Wamego Bust
Although they were arrested moving the laboratory from the Atlas-E silo location, they never actually produced LSD at this site. The laboratory had been moved there without Pickard or Apperson's knowledge by the government's informant, Gordon Todd Skinner. When Pickard arrived back in town and learned that Skinner had moved the lab there, they immediately began preparations to move it. Unknown to them, Skinner had begun cooperating with the DEA and had already allowed them to go inside the property to look around. Based on what they saw during this showing, they applied for a search warrant, which was subsequently signed by a federal judge. Apperson drove the Ryder rental truck with the laboratory in it and Pickard followed in a Buick LeSabre; they had walkie-talkies to maintain communication. The DEA had a Kansas Highway Patrol car pull them over to not arouse suspicion; however, they immediately recognized something was wrong and Pickard, being a marathon runner, took off into the woods on foot and was not captured until the next day.
Authorities found less than six ounces of ergotamine tartrate during the arrest. However, they claim they normally produced a kilogram of LSD every five weeks. The DEA estimates this would produce approximately 10 million 100 µg doses. Although the DEA claims this would be worth $40 million on the street, this is misleading, because Pickard did not sell anywhere near the "street" or retail level. Government informant Skinner testified Petaluma Al and the largest wholesale customers of Pickard paid 29.75¢ (or a little under 30¢) per 100 µg dose, which would put the cost at around $2.97 million for a kilogram of LSD.
Both men were eventually found guilty at trial of conspiring to manufacture, distribute and dispense ten grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); Pickard received two life sentences, while Apperson received 30 years imprisonment.
Pickard, currently 67 years old, is serving out his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary at Tucson, Arizona.
Apperson, currently approximately 57 years old, is serving out his sentence at FCI Victorville Medium I near Adelanto, California. He will be released on May 8, 2029.
Read more about this topic: William Leonard Pickard
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“They’ll bust you in the lobby. You look like a training poster for the narc squad.”
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