Pot suspect has history of just saying yes
Police say man charged in major marijuana bust used charitable donations to mask his alleged crimes
By Glenn Smith
Rashad Muhammad advertises himself as a savvy entertainment promoter and a benevolent businessman active in Lowcountry charitable work, but area police say this is a carefully cultivated front designed to mask the illicit activities of a master drug runner.
Rashad Muhammad has been held at the Charleston County jail since August.
Muhammad, 37, surrendered to North Charleston police this week to face charges of trafficking nearly 500 pounds of marijuana into the city from Arizona.
Some of the weed was found in a van tied to Muhammad; the rest in an Air Park Road office building that is home to his entertainment company, a Masonic lodge over which he presides and a colorectal cancer foundation he started, authorities said.
Authorities said his enterprises and charitable work, including school supply donations to underprivileged kids, have provided cover for a high-volume marijuana smuggling operation.
"This guy is good, and he latches himself onto as many sources and people as he can," said North Charleston police Capt. Patrick Nathan, a veteran narcotics investigator.
"In all my years of working drug cases, he is probably one of the smartest cats I've seen."
The Goose Creek businessman has a criminal record dating to 1993, but he has served little prison time. Four years ago he was arrested on strikingly similar drug charges, only to have the case evaporate before reaching trial.
Previous stories
Police score a pot bust for the ages; Nearly 500-pound cache had street value of $2.2M
Goose Creek man sought in connection with drug case, published 05/19/04
At the time, Charleston County sheriff's deputies alleged that Muhammad arranged to have 634 pounds of marijuana shipped to him from Phoenix. Deputies arrested Muhammad and another man who reportedly tried to retrieve some of the pot from a North Charleston business, where it had been dropped off.
Both men were indicted for trafficking marijuana, but prosecutors eventually dismissed the charges.
Sheriff's Maj. John Clark, then supervisor of the county's metro narcotics unit, said witnesses told investigators that Muhammad was the intended recipient of marijuana shipments.
The Sheriff's Office put many hours into the case and had gone as far as to send a detective to Atlanta to help intercept a marijuana shipment en route to the Lowcountry, he said.
Provided by the North Charleston Police
Nearly 500 pounds of marijuana and several guns were seized by police after they received a tip from federal authorities.
Ed Knisley, the former assistant solicitor who handled the case, said prosecutors were concerned that the evidence wasn't strong enough to take the case to trial.
A decision was made to drop the charges and continue investigating the alleged marijuana operation. Federal investigators were brought in because the case involved a multi-state operation, he said.
"We knew this was a complex, ongoing operation, and our goal was to build a stronger case to move forward," Knisley said.
Muhammad's lawyer in the 2004 case, Eduardo Curry, would only say of the matter, "The court record speaks for itself."
Investigators got a break recently when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents apprehended a man who provided information about Muhammad, Nathan said. ICE agents passed on the information to North Charleston police.
The tip led police on Aug. 20 to stake out the Air Park Road office building leased to Muhammad. It is home to his business, The Invisible Men Entertainment, and the Al Nuir Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry. Muhammad, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, is grandmaster of the lodge, according to its Web site.
At about 11 p.m. investigators chased a van into West Ashley, where it wrecked near a church across from the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site on S.C. Highway 171.
About 276 pounds of pot, taped in 19 compressed bricks, was recovered inside. Back at the office police found another 212 pounds. Authorities also found at least five guns, including a military-style rifle.
Though the driver of the rented van ran off after the crash, detectives already had spotted Muhammad behind the wheel and determined that he was the sole occupant, police said. His fingerprints also were found inside the van, according to arrest affidavits.
Muhammad surrendered to police Wednesday and is charged with two counts of trafficking marijuana, two counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana within a half-mile of a school, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, possession of a stolen pistol and failure to stop for blue lights and siren. He is being held at the Charleston County with bail set at $1.2 million.
Gonzales Waddy, an officer at the Masonic lodge, said Thursday that he was shocked to learn of the allegations. He has never seen a hint of illegal activity around the building and knows Muhammad only as a kind man, he said.
The Web sites for the group and its Grand Lodge, apparently based at the same address, describe a variety of charitable activities, such as help provided to Hurricane Katrina survivors and Thanksgiving dinners for the needy.
The lodge also sponsors an annual Friends and Family Day at Westvaco Park in North Charleston with activities, free food, school supplies for needy kids and literature to steer teens away from drugs.
"I know nothing else about him other than what you see there," Waddy said. "He has always been open and willing to assist anyone in need."
Muhammad's criminal record includes a 1994 conviction for crack cocaine possession and pending charges from May for marijuana possession and resisting arrest. Court records indicate that he also served federal prison time for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
In late 2004, while Muhammad was out on bail on the marijuana-trafficking charges, he was arrested in connection with an unusual holdup.Charleston County investigators said he and another man pulled a saber from a cane with a silver cobra's head to intimidate the owner of J&R Networking on Savannah Highway into handing over a key and registration to a vehicle. Authorities said those charges were later dropped.
Noah Haglund contributed to this report. Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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moonpie (anonymous) says...
What an abomination or obama-nation which is it! He was a great community organizer just like Obama.
August 29, 2008 at 6:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DanniD (anonymous) says...
You have to admit,he was pretty clever...he even gave to the community! Just goes to show you though that all the wrong doing will eventually catch up with you. It is just a matter of time.
August 29, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
Good try moonpie.
It's time to turn marijuana into a legal commodity in this country. Just think of the tax revenues alone! It would put many of our state's tobacco farmers back in business. Legalization would allow much needs funds for local, state and federal law enforcement to be re-routed to bigger issues in our community. Finally, it would add to our national economy.
"But how would it be distributed to the public?" Liquor stores. Maybe we can put all of America's lite-vices into one stop shopping. Liquor, beer, wine, marijuana, cigarettes, pornography, playing cards & poker chips, trans-fat foods all sold legally in a store where anyone under 21 is not allowed in.
It's time to legalize, regulate and tax this crop.
August 29, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deborrah (anonymous) says...
Personally, I am hurt he had a cane with cobra head.
Do you know a low fiber diet causes colon cancer?
I would like to know who is at the root of this operation. He doesn't sound like he had time to grow it.
August 29, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deborrah (anonymous) says...
Legalizing mary jane would only increase crime. A balance diet and life of service would give a better high! Moonpie, it sounds like you have issues. I am discovering I can not take tares for grant. What's eating you?
August 29, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
Good try steve.
This guy sounds like he has studying Mafia 101. Give to the community, make yourself a hero as cover for your criminal activity. Our own little "Teflon Don", it seems...
August 29, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roget (anonymous) says...
Another one off the street. Hopefully for a long time. What a punk.
August 29, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
skeeter (anonymous) says...
It's time for me to move to California where I can smoke my pot in peace.
August 29, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
A wolf in sheep's clothing is what he is.
August 29, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
berthelot (anonymous) says...
Actually Deborah,
The end of the prohibition of marijuana would not increase crime, it would decrease crime. The violent black market of drug dealing has built up as a result of the war on drugs, creating a market for something that people want and can't get in a legitimate way. Ever heard of supply and demand?
By your reasoning the end of the prohibition of alcohol would have resulted in increased violence from Al Capone and the bootleggers but as we all know it did not. It was the opposite effect actually. Beer was suddenly available on every corner and you could buy, sell, produce and distribute it without the use of guns! Furthermore the government began to collect revenue on the sale of alcohol rather than spending absurd amounts to fight it. Either way people were drinking. Either way people are smoking pot. Imagine that.
August 29, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SC_Leigh (anonymous) says...
I agree with Steve and berthelot, legalizing it would only legitimize the business and allow it to be regulated. Pot is really no diffrent than alcohol, they are both a drug, both make you inpaired. People who dont want it legalized probably have never smoked it or know there are less lasting harmful effects than alcohol.I don't even smoke pot, but agree with the right to legalize it so the blackmarket disappears and creeps like this are not selling it to children.
August 29, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southernbelle86 (anonymous) says...
Im not a pothead or anything like that.. but I think it should be legalized too. I mean come on the effects of pot are no where as lethal or as harmful then alcohol. How many people die from smoking pot compared to drinking alcohol? Not many.
August 29, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
1 less Obama vote
August 29, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
Every time I see or smell pot from the scholars at the CoC next door, I call Charleston's finest. Haven't had to do it yet this year, but the number is on speed-dial.
August 29, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasCarolinaGirl (anonymous) says...
Awwwwwwe ... Larz is a narc. :-)
August 29, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasCarolinaGirl (anonymous) says...
Jane ~ Im not a pothead, but I believe that it should be legalized. Do you know anyone on antidepressants? That stuff is way worse for your body than pot. Besides, as said above, if it is legalized, it would be easier to regulate it.
August 29, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
96whaler (anonymous) says...
'Al Nuir Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry'
Let me get this straight: A brick mason smoking weed?
He's got a right to!
Live and let live......
August 29, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
After reading the posts by moonpie and jeff61, I realized that today must be mensa posting day.
August 29, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
Well said Berthelot.
Prisons are overpopulated, and murderers and child molesters are being let out on probation, while pot smokers and pot dealers are being kept in?
What is wrong with our society?
It's simple, violent people should stay in prison.
Pot has never hurt anybody and has never killed anybody.
It's the illegality of pot that causes crime because it's not controlled.
As for this guy, just because he wanted to give back to the society does not mean he was trying to cover up anything.
I got news for you pot bashers. Marijuana has been around for a long time, and it's not going anywhere.
Jesus even smoked it.
August 29, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
ChasCarolinaGirl, well said.
Antidepressants are horrible, and the pharmaceutical companies make billions off them.
They are also forever. You can't stop taking them, or you will become suicidal, or worse, go on a shooting spree.
August 29, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasCarolinaGirl (anonymous) says...
Yeah but imagine how relaxed everyone would be if they smoked pot, which is better for your body b/c it is all natural. ;-)
August 29, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
berthelot (anonymous) says...
Jane, I don't think you understand the point. It is not that "potheads" always want pot legalized, that will always be the case. The point it that the policy regarding the prohibition of drugs is ineffective.
The drug problem in this country can be divided into two categories: 1) Drug use (addiction) and 2) Black market drug dealing. They are not mutually inclusive. If you remove the climate in which a black market economy can operate then you are left with what? People who are stoned. That doesn't affect you. Thugs with guns selling drugs does effect you as well as the entire community.
As far as marijuana there simply isn't enough room on this forum to give the matter a proper debate. I will leave it at this: Marijuana comes up out of the ground because God wanted it to. It it not fermented, cooked, powdered, processed or otherwise manipulated, it is a plant.
August 29, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greengirl (anonymous) says...
aahhh come on guys
legalize it and guys like that won't have much of a business.
i'd like to be able to go down to the Wallyworld and get it.smiles
We could see a resurgence of the old "head shops" of the late sixties.
Groovy--dudes
August 29, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
right on Berthelot.
Prisons are for violent criminals, not peace loving pot smokers.
This will solve the prison overpopulation problem, and will save us billions.
# The U.S. kicked off the new millennium by setting a new record: the nation's prison population now exceeds 2 million - the highest in the world.
Source: The Sentencing Project, Fact Sheet: Prison Populations, available at above site.
# The U.S. now has one of the highest per capita incarceration rates in the world, rivaling that of Russia. Our incarceration rate is more than four times that of Canada, five times that of Britain, and 14 times that of Japan.
Source: The Sentencing Project, Report Data, "Americans Behind Bars: U. S. and International Use of Incarceration, 1995, available at above site.
# Two-thirds of these prisoners are serving time for non-violent offenses.
August 29, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bpwnz (anonymous) says...
How is pot still illegal? A pack a day smoker who enjoys a beer or two after work has more to worry about then a "pothead" as far as health issues go.
Larz13 you suck big balls, big big balls.
August 29, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
The criminalization of marijuana resulted from a conspiracy between liquor and lumber interests in the 1930s to prevent marijuana from competing with drinking and hemp manufacturing to replace tree cutting. The liquor industry funded the silly "Reefer Madness" propaganda film that swayed legislation. We need to legalize it today. Federal and state agents will not support legalization for fear of their job losses. Maybe we could put them on our country's borders to guard us from terrorists and illegals, they could keep their jobs and not have to snoop into lives of Americans who enjoy smoking marijuana.
August 29, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
* Federal, State, and local governments spent $24 billion last year on the incarceration of non-violent criminals (many of them drug offenders) alone. This is 50% more that the entire federal welfare budget, and almost six times the amount the federal government spends annually on child care.
Source: The Justice Policy Institute press release summarizing 1998 report: "America's One Million Nonviolent Prisoners" (available at above site).
* A 1998 study conducted by the public health group Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy (PLNDP), a group of 37 distinguished physicians that includes high ranking officials from the Administrations of Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, shows that on a nationwide average, imprisoning an addict costs $25,900 per year, while treatment costs only $4400-6800 per year.
Source: "Addiction and Addiction Treatment," a report put out by the PLNDP, March 1998 (at above website).
August 29, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
counterpoint (anonymous) says...
moonpie,
WAY out in right field on that one.
At least now we know what the Masons are REALLY up to...
August 29, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
Another young brother that could have done something positive with his life but chose a life of crime. I advocate everyone having a hustle but have a legitimate one. He should have concentrated all his efforts in the good that he was doing. Now, he will be added to the other 1 million brothers that are in prison/jails in the U.S. Sad!
August 29, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPDBLUE (anonymous) says...
He should be also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
August 29, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
I spent a summer on a farm up in Johnsonville in the early 80's. Their primary crop was tobacco. The farmer, and his son, knew that tobacco crops were going to drop dramatically. They researched turning their crop from tobacco to hemp/marijuana production. They discovered that it could be done cheaply, quickly and reap a higher yield, hence profit. Not through just "high" end marijuana, but sales to rope manufactures, natural fiber manufactures and medicinal usages. In other words it would bring to their farm a broader range of clients and help them keep their farm.
This is an economic issue on so many levels. We have many larger issues to work on. Just sayin'.
As to "only potheads want it legalized" = LMAO ~ someone's watched "Weeds" too many times.
August 29, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
" NOBAMA-08 "
August 29, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DanniD (anonymous) says...
"It's Friday, you aint got not job, and you aint got sh#t to do, I'm gonna get you high today."
Friday is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.
August 29, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kallensoul (anonymous) says...
Yeah but he will get off, look at his history. They will make it to where all the good he did will out weigh the bad, and they will let him walk.
August 29, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasCarolinaGirl (anonymous) says...
Puff Puff Give .... lol Friday is a GREAT movie~ The 1st one .. the 2nd one wasnt that great.
August 29, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DanniD (anonymous) says...
you are right the 2nd Friday was not that great...
how come yall never aint got two things that match...peanut butter no jelly, ham no burger.....
August 29, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
riddiksgirl (anonymous) says...
I don't smoke pot. But I feel it should be legalized. Tax the hell out of it. Look at the good it did for the community. Put restrictions on it like they do beer. Crime will go down. No more people being arrested for having weed on them.
August 29, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasCarolinaGirl (anonymous) says...
too funny DanniD!! Great movie!
August 29, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dbenjam (anonymous) says...
using weed money to do positive things in the community...is that really so much worse than what we collectively do as americans in the global community. don't be a hypocrite, and most definitely 'legalize marijuana'!
August 29, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
RW, read my previous posts.
Tax payers are paying much more for the incarceration of pot smokers than their rehab.
Rehab for pot! ha ha ha!!!
Also, to say that all pot smokers use other drugs is just plain wrong. It's just not true.
That's like saying all cigarette smokers are junkies.
August 29, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...
Some people are in such denial. I would love to take a look at the average American's "legal" prescription usage and "legal" drug habits to include alcohol and nicotine. I mean, how is oxycontin legal and cannabis not? How is alcohol, the most dangerous drug statistically speaking, legal and hemp not? Could it be because alcohol lobby essentially runs the much of the country??? Why is it when you go to large concerts there is a beer monopoly there and you can only find the brands of one maybe two of the major distributors??? Freedom of choice becomes a subjective assessment.
One of the commenters a few days ago post this site.
http://www.venusproject.com/ethics_in...
It should be read by everyone who is against the legalization of hemp/cannabis.
Wake up America...
August 30, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bklyn_Don_Dada (anonymous) says...
Well ... Life teaches that anything from the
Earth is Good ... yet the laws are created by the people and for the people ... there is nothing wrong with helping the community even if one is viewed as a Robin Hood or Teflon Don either way the Man should only be judged by the Creator we should as a people respect one another and continue to strive for improving our condition rather than worry about how he may or maynot be involved with this demand of the community ... only a wise person will reserve their judgement till all the fact are uncovered ... Lets not do or feel the way described in the above or below comments and let the truth be revealed ... Peace and Love to that Brother and his Family ... may the Creator Bless him in his time of need ... it is sad when people that dont know someone rush to judge their fellow human being ... I only Fast and Pray that the day will come when this will serve as a learning lesson
September 5, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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