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Yet another innocent victim in the war on drugs


NOTICE: TO ALL CONCERNED Certain text files and messages contained on this site deal with activities and devices which would be in violation of various Federal, State, and local laws if actually carried out or constructed. The webmasters of this site do not advocate the breaking of any law. Our text files and message bases are for informational purposes only. We recommend that you contact your local law enforcement officials before undertaking any project based upon any information obtained from this or any other web site. We do not guarantee that any of the information contained on this system is correct, workable, or factual. We are not responsible for, nor do we assume any liability for, damages resulting from the use of any information on this site.
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| YET ANOTHER INNOCENT VICTIM IN THE WAR ON DRUGS |
| THE SAM ZHADANOV STORY |
| Distributed via the NIRVANAnet(tm) text file distribution network |
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Please distribute widely. Permission freely granted to reprint
with or without attribution. Eli and Anna Zhadanov are anxious to speak
with the media, appear on radio talk shows, etc. Media are invited to fax
them at the fax number given in the article, or to contact John Paff for
other contact options.

John T. Paff
j.paff1@genie.com
908/873-1251 voice

Sam Zhadanov, a 70 year-old plastics engineer, immigrated to
Brooklyn from the Soviet Union in 1973. He founded Vortex Products
in Metuchen, NJ, which manufactured plastic products for the likes
of Drexel University, Milton Bradley and Shenley Distributors. He
has patents on many medical devices, including a safety syringe
that prevents the spread of disease. He's currently in federal
prison, serving a five year sentence for conspiracy to distribute
illegal drugs.

In late 1990, Vortex accepted an order to produce little plastic
vials. Zhadanov who has never been arrested or even seen illegal
drugs, was told that the vials were for perfume samples. The
federal government, however, thought that they may be used to hold
small quantities of crack cocaine. According to Reason Magazine ("A
Vial Crime," Jacob Sullum, May 1995, pp. 31-36), "the entire case
against Zhadanov rests on this distinction. The government does
not even allege that he or any of the other defendants in the case
ever saw any crack, let alone sold it."

When Zhadanov first learned in 1992 that plastic vials could be
used by drug users and dealers, he became alarmed, stopped
production and contacted attorney Martin Spritzer of Edison, NJ
(908-287-1177). Spritzer confirmed in writing that Zhadanov could
not be held criminally responsible for an illegal end use of a
legal product. Based on this information, Zhadanov permitted
production to resume.

Zhadanov was arrested in his Brooklyn apartment in the early
morning of May 19, 1993. He was tackled and handcuffed by federal
and state agents while still in his underwear. In addition to
making the arrest, the federal government seized his cash, personal
bank accounts, the Metuchen factory, the factory equipment and the
land the factory was located on. After the arrest, federal agents
systematically contacted Vortex's customers. Most of the customers
canceled their orders after learning about the charges.

Zhadanov maintained his innocence, and insisted on a trial.
However, in December 1993, he agreed to plead guilty to some of the
charges against him. His understanding was that he would not
receive jail time, and that his wife, Anna, would not be charged.
As part of the deal, he agreed to forfeit the seized property.
Despite this understanding, Zhadanov was sentenced to five years in
federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas N. O'Neill
(215/597-2750), sitting in Philadelphia. The individuals who
purchased the vials from Vortex and distributed them were given
much lighter sentences.

Controversy surrounds the circumstances relating to Zhadanov's
plea. Zhadanov's son, Eli (fax 908/862-8191), points out that his
father's criminal attorney, Peter Ginsberg, of the New York firm of
Gold & Wachtel ( 212-223-3311), who was recently a federal
prosecutor, made a deal with prosecutors that permitted Ginsberg's
firm to be paid out of one of Zhadanov's accounts that had been
frozen by the government. Without this agreement, Gold & Wachtel
may not have been paid their fee.

According to Eli, his father's criminal case file shows that
certain documents filed by Ginsberg have been sealed by Judge
O'Neill. When revealed, these documents may show the extent of the
feds' pressure on Ginsberg to secure Sam's guilty plea. Even from
a stance most skeptical of Sam's case, one has to wonder about the
nature of these sealed documents, and why they were placed under
seal to begin with.

Zhadanov was placed in Allenwood Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery,
PA, in January 1995. After losing his appeals (without a hearing
on the merits), he announced a hunger strike to begin on January
18, 1996. The morning of his announced strike, he was transferred,
via private jet, to the mental ward at the federal prison in
Lexington, KY (606-255-6812). After being informed by Zhadanov's
new attorney, Peter Goldberger of Ardmore, PA (610/649-8200) of
several violations of the rules regarding hunger strikes, prison
warden Arthur Beeler (606-255-6812) ordered Sam moved to the prison
hospital. Zhadanov's transfer to the hospital was also brought
about after the Bureau of Prisons was contacted by the offices of
Congressmen Gerald Solomon (R-NY-22, phone 202/225-5614) and
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-8, phone 202/225-5635).

A recent story in the National Review (January 29, 1996, p 10)
quotes Sam Zhadanov as saying: "For much of my life I endured the
oppression of the former Soviet Union. Now I am reliving that
experience in my new home, where I came in search of liberty and
justice."

This is how the story stands as of the date of this writing,
January 24, 1996. Sam Zhadanov can receive mail at

Sam Zhadanov, Reg# 42489-053
FMC Lexington
3301 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511
 
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