On May 15th, 2008, following a federal jury trial, Modesto entrepreneurs Ricardo Montes and Luke Scarmazzo were found guilty of several marijuana charges. The jury was conflicted about the convictions and grossly underestimated the possible sentences. The most serious charge carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, for what is called "continuing criminal enterprise." In reality, all that the defendants were doing was running a medical marijuana dispensary in accordance with state law. This was a federal trial, however, and state law was not a defense or a subject of legal argument. Federal law pretends that there is no such thing as medical marijuana. Please sign this petition, asking the judge to give Ricardo Montes and Luke Scarmazzo the leniency they deserve.
Dear Honorable Judge Wanger,
We are asking you to please give Ricardo Ruiz Montes and Luke Anthony Scarmazzo the most lenient possible sentence. Montes and Scarmazzo never intended to break the law. Although, as you have pointed out, federal law has not yet caught up with some of the states when it comes to medical marijuana, it is clear that Montes and Scarmazzo took every possible precaution to ensure that their business was run properly under state law. Please consider Judge Breyer's decision in the Ed Rosenthal case when determining Montes and Scarmazzo's sentence. Thank you.
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