibility is greatly enhanced now. Is "surfing the net combatting negative opinions of the casino while using an anonymous account" part of the official description?

As for the "brothels don't pay taxes", and the reference cited (Wikipedia is an un-reliable source as it is editable by anyone though), what about the quote "brothels and prostitutes are subject to federal income tax and also pay local fees"?

Nice ad hominem attempt though by saying I would be familiar with them. I just happened to live in Nevada and found them disgusting, not that I have to defend my personal opinions to a professional spin monger though.

I also did not blame the morally bankrupt casinos for the manufacturing and use of drugs, but stated that it was a wise choice for the manufacturers to go straight to the customers as the casino does seem to be a convenient place for dealers and users to congregate, given their 24 hour nature and general "lowest common denominator" clientele. Tweekers look and feel right at home in an establishment that is void of moral standards in the first place. Nobody is going to be "high and mighty" while they are participating in vice.

Hey, even if you aren't a PR person, and are just an employee, I guess I can't blame you. If I worked for a casino, I'd make all kinds of excuses to make it seem like a legitimate employer. Or, you could just be one if the "beneficiaries".

Seems like a great system for wealth re-distribution if what you say is true, though. They take money from my taxes, give it to welfare people, they spend it at the casino, and the casinos pay people who you elude to that normally wouldn't have a job. Sounds grand if one has a socialist mindframe.

[quietbear]

RE: "I am RIGHT": I just happenchanced across this persuing travel info today and "Tim Pro" has the right idea. Whether ANY of you agree or not, the threat of the cancer, socialism should be your greatest concern. Those that would disagree.....are scary. Those that understand, would also understand how socialism is a "domestic enemy"....and you got it...SUBJECT TO the force of revolution. Its REAL simple. I'll stop with that.

[The Truth]

Tim Pro
If you advocate the dismantling of the welfare system, where do I sign? But based on your reasoning we need to close ALL businesses that accept welfare payments as a form of payment. As I understand the system here in California (and I admit limited knowledge of the system as I have worked my entire life) welfare is paid on a credit card type of card. No or limited cash. Impossible to spend at a casino. Yes, I am a casino employee. It disgusts me to here uniformed people make general statements about the industry that they truly do not understand. Yes, those that should not spend money in casinos do. And those that should not spend their money in liquor stores and brothels do. The thing I think you fail to understand is that this is supposed to be a free society.(That's a whole other discussion however) I believe in personal responsibility and each individual’s ability to make decisions based on his or her own values. I do not in any way advocate someone else telling me or anyone else how I should live or where I should spend my money. As to it being a good place for Tweekers to congregate? Do you have any idea how many cameras are in and around a casino? Trust me it is just plain stupid to commit any crime in a casino, you are on tape anywhere you are in any casino. You refer to casinos as "morally bankrupt". Please enlighten me as to any business that is based on morals? Exxon, Chevron, Shell Oil??? How about the 7-11 on the corner. Business is not about morals my friend, that is left to the consumer. If you do not agree with the casino industry, don’t participate. At least however check your facts. As to my statements about what the State of California gets from casinos, my facts are accurate, published and very easily verified.
By the way, not in anyway a "PR" person ether.
I am also left wondering what type of moral business you make a living in?

[South County]

Yes, we should get rid of Wal Mart. The sooner, the better.

I see the drunk and stoned casino patrons staggering home every day down Upper Palermo Rd. at 6AM on my way to work.

I see the El Medio fire truck with the big sign on the tailgate stating it was "purchased with funds provided by FF Casino". I also see the FF Rancheria fire trucks that never seem to leave their parking spaces.

Perhaps the local school district's buses should have big signs on them stating "This bus transports FF Rancheria students and was purchased without FF Rancheria school tax support . We feed them free lunches, too."

Open your eyes.

[Brandy]

The stoplight at Lincoln Blvd was a necessity. I'd rather sit there for an extra few minutes than dodge speeding traffic to get across the roadway. By the way those roads have been potholed and torn up since long before the casino was building. Been driving on em that way for quite a long time. The stoplight there will help prevent accidents and yes was put there with funds from the casino.
Yes the El Medio Fire Truck does say donated by FF Casino. Did you see the antiquated equipment they had before then? Cause no one wanted to vote in any funds for them. In regards to the Mooretown Fire truck, do you park out front and watch them? You do know it's a volunteer fire company right?
And I'm pretty sure the school district busses also transport plenty of non Rancheria kids and give them free lunches too.
Yes, I am a former employee of the Casino. I do recognize the inherent problems with having a casino. I also realize that everything comes with pros and cons and in an economically depressed area 500 jobs is a pretty big pro.
As a former security guard there I can tell you tweakers are not made to feel comfortable at all. They are closely monitered and known problem people generally have cameras on them as soon as they walk in. We have always cooperated with law enforcement and have totally encouraged law enforcement presence in our casino.
I agree, I think it's easy to blame the casino's for problems with drugs, welfare, compulsive gambling, but that then takes away people's personal responsibility.

[The Truth]

Brandy
You go girl. Could not have said it better.
I think we are preaching to those without ears.
Jobs equal income equal better community. Responsibility for ones own action is always the way I feel. And as I have said so many times, those who chose to use drugs will do it any where anytime. It has nothing to do with casinos. This was the point of me getting involved in this discussion in the first place.

[quietbear]

I've not seen contradiction-free commentary here yet, not that I expected to, but was momentarily hopeful... I would offer to several here that the immediacy of issue, whether it be casinos, patrons, whatever/whomever, is the "curtain" that I fear keeps many of us from the truth. The truth I speak of is a matter of the equation involved here. I understand it better than I can describe it, but I challenge us to back away and regain objectivity to start. The reality is that freedom and the concept of freedom is at stake here....and always has been. It may be destiny that it erodes and is gone someday, I don't know; but what are your actual values? If your true, and our collective societal values, those aligned with preservation of individual liberty, erode....then actual freedom is next in line, as it will be taken away. Wal-Mart and casinos exist as a couple of "stakes in the ground" around the perimeter of the "tent" we call the free market. And, do not confuse, misalign or reconstruct my words; I am staunchly anti-establishement, public and private, at least to the extent individual liberty is threatened....but that should go for everyone.

[The Truth]

quietbear
What?

"anti-establishment, public and private"? So should we live in a cave or what?
I am not sure what you are talking about or how it relates to the conversation. My only point in my posts above is that I don't need anyone telling me the best way to spend my disposable income. It is also not my place to tell others how to spend, where to frequent or what to read or watch on TV. I have my own views about certain businesses and chose to participate or not.
"Individual Liberty" is something that we should all defend whether we agree with the particular business or not. Don’t like a certain industry, don’t contribute. Except of course where we must (Gas prices what they are) food etc.