Muhammad charged again
By Glenn Smith
Rashad Muhammad has been held at the Charleston County jail since August.
A local businessman already facing a host of drug and weapons charges in state court now must contend with a federal indictment accusing him of possessing at least 220 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Rashad Muhammad, 38, was arraigned on the new charge Tuesday in U.S. District in Charleston, and he entered a plea of not guilty. A judge ordered him detained while awaiting trial.
Muhammad, operator of Invisible Men Entertainment, has been held at the Charleston County jail since his August arrest by North Charleston police on marijuana trafficking and gun charges connected to the seizure of nearly 500 pounds of weed. His bail on the state charges is set at $500,000.
Muhammad bills himself as a savvy entertainment promoter active in charitable work. But authorities say that's a carefully crafted front for a master drug runner involved in a marijuana pipeline between Arizona and Charleston.
Eduardo Curry, Muhammad's lawyer, said prosecutors have tried to build a case against his client largely on circumstantial evidence and assorted "strange facts." Muhammad maintains he has been wrongly accused, Curry said.
"Mr. Muhammad, his family and his friends firmly believe in his innocence, and Mr. Muhammad is prepared to vigorously defend his character, his reputation and his innocence in court of merit," Curry said Wednesday.
Federal agents called in North Charleston police Aug. 20 after witnessing an apparent drug shipment to an Air Park Road office building that is home to Muhammad's entertainment company, a Masonic lodge over which he presides and a colorectal cancer foundation he started, authorities said.
Investigators found bricks of marijuana in the office building and a van tied to Muhammad, police said. Investigators also seized a military-style rifle, a stolen .38-caliber revolver and three other guns, police said.
The van was abandoned after a chase that ended in West Ashley. Muhammad wasn't with the vehicle when it was found, but investigators said they found his DNA on the van's air bag, a cell phone beside the vehicle and a juice bottle inside.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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desspec (anonymous) says...
Bricks of marijuana, a stolen .38 and three other guns ... What innocence! What character!
January 1, 2009 at 7:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Rashad Muhammad, a name bestowed on him by his parents at his time of birth,acquired during his "conversion" like many others while doing time in prison or (desired scenario by defense) while doing charitable work in the community!
What irks me about this situation is the fact that he has been in jail since August despite a "presumption" of innocence.
If prosecutors have irrefutable evidence he should be brought to trial immediately and if found guilty taken out and shot for all I care.
If he stays in jail for an extended period of time (which already has exceeded four months) and is eventually found not guilty then he has been wrongly incarcerated and how does society make good for robbing a person of a portion of his life?
Our judical system has become so burdened with supposed safeguards against mistrials or wrongful convictions that the constitutional mandate of a speedy trial is all but lost in the shuffle.
In some cases,(televised show trials) just selecting a jury becomes a major event as attorneys endeavor to stack the jury with people who will vote in favor of their position in the case while simultaneously grandstanding for public approval.
In the meantime while all the posturing is going on the accused is locked up or restricted by bond conditions and the attorneys continue to make money and the taxpayers continue to shoulder the other numerous costs associated with the whole screwed up process.
Happy New Year $$$$$
January 1, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
creeker (anonymous) says...
To yird, Have you ever had your DNA linked to a stolen gun or "bricks of marijuana". Society owes this P O S nothing, he put himself there, and if he spends 6oo years in jail it will still not be enough time to encourage him to stay on the right side of the law. Live by the sword, die by it.....
January 1, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WSM (anonymous) says...
What? A man named Mohammad running around with a military style rifle? That can't be true! Wouldn't happen in a million years!
Marijuana? Heh! We know good Muslims don't drink, smoke, or whoremonger! After all, they grow all that opium and hash for the lowbrow infidels.
Besides, we all know that whitey pig police is the reason for crime! I'll bet a Baptist pastor planted that weed in the office, and an AME pastor was really driving the van when it crashed.
January 1, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WSM (anonymous) says...
What? A man named Mohammad running around with a military style rifle? That can't be true! Wouldn't happen in a million years!
Marijuana? Heh! We know good Muslims don't drink, smoke, or whoremonger! After all, they grow all that opium and hash for the lowbrow infidels.
Besides, we all know that whitey pig police is the reason for crime! I'll bet a Baptist pastor planted that weed in the office, and an AME pastor was really driving the van when it crashed.
January 1, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tallblonde (anonymous) says...
Jeesh - what a bias to this story! I bet ol' Muhammad was going to SHARE his 220 lbs of stash - not distribute!!!! ;)
Go for the "share defense" Muhammad! Learn from those that went before you! 7 months in a Georgia facility then back to a North Charleston "half-way" house where you'll meet people you have a lot in common with!
January 1, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
We need to legalize marijuana as soon as possible for sale at marijuana outlets and take away the criminal element. It is fruitless to jail sellers and smokers.
January 1, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by KidYendor on January 1, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to legalize marijuana as soon as possible for sale at marijuana outlets and take away the criminal element. It is fruitless to jail sellers and smokers.
-------------------------------------------
Oh no, no, no, no!!!! We can't have that, marijuana is illegal and addictive!!!
You will have to make do with cigarettes and alcohol... which are also addictive, but legal.
January 1, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
creeker; Hey I agree with you. Take another look at what I said.
"If prosecutors have irrefutable evidence he should be brought to trial immediately and if found guilty taken out and shot for all I care."
========================================================
The point I was trying to make is because of plea bargaining, lengthy jury selection, and over bearing theatrics by attorneys it seems like it takes forever to get a trial in process.
Our Constitution mandates "speedy" trials and prohibits excessive bail.
If an individual is innocent, although I doubt that is the case with this person, they should not have to sit in jail for months before being vindicated.
January 1, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Surfcaster (anonymous) says...
Unfortunately, this pos needs only one acorn.
January 1, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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