Breaking from NaturalNews.com A multi-agency SWAT-style armed raid was conducted this morning by helmet-wearing, gun-carrying enforcement agents from the LA County Sheriff's Office, the FDA, the Dept. of Agriculture and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).
This story is now being followed and widely reported on InfoWars (
www.InfoWars.com) and the Drudge Report (
www.DrudgeReport.com). See updates below...
Rawesome Foods, a private buying club offering wholesome, natural raw milk and raw cheese products (among other wholesome foods) is founded by James Stewart, a pioneer in bringing wholesome raw foods directly to consumers through a buying club. James was followed from his private residence by law enforcement, and when he entered his store, the raid was launched.
Law enforcement demanded that all customers (members) of the store vacate the premises, then they demanded to know how much cash James had at the store. When James explained the amount of cash he had at the store -- which is used to purchase product for selling there -- agents demanded to know why he had such an amount of cash and where it came from.
James was handcuffed, was
never read his rights and was stuffed into an
unmarked car. While agents said they would leave behind a warrant, no one has yet had any opportunity to even see if such a warrant exists or if it is a complete warrant.
Law enforcement then proceeded to
destroy the inventory of the story by pouring the milk down the drain and / or confiscating raw cheese and fresh produce for destruction. Video now posted at NaturalNews.TV:
http://www.naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=A... Learn more:
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UPDATE FROM
HUFFINGTON POST:
This page will continue to be updated as the story develops.
Rawesome foods, a private market in Venice California, has been raided a second time by federal agents. Initial reports from
NaturalNews.com reveal that the owner, James Stewart, has been arrested and is being held on $123,000 bail.
Evan Kleiman, KCRW's "Good Food" producer,
confirms that Stewart has been booked for conspiracy to commit a crime, and that he is not allowed to post a bond to bail himself out of jail.
Sharon Ann Palmer and Eugenie Victoria Bloch of Healthy Family Farms, LCC, were also arrested along with Stewart, reports
South Pasadena Patch. The farm and its owner, Palmer, are charged with producing milk without a license or permit since 2007. Healthy Family Farms is a regular vendor at community farmers markets, notes South Pasadena Patch.
The thirteen count complaint against the group stems from a yearlong sting operation, according to
KTLA. KTLA notes that undercover investigators would make purchases of raw milk, cheese, yogurt, and kefir at Rawesome, even though the market allegedly did not have the proper permits to be selling unpasteurized dairy products.
During the raid, Stefani Perales
(@lovingthenow) tweeted, "Raid is still going on :( They are dumping good Raw Food to waste!"
Objections to the raid are already mounting. Rawesome supporters
organized a protest at the store site today. Others encouraged people to make their voices heard by
calling the California Dept of Food & Agriculture.
