The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "drug deal" ...
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A story of hope, and a lopsided deal
A six-month Boston Globe investigation revealed that a contractor from California was repeatedly employing impoverished, drug-addicted men from an evangelical church to renovate hotels across the country. The story started in Boston, where reporter Casey Ross discovered that the contractor, Installations Plus, was paying illegally low wages to workers trucked up from Victory Outreach Church in Philadelphia. He also traced the illegal behavior to other Massachusetts communities and then to California, where he spent several days tracking down Victory Outreach members who recalled working for the contractor in that state. The result of his reporting was a richly detailed narrative that took readers into a little-known corner of America’s underground economy. After the story’s publication, the state of Massachusetts announced an effort to strengthen labor enforcement against companies that fund and manage projects where significant violations are found. In addition, California labor officials initiated an investigation into the employment practices of Installations Plus.
Tags: Economy; low wages; contractor; workers
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Off Track: Clandestine Racing in California
This story delved into an unknown world of illegal and clandestine horse racing happening on private tracks throughout the state of California. The straight-track races occur on properties throughout the state. KCRA uncovered a world where drug deals, prostitution, illegal gambling and animal cruelty are the norm. KCRA got the point of view of investigators and a veterinary scientist who found that horses were being dosed with mixtures of cocaine and methamphetamine. Added to this was the fact that few local law enforcement know it's happening and state investigators don't have the resources to stop the racing from happening.
Tags: Horse racing; drug deals; prostituion; gambling; animal abuse; veterinary science; cocaine; methamphetamine
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Carnival Safety Investigation
Inside Edition sent a producer with hidden cameras to work at several traveling carnivals around the country where he uncovered major drug use by some of the carnival ride operators. In addition to capturing "ride jockeys" abusing (and dealing) drugs just minutes before they began operating major thrill rides popular with children and young adults, our producer also observed several serious safety issues inherent in the traveling carnival industry. Among these safety issues were questionable hiring practices, inadequate training policies and dangerous mechanical issues on multiple rides.
Tags: carnival safety; public safety; ride jockeys; drug use; sex offenders; ex-con; traveling carnivals;
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Methadone Clinics
WCAU-TV "documented drug dealing going on right in front of a drug rehabilitation clinic in Pennsylvania" where a patients are treated with liquid methadone. "There's evidence some patients at this clinic and across the state ...are selling their doses to addicts on the street."
Tags: drugs; addiction; liquid methadone; drug dealing; rehabilitation; clinics; state government; death; health;
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Prince George's County Coverage
In Maryland's Prince George's County, county Executive Jack B. Johnson "awarded 51 county contracts totaling nearly $3.3 million to 15 of his friends and political supporters, some of whom had no expertise in the field." The Washington Post investigates Johnson's dealings, further finding that he and other officials from the same county "used county-issued credit cards to pay for personal expenses totaling thousands of dollars," including plane tickets, clothing, video rentals and prescription drugs. These charges were seldom repaid in the county's mandated deadline of 10 business days.
Tags: Prince George's County; Jack B. Johnson; personal credit-card usage
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Generic Drugs: Shop Around For the Best Deals
Consumer Reports examines the high cost of generic drugs, with the understanding that "some generic drugs cost pharmacies just pennies per pill, but they can turn around and sell them to people who lack insurance for as much as they wish." Consumer Reports asked 132 pharmacies around the U.S. their prices for five common prescription generic drugs. Costco is the least expensive pharmacy, charging $52 for a 30-day supply. Online distributor teldrug.com was the most expensive, charging $228 for the same generic drugs. The story gives consumers this information to aid in their search for the best deal on generic drugs.
Tags: generic drugs; price gouging; pharmacies; Costco; teldrug.com
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Degrees of Justice
Higgins told the story of Charles Plinton, a graduate student at the University of Akron. The story begins when Plinton was suspended for selling marijuana to a police informant just weeks after being acquitted of felony drug trafficking charges. The story ends with his suicide a year later on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Tags: drugs; education; graduate school; drug dealing; courts; trial; public records
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Burning Rainbow Farm: How a Stoner Utopia Went Up in Smoke
Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm were the owners of Rainbow Farm, a 52-acre campground and concert venue with the mission of advocating the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. Their activities included holding events on the property, events at which attendees smoked marijuana and which trumpeted many uses for hemp. Though the two men did not sell or deal the drug, these activities drew the ire of the local Cass County, MI prosecutor, who began to focus efforts on getting Rainbow Farm shut down. Rohm's son was taken away from the two men, and a series of legal pushes by the police ended in a standoff at Rainbow Farm. In the end, FBI snipers shot and killed both men, who had burned Rainbow Farm to the ground in an act of protest. Author Dean Kuiper examines the buildup to the fateful standoff, and discusses what Rainbow Farm's purpose was in this book. Ironically, this story was widely reported in the Midwest before the events of Sept. 11, 2001 pushed it off the front page. Yet Kuiper stuck with it to produce this story.
Tags: Cannabis; hemp; marijuana; drug legalization; Ruby Ridge; Waco; Tommy Chong; stoner; FBI
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FEMA's Inspectors Included Criminals
In a continuing investigation of misapplied FEMA funds following the 2004 hurricanes that hit Florida, the Sun-Sentinel found nearly 25 percent of government damage inspectors had criminal records for "embezzlement, drug dealing and robbery," among other crimes. These inspectors were the government's defense against accusations of fraud when Miami-Dade received $31 million in relief even though hurricane-force winds did not strike the county.
Tags: FEMA; hurricane relief; Miami-Dade; disaster aid; fraud