DRUG WAR INJUSTICE

Re: "Judge asks for man to be freed -- But his letters to board don't
explain life term for probation violation," Thursday Metro story.

Unfortunately, Tyrone Brown is not the only person unjustly
imprisoned in Texas due to the absurdity of the drug war. Loren Pogue
is serving 22 years for failing to stop a real estate sale.

Mr. Pogue owned a real estate firm in San Vito, Costa Rica. He was an
active member of the community, belonging to the Lions Club, Masons,
Shriners, American Legion and VFW. He was past director of a
children's home and had 15 adopted children. He had no history of
involvement in the drug trade.

One day, a part-time employee asked him to sit in on the closing of a
piece of undeveloped mountainous property. The purchasers commented
that they intended to build an airstrip on the property and smuggle
drugs. The part-time employee was a confidential informant who was
paid $250,000. The purchasers were DEA undercover agents. Mr. Pogue
did not stop the sale, so he was sentenced to 22 years for conspiracy
to import drugs and money laundering. He is currently held at the
Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth.

Such injustice makes a mockery of our legal system and costs untold
thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Suzanne Wills

Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas