Unfortunately, the latest word is that George Norris has been sentenced to
over a year of prison time, I think a year and 7 months.....This is after
pleading guilty to a charge of what is basically, to my understanding,
nothing more than the mislabelling of Phrags to expedite their processing by
officials at the US port of entry....propagated plants that would have been
cleared eventually anyway with proper paperwork. Regardless of propriety, I
fail to see the purpose in jailing a 65 year old man whose "crime" has hurt
no one, not even the "endangered" plants he "smuggled"....( From what I
gather, all the confiscated plants were allowed to be sold...would that have
happened if they had been truly collected and smuggled in? ). Assuming he is
guilty, as he plead, I find it inconceivable that this is a crime that
cannot be dealt with by a fine, or community service...I'm sure that George
will appeal, but the very concept of such a sentence applied in this kind of
situation depresses me to no end. Take care, Eric Muehlbauer in Queens,
NY...paphs in bud, and getting cool at last....
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