Federal Prosecutors Pressure Two More People to Plead Guilty

Picture by William Martin, for the Rome News-Tribune

Article by Aundra Berry

On Tuesday, February 21, 2006 two additional defendants appeared in Federal court in Rome, Georgia to plea guilty to charges that they knew the legal products they were selling in 2004 and 2005 would be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The Racial Justice Campaign against Operation Meth Merchant continues to work to raise awareness of the injustices and inconsistencies surrounding this case and calls for accountability from prosecutor Lisa Tarvin and Attorney General David Nahmias for the viciousness of their focus on this small, marginalized community. The defendants targeted by this operation have faced overwhelming pressure to accept the plea deals offered by prosecutor Lisa Tarvin. Fearful of the estimated $250,000 fine, the prospect of spending up to 25 years in prison, and the small likelihood of getting a fair trial in an area with elevated anti-immigrant sentiment, Balvedbhai Patel and Rekha Remesh faced few alternatives as their legal fees continued to mount and pressure from law enforcement increased.

The hearings were followed by a candlelight vigil outside the courthouse to expose the devastating effect that the charges have wrought on the affected families, their lives and their businesses. Campaign organizer Deepali Gokhale stressed to media representatives from the Rome News Tribune, Fox News and WGCL Atlanta that many of the defendants who have pled guilty have done so only after running out of options, with no money, patience, and resolve left to carry on the uphill battle against the charges.

To bolster this sentiment, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund issued a press release about the troubling representation of guilty pleas as a sign of success. The Drug Policy Alliance also issued a press statement, focusing on how nonsensical it is to hold store clerks responsible for policing the failed War on Drugs, arresting them when they are simply doing their jobs and providing good customer service.

Many of the family members and defendants were on hand to tell their own stories of emotional devastation and financial ruin. One woman, Sohela Ahmed, gave her own heart-rending account of the suffering endured by her family as her husband Mohammed awaits trial. Though Sohela recounted the touching details of how her family has depleted its savings and has lost most of their income, the Ahmed’s remain committed to fighting the charges. Mohammed’s emotional state is tenuous and his legal problems have dealt him a near-paralyzing blow. But for him, a U.S. citizen, returning to India is not an option after 20 years spent building a life in the states.

Of the 49 defendants arrested under the meth sting, 8 have been either misidentified or dismissed, and 20 additional cases are still pending. The Racial Justice Campaign will continue to gather support for the South Asian community through on-going outreach efforts and press events. The goal of the campaign is to have the cases dismissed by spotlighting the racially biased sting operation and demanding alternative measures on the part of law enforcement to combat the rising drug problem in North Georgia. Studies have shown the effectiveness of education, outreach and rehabilitation in reducing drug use and associated crime in communities across the nation.