I guess again, I don't get it. I assume Paphs are the problem, but
is the rule that an artificially propagated plant doesn't require
any documentation, or difference documentation? Isn't it also the
case that if he plea-bargains, he wont get to know the identity of
the person. Not that it really matters, but if I were him, I would
want to know. Also, I'm not naive enough to think that some
innocent people go to jail, but would it be so hard to prove the
way the plants were propagated? I mean... isn't there a paper
trail or something, and if there isn't, wouldn't this be a really
risky way to do business?

Crystal

--
http://home.comcast.net/~xtals/orchid.htm
"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
Here's the latest news:


HOWDY BUCKAROOS,

AFTER MUCH SILENCE, I GUESS I OWE ALL OF YOU SOME KIND OF EXPLANATION
OR AT LEAST, OUR SIDE OF THIS STORY.

BEAR IN MIND THAT MY EMAILS ARE STILL BEING READ AND MY PHONE PROBABLY
TAPPED AND OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE ADVISED THAT WE SHOULD NOT COMMENT ON
THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT IS RESOLVED. HERE THEN IS THE CURRENT SITUATION
AS WE KNOW IT.

LAST TUESDAY WHEN MANUEL ARIAS CAME TO MIAMI FOR THE ORCHID SHOW, HE
WAS DETAINED BY THE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES ON A WARRANT FROM US FISH
AND WILDLIFE. HE WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL DETENTION FACILITY
IN MIAMI AND NOT ALLOWED EVEN A PHONE CALL. WE HAD TO SPEND 2 DAYS
PHONING EVERYONE THERE TO LOCATE HIM AND THEN WE WERE NOT PERMITTED TO
SEE OR SPEAK TO HIM. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO SEE HIM WAS AT HIS
BOND HEARING.

NOW THIS IS A MAN WHO WILL BE 70 YEARS OLD IN MAY, DIABETIC, WITH
HEART TROUBLES, FRAIL AND CURRENTLY HAVING SERIOUS TROUBLES WITH
ARTHRITIS IN HIS SHOULDERS TO WHERE HE CAN NOT LIFT EITHER ARM. HE WAS
PUT IN SHACKLES, FED JAIL FOOD WHICH HE COULD NOT EAT, SLEPT ON A COT
AND TREATED VERY POORLY. WE WERE ABLE TO POST A BOND TO HAVE HIM
RELEASED TO OUR CUSTODY AND BROUGHT HIM BACK TO TEXAS TO AWAIT HIS
NEXT HEARING. HIS BOND TO OUR CUSTODY INVOLES FORFITURE OF MY HOME,
CARS, BOATS, DOGS AND FIRST BORN. I HAVE LET MY DAUGHTER KNOW AND SHE
IS NOT HAPPY. I AM IN A WORLD OF SH--!!!!

IT APPEARS I TOO WILL BE SHORTLY INDICTED. REPORTS IN THE MIAMI
NEWSPAPER ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED AND APPEAR TO BE LEAKED BY THE FWS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BOTH BE CHARGED WITH BASICALLY CONSPIRACY TO
EXPORT AND IMPORT ORCHIDS ON APPENDIX I WITHOUT THE PROPER DOCUMENTS.
THE FACT IS THAT THE APPENDIX I PLANTS ARE ALL ARTIFICIALLY PROPAGATED
AND THEREFORE THE APPENDIX I REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE SOURCE OF ALL THIS IS ONE OF MY OWN CUSTOMERS WHO
TURNED ME IN AND THEN PARTICIPATED IN A GOVERNMENT STING TO GET ME.
THIS IS THEIR STAR WITNESS AND WE WILL BE GETTING THIS PERSON'S NAME
AND LET EVERYONE KNOW WHO IT IS. I CAN'T BELIEVE ONE OF MY OWN
CUSTOMERS WOULD DO THIS TO ME......Y'ALL HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO GOOD TO
ME AND SO LOYAL. THAT HURTS MORE THAN ANYTHING. HOWEVER IT MAY PALE IN
COMPARISON TO JAIL TIME.

WE HAVE BOTH SPENT IN EXCESS OF $25,000 IN ATTORNEY FEES NOT TO
MENTION MANY OTHER EXPENSES. ATTORNEYS FEEL THAT OUR BEST COURSE IS TO
ACCEPT A PLEA TO SOME CHARGE THAT ALLOW US A MINIMUM OF JAIL TIME AND
FINES. WHILE I AM A FIGHTER, THIS LOOKS LIKE A MORE REASONABLE COURSE
OF ACTION. THE FEDS HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES AND IT IS VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO FIGHT THEM. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET OUT WITH
SOMETHING LESS THAN A FELONY AS IT WOULD TAKE ALL MY RIGHTS AS A
CITIZEN AWAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE NEXT THING TO BE ADDED TO THE APPENDIX I WILL BE
ORCHID VENDORS PROBABLY FOLLOWED BY ORCHID COLLECTORS. THIS NEEDS TO
BE STOPPED BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ME THAT WILL DO IT. IT LOOKS LIKE I
AM NOW "ROAD KILL", JUST A DARK SPOT ON THE ROAD AFTER THE FEDERAL
STEAMROLLER HAS PASSED BY. THIS MAY BREAK ME FINANCIALLY AND WE MIGHT
HAVE TO JUST FOLD OUR ORCHID TENT AND DISAPPEAR INTO THE SUNSET. BUT
IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED.

SO AT THIS TIME I AWAIT A WARRENT BEING ISSUED FOR ME AND MY ATTORNEY
WILL SURRENDER ME TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WHERE I CAN POST A POST,
PROBABLY IN EXCESS OF THAT LEVIED AGAIN A COLOMBIAN DRUG DEALER.....I
AM A REAL THREAT TO THE EXISTANCE OF THIS COUNTRY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO OFFER ME A BETTER DEAL IF I WILL SQUEAL ON THE
REALLY BAD GUYS THAT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND. LIKE THIS IS GONNA
HAPPEN. I CAN JUST HOPE THEY HAVE ORANGE JUMPSUITS IN MY SIZE......I
AM GUESSING THEY WON'T HAVE KING-SIZE BEDS AT "CLUB FED".

ANY OF YOU WHO CAN WRITE IN SPANISH MIGHT CONSIDER SENDING MESSAGES OF
SUPPORT TO MANUEL HERE IN MY HOME . HE IS DEPRESSED
ABOUT ALL THIS AND CERTAINLY OVERWHELMED BY HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS
IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND FOREIGN COURT SYSTEM. HE IS A MARVELOUS
GENTLEMAN AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT HE CAN READ HAVE RAISED HIS SPIRITS
WHEN WE HAVE RECEIVED THEM. PLEASE TAKE JUST A MINUTE AND WRITE HIM IF
YOU CAN.

THIS IS IT FOR NOW,

GOOD GROWING, THE OLD ORCHID FELON