Knoxville man arrested after federal agents raid his downtown businesses
WATE.com, TN
By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter
07/16/06
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A prominent downtown businessman surrendered to authorities Sunday after federal agents raided three of his businesses.
Scott West, the owner of several Market Square businesses is being held in the Blount County after turning himself in to authorities Sunday afternoon in his lawyer's office.
He was arrested on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering.
His brother, Mike West and a sister- in-law have also been charged.
Scott West was in Atlanta on business when he got word that agents from the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation division, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Drug Enforcement Agency were raiding his home and businesses.
Officers were seen carrying boxes of papers and computer equipment out of the businesses in Market Square and loading them into a rental truck.
One eyewitness, Jonathan Nicolosi, described the raid, saying, "It kind of felt like a terroristic raid in a sense."
Nicolosi, who lives above Oodles Uncorked, said loud banging on the door next to his woke him up at 8:00 Sunday morning. "I saw the door to my landlord's loft battered open by a battering ram, with a big dent hole in the door, if you will."
By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter
07/16/06
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A prominent downtown businessman surrendered to authorities Sunday after federal agents raided three of his businesses.
Scott West, the owner of several Market Square businesses is being held in the Blount County after turning himself in to authorities Sunday afternoon in his lawyer's office.
He was arrested on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering.
His brother, Mike West and a sister- in-law have also been charged.
Scott West was in Atlanta on business when he got word that agents from the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation division, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Drug Enforcement Agency were raiding his home and businesses.
Officers were seen carrying boxes of papers and computer equipment out of the businesses in Market Square and loading them into a rental truck.
One eyewitness, Jonathan Nicolosi, described the raid, saying, "It kind of felt like a terroristic raid in a sense."
Nicolosi, who lives above Oodles Uncorked, said loud banging on the door next to his woke him up at 8:00 Sunday morning. "I saw the door to my landlord's loft battered open by a battering ram, with a big dent hole in the door, if you will."
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