A Truly Bizarre Way to Fight Drugs

A Chicago man who was unsatisfied with the efforts of local police to combat drugs took the following steps, described in a Seventh Circuit opinion released Thursday:

Farris mailed letters to the principals of five different Chicago schools. Sent between September 15 and 17, 2003, the letters contained threats to kill unnamed students and one unnamed teacher. Each letter bore the return address of a residence where Farris had observed drug trafficking. In response to the threats, the schools suspended all outdoor activity, increased security, formulated alternate evacuation plans, detailed teachers to assist students’ arrival and departure, and directed that the principals personally open all mail. These precautionary measures remained in effect for two weeks.

Very clever indeed. Fight drugs by threatening to kill students and teachers. Makes perfect sense. Anyway, the court upheld the ten year prison sentence he earned through this nifty strategy. The case is called U.S. v. Farris.