HAYWARD - MEDICAL-POT BROTHERS HELD ON DRUG CHARGES

Two East Bay brothers were arrested Tuesday after being indicted by a
federal grand jury on charges that they ran a large-scale drug
operation from a Hayward medical marijuana club from which proceeds
were delivered to a bank by armored car, authorities said.

Winslow Norton, 26, of Lafayette and his brother, Abraham Norton, 23,
of Oakland, who together ran the Compassionate Patients' Cooperative
on the 21000 block of Mission Boulevard in Hayward, were taken into
custody during raids by the Drug Enforcement Administration and other
law enforcement agencies. They are being held without bail.

The Norton brothers were indicted on charges of conspiracy to
distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, distribution of
marijuana, maintaining drug-involved premises, conspiracy to launder
money, and money laundering.

The brothers used drug proceeds to purchase luxury items and
properties, including two new Mercedes-Benzes, a new Ford F-250
truck, three new motorcycles, a home in Lafayette and a commercial
building in Albany. Both Mercedeses were seized, as well as the two buildings.