News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2004

Laboratory Supply Company Sentenced

The Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA San Francisco Field Division, Mr. Gordon Taylor, announces that Mark A. Kesel, and All Discount Laboratory Supply (ADLS) were sentenced on August 6th for conspiracy to distribute chemicals, equipment and other materials used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The first count of the conspiracy was a violation of Title 21, United States Code, section 846, and the second count was conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 1956(h). The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken following a guilty plea to two counts of the superseding indictment returned on 10/16/2002 by an Oakland federal grand jury.

Judge Wilken sentenced Mr. Kesel to six months home detention, and three years probation. Additionally, Mr. Kesel agreed to forfeit $1,150,000.00. Mr. Kessel’s sentence included a downward departure from the applicable sentence due to the substantial assistance Mr. Kesel provided to the government.

Judge Wilken entered a judgment of forfeiture against ADLS in the amount of $11,748,771.00 and ordered ADLS to dissolve, disband and cease to exist, and all assets of ADLS were forfeited to the government.

Acting SAC Gordon Taylor stated: “The dedication to duty and the attention to detail of the DEA agents, and the personnel of all the other Agencies involved, made this case possible. The DEA will continue to target methamphetamine violators, whether they are involved in the manufacturing or distribution of this scourge. Methamphetamine will remain our number one priority in this area.”

Kenneth Hines, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation stated:
" IRS is proud to work in partnership with our fellow law enforcement professionals at DOJ. We will continue to provide the investigative expertise of IRS special agents toward the successful prosecution of illegal drug cases such as this one."

The DEA wishes to thank the United States Attorney’s Office, the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, the former Immigration and Naturalization Department and the Internal Revenue Service for their assistance in this investigation that lasted three years.

Related court documents and information may be found on the District Court website at www.cand.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.cand.uscourts/gov

For further information contact Richard Meyer, DEA Public Information Officer, at 415-436-7900.