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Kyle Lindquist -- #05498-041
24 Years -- Marijuana Conspiracy
My name is Kyle. I'm a 36-year-old male. Before my arrest in 1992, I was married, raising my 3 children and working as a self employed Excavating Contractor. Living in the rural Midwest, I had a 160 acre ranch with 50 head of cattle. I am now divorced and serving a 24 year sentence in federal prison without possibility of parole. I was convicted for a conspiracy to possess and distribute 1000 kilos of marijuana, although there was no marijuana evidence in the case. Other people simply said that I sold them marijuana and they were given sentences ranging from 9 months to five years.
On the morning of June 20th, 1992, about 30 Federal agents arrived at my house armed with automatic weapons and search warrants. They pulled my children out of bed and made them sit on the kitchen floor while they ransacked the house. Although they never found so much as a seed of marijuana, they seized my home, putting my wife and children in the street. They came with wreckers and trucks and took our cars and any vehicles of value. They also took tools, our photo albums, pictures off the wall, jewelry, birth certificates of our children, and none of these things were ever returned to my family. Over the next 30 days, business and personal bank accounts were seized, leaving my homeless family completely destitute. I was never given bail and have been incarcerated since.
In September of 1992, my home was sold by the government to the highest bidder even though I had not been found guilty, nor pled guilty to any crime. As I write this letter, I can't help but think that had I committed murder, rape, child molestation, armed robbery, burglary -- I would not have received such a long sentence as I received. I would not have lost my home and everything my family owned, leaving my children homeless. The question I ask myself everyday is for what? All of this destruction for a marijuana conviction?
In closing I would ask that any citizen who may read this and agree that our current drug policy needs to be changed - please take the time to contact your state and federal representatives. It would not only save BILLIONS of tax dollars, it would bring an end to the destruction of millions of people's lives. Not only the convicted drug offender, but the mothers, fathers, wives and children who are also left devastated.
P.S. Have you ever heard anyone call for the legalization of robbery, rape, murder, child molesting, or abuse? I would guess not! But we sure have lots of people calling for legalization of drugs in America, don't we?
Kyle Lindquist passed away, still imprisoned, in November 2003. Kyle was one of the first prisoners of the drug war featured on The WALL section of our web site. Our condolences to his family.
24 Years -- Marijuana Conspiracy
On the morning of June 20th, 1992, about 30 Federal agents arrived at my house armed with automatic weapons and search warrants. They pulled my children out of bed and made them sit on the kitchen floor while they ransacked the house. Although they never found so much as a seed of marijuana, they seized my home, putting my wife and children in the street. They came with wreckers and trucks and took our cars and any vehicles of value. They also took tools, our photo albums, pictures off the wall, jewelry, birth certificates of our children, and none of these things were ever returned to my family. Over the next 30 days, business and personal bank accounts were seized, leaving my homeless family completely destitute. I was never given bail and have been incarcerated since.
In September of 1992, my home was sold by the government to the highest bidder even though I had not been found guilty, nor pled guilty to any crime. As I write this letter, I can't help but think that had I committed murder, rape, child molestation, armed robbery, burglary -- I would not have received such a long sentence as I received. I would not have lost my home and everything my family owned, leaving my children homeless. The question I ask myself everyday is for what? All of this destruction for a marijuana conviction?
In closing I would ask that any citizen who may read this and agree that our current drug policy needs to be changed - please take the time to contact your state and federal representatives. It would not only save BILLIONS of tax dollars, it would bring an end to the destruction of millions of people's lives. Not only the convicted drug offender, but the mothers, fathers, wives and children who are also left devastated.
P.S. Have you ever heard anyone call for the legalization of robbery, rape, murder, child molesting, or abuse? I would guess not! But we sure have lots of people calling for legalization of drugs in America, don't we?
Kyle Lindquist passed away, still imprisoned, in November 2003. Kyle was one of the first prisoners of the drug war featured on The WALL section of our web site. Our condolences to his family.
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Obituary: IN LOVING MEMORY OF KYLE B. LINDQUIST
DATE OF BIRTH: June 20, 1960
DATE OF DEATH: November 25, 2003
Kyle. B. Lindquist, a former longtime East End Superior (WI) resident, died Tuesday, November 25, 2003 in Kansas.
He was born on June 20, 1960, in Superior to Byron "Sam" Lindquist and Lorain "Roatch" Lindquist and had lived in Superior most of his life.
He was a self-employed equipment operator.
Kyle loved fishing, hunting outdoors and was an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
He is survived by two sons, Kyle. Lindquist Jr. and Lyle Lindquist, both of Wrenshall; one daughter, Candice Lindquist, Wrenshaw; his mother Lorain Lindquist, Superior; three sisters, Alice Barnard, Paulette Frickart and Penny Jo Lieble, all of Superior; his former wife, Debra Dow, Wrenshaw; six nephews, David and Loren Frickart, Steven Biedel. Zachary and Jacob Lieble and Tom Barnard, five nieces, Vanessa and Naomi Lindquist, Kathy Barnard, Kelly Frickart and Samantha Lieble, nine great-nieces; special best friend and brother-in-law Wally Barnard; three aunts, Nancy Missling, Joann Blazevic, Selma Keup; and two uncles, Dallas and Donald Roatch.
Kyle was preceded in death by his father, Byron "Sam" Lindquist; two brothers, Lyle "Buzz" Lindquist and Tommy Lane; maternal grandparents, Sadie and Thomas Roatch and his paternal grandparents, Oscar and Olga Lindquist.
Kyle is interred at Greenwood Cemetery in his home state of Wisconsin.