An East Bay man who faces a stiff federal prison term for operating a state-legal medical marijuana dispensary in Hayward was arrested in Marin on Wednesday thanks to a cell-phone violation -- and the two pounds of marijuana and $15,000 in cash in his car, according to reports.
Winslow Lazer Norton operated Compassionate Collective of Alameda County from 2004 to 2007 with his brother in Hayward. The pair were raided by the federal government and had much of their property and assets seized. They were indicted in 2007 for drug distribution, money laundering and conspiracy, but are still out on bail and fighting those serious charges.
In the meantime, Norton, 32, was traveling across the Richmond-San Rafael bridge to Marin County while talking on his cell phone, according to the Marin Independent Journal.
He was stopped by a CHP officer who smelled marijuana and searched the vehicle. The officer found $15,000 in cash and two pounds of pot and Norton was arrested for possession for sale and transportation, the newspaper reported.
Norton is out on bail.
Norton and his brother, Abraham, paid state sales taxes and filed revenue reports for their collective, which posted over $25 million in sales during the first six months of 2007. They had IRA accounts seized along with cars and homes.
