The San Francisco Chronicle wrote:Guilty plea in pot-candy caseHenry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The San Francisco Chronicle(09-26) 15:00 PDT OAKLAND -- The alleged ringleader of an Oakland group that made marijuana-laced candy and soft drinks resembling popular goodies pleaded guilty today and has agreed to serve 70 months in prison, authorities said.
Kenneth Affolter, 39, of Lafayette, admitted that he operated Beyond Bomb and mad ea range of pot-laced treats with names like Buddahfingers, Munchy Way, Rasta Reece's and Puff-a-Mint Pattie, authorities said.
At a hearing in Oakland, Affolter, whose nickname is "Kena,"pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge D. Lowell Jensen to a single count of conspiring to manufacture and distribute marijuana.
Four of Mr. Affolter's former employees and co-defendants also entered guilty pleas today before Jensen.
Amy Teresa Arata of Oakland and Jesse Monko of Walnut Creek both admitted to performing supervisory roles in Affolter's marijuana facilities. Eachpleaded guilty to felony conspiracy counts and agreed to serve 18-month prison terms.
Jaime Alvarez-Lopez and Elizabeth Ramirez, both citizens of Mexico, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor marijuana offenses and each agreed to serve a year in prison.
Beyond Bomb operated from adjoining warehouses at 1055 and 1071 Yerba Buena Ave. and 3960 Adeline St. in Emeryville, William Armstrong, a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration, wrote in an affidavit.
In March, drug agents searched thewarehouseswhere the marijuana candy was produced, a warehouse on Adeline Street, Affolter's Lafayette home and 1740 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland.
Medical marijuana advocates say the treats are legal under state law and are designed for sick patients who rely on cannabis to ease their symptoms. DEA officials operate under federal law, which deems marijuana in any form to be illegal.
E-mail Henry K. Lee at
hlee@sfchronicle.com.