From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Newsgroups: misc.legal,fl.general,talk.politics.drugs,alt.activism
Subject: DOJ Announces Transfer of Property in Florida Weed and Seed Program
Date: 11 Oct 92 03:41:52 GMT
Organization: NDA


Here is a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

 DOJ Announces Transfer of Property in Florida Weed and Seed Program
 To: National Desk, Florida Correspondent
 Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, 202-514-2007

   TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 8   -- Robert W. Genzman, United States 
Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, and Deputy
Attorney General George J. Terwilliger III, announced today the first
transfer of real property in conjunction with the Weed and Seed
Program in Florida.
   The transfer involves a house in Bradenton, Fla., previously owned
by Retha Willams.  The real property was used by Retha Williams to
facilitate the commission of violations of Title 21, United States
Code, Sections 841 and 846, that is, the possession with intent to
distribute crack cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute cocaine.  The property was seized, and subsequently an
order of forfeiture was entered in a civil case forfeiting the
property to the United States.   Retha Williams subsequently pled
guilty to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846 on
July 2, 1991, and was sentenced to 17 1/2 years imprisonment and
five years supervised release.
   In conjunction with a tour of Bradenton today, Terwilliger
announced the transfer to Bradenton community leaders.
   The transfer of the house to the Manatee County Weed and Seed
initiative provides an opportunity to locate social and community
resources in a neighborhood impacted directly by drug trafficking.
   Operation Weed and Seed, begun in 1991, is a major Administration
initiative to restore America's crime and drug-ridden neighborhoods.
It is a community-based, comprehensive, multi-agency approach to
combatting violent crime, drug use, and gang activity in high-crime
neighborhoods.  The goal is to "weed out" crime from targeted
neighborhoods and then to "seed" the targeted sites with a wide range
of crime and drug prevention programs, as well as human service
agency and private sector resources to prevent crime from recurring
and provide a safe environment for law-abiding citizens.
   To come to the aid of troubled neighborhoods and communities, our
society is investing more and more resources in law enforcement
efforts.  Law enforcement tries to battle the neighborhood's violent
crime and drug trafficking, often through "sweeps" intended to
eliminate criminal elements.  But it is difficult for these efforts
to make a lasting impact unless the neighborhood is given
opportunities to revitalize.
   Turning property built with illegal proceeds into a center for
community revitalization in a Weed and Seed target neighborhood sends
a clear message to the community that neighborhoods can be reclaimed
from the impact of drug abuse and crime if we all work together in a
partnership.
 -30-

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