I got busted several years back "conspiring to manufacture mdma." I had actually stopped making it long before the bust, and had moved 3 different times. The "lab" came with me, but was all stowed away in 2 large trash cans. I didn't plan on using it again.. guess I kept it all because of the initial investment involved.
Anyway, the two trash cans were stored in the attic of a house I was renting. I'd almost forgotten their existence. A month behind on rent, I left town for 2 days to visit my brother and that's when all hell broke loose. When I returned home, the locks had been changed on the doors. I instantly figured it was the landlord bein a dickhead and started searching for another way in. Lookin through the windows, I could see that the house had been ransacked...latex gloves were strewn about. I peeked in the garage window and my heart dropped to my stomach. The two trash cans were on their sides...empty.
I kicked in the door, grabbed a few clothes, and got the hell out of town. My landlord called within hours, asking for the rent. I acted like I hadn't been home yet and told him I was on my way back and would get him the rent as soon as I got to town. Long story short...I was found and arrested for "manufacture of a controlled substance (mdma)."
I lawyered up (with one of the best around), spent a month in jail waiting for a bond reduction, and got out on $15,000 bail. I then called the landlord to ask for my stuff back and to see what the hell had happened. He informed me that he came over to ask for the rent, let himself in, and started snooping around. When he found the "lab" in the attic, he went to the police station and told them he'd found a meth lab, including the details of NOT giving me the proper 24 hour notice as outlined in my lease AND state law. They told him there was nothing they could do UNLESS he went back to the house, and returned to tell them that some of the chemicals were possibly leaking. So that's what he did.
When my attorney found this out, he was waaaay confident that this would easily be a thrown-out case. A simple motion-to-suppress the evidence found in the house based on the fact that the landlord entered illegally, and the police department not only entered without a warrant, but coached him to gain entry. The landlord was completely honest at the hearing (he's a preacher whom I hope rots in hell) and told the story of how he was coached by the PD.
When it all came down to it, my motion to suppress was denied by the judge. He claimed that the police entered the premises in the interest of public safety, as the chemicals could have leaked through those plastic trash cans, through the attic floor/first floor ceiling, through the linoleum floor of the kitchen, into the ground, and made it's way into the public pool across the street (where they made sure to describe the large number of children playing when they arrived on-scene).
After the hearing, my attorney apologized, telling me that it was just too big of a case for them to let go. Apparently, out of 4 ecstasy labs busted in the US (at the time), mine was the most complete, and only one that could be considered "operational." He told me he thought there was still a 60 percent chance I'd walk, but 40 percent I'd spend 15 years+ in prison (during which time, he'd be filing appeals). The other option was to plea to "conspiracy to manufacture" and do 6 months in a correctional boot camp, followed by 1.5 years on community corrections (which he recommended). He also told me it was my last chance..."DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH DRUGS AGAIN!" I failed to mention they got me for possession of MJ...first offense...second one's a felony. I never got any of my possessions back from the landlord (despite my BEST efforts), spent 6 months in hell, and 1 1/2 years pissin in a cup twice a week. Not to mention employers get to see the words "manufacture" and "controlled substance" on my record.
So here I am. Can't grow pot anymore, always watching my ass when I smoke, leading a pretty boring life. I do have a hand in building/designing/helping friends build grow rooms (many of them legal, medicinal-the others are for tomatoes for all I know)...but can't live the dream myself. All because I was 30 days late on a $650 rent bill.
So say what you want about "having rights" and "illegal search and seizure," but when it comes down to it...you have no rights. Sure, I could have won at trial...fat chance. I could have won an appeal...after spending HOW LONG in prison waiting for court dates and somehow managing to continue paying my attorney.
But yeah...this shit happened and it happened to me. Just know that whatever you THINK you know about the law...they know more. Cops/Judges/District Attorneys can and will get away with whatever the hell they want.
Me=2
FTW!