Five people have been arrested for manufacturing and distributing PCP in Los Angeles. According to an NBC Los Angeles news report, the arrests occurred after a raid on two South Los Angeles homes and two storage facilities. A July 20, 2012 CBS Los Angeles news report states that a federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment of two men, aged 56 and 41, and one woman, 32, all of Los Angeles, and a 59-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman from New York. The 56-year-old Los Angeles man was specifically charged with obtaining the chemicals and manufacturing the PCP.
After utilizing a source in New York, DEA agents seized over 60 gallons of finished PCP and hundreds of gallons of highly toxic chemicals that are used to make PCP. Officials report the chemicals could have been used to manufacture another 1,200 gallons of PCP. A single gallon contains 74,000 doses of the drug. The five suspects are in custody in Los Angeles. They all face potential life sentences.
Phencyclidine is a dangerous drug commonly referred to as PCP or angel dust. It is a Schedule II drug because of the high potential for abuse. It can be a misdemeanor or a felony to possess PCP, which is punishable by either one year or as many as three years in jail. Possession with “intent to sell” charges have even more severe consequences. Possessing or purchasing PCP for sale is a felony, which is punishable by three, four, or five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If the weight of the PCP exceeds one kilogram or 2.2 pounds, the defendant could face an additional three to 15 years.
These are extremely serious charges with life-changing consequences. The reputed drug crime defense lawyers in West Hollywood at Sitkoff & Hanrahan offer free consultations at (866) 430-8383 to anyone facing drug-related charges in southern California. Please contact us if you are facing these or other serious allegations.