Kendall Craig Farris (Booking Photo / June 12, 2009) |
REDONDO BEACH -- The founder of a Marina del Rey-based anti-drug organization has been busted in an undercover drug sting.
Kendall Craig Farris is charged with selling pills to an undercover Redondo Beach police detective.
The 47-year old former addict is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the Over the Wall Foundation.
He was arrested Tuesday at the Starbucks coffee shop on Sepulveda Boulevard in El Segundo.
The bust was made after Farris handed over an envelope in exchange for $480 dollars.
The envelope was supposed to contain methamphetamine and Ecstasy.
Inside it was filled with rock salt and antihistamines.
Farris won praise from local agencies for turning his life around to preach against drugs to schools and youth groups.
He started Over the Wall in 2007 after overcoming 15 years of drug and alcohol abuse that landed him in prison.
He was convicted of various crimes, including robbery, theft and forgery, which he said he committed to fund his drug habit.
While in prison, he wrote a book, "Drugs, Kids and Crime: Surviving our Drug Obsessed Culture," which drew attention from schools and youth groups.
After his release, Farris started giving talks about his experience and even developed a workshop program.
Betsy Spier, a marriage and family therapist who is on the Over the Wall board of directors, said she was shocked by the arrest.
She said she did not know if Farris had relapsed or needed money, but that he had having trouble sustaining the foundation.
Kendall Craig Farris is charged with selling pills to an undercover Redondo Beach police detective.
The 47-year old former addict is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the Over the Wall Foundation.
He was arrested Tuesday at the Starbucks coffee shop on Sepulveda Boulevard in El Segundo.
The bust was made after Farris handed over an envelope in exchange for $480 dollars.
The envelope was supposed to contain methamphetamine and Ecstasy.
Inside it was filled with rock salt and antihistamines.
Farris won praise from local agencies for turning his life around to preach against drugs to schools and youth groups.
He started Over the Wall in 2007 after overcoming 15 years of drug and alcohol abuse that landed him in prison.
He was convicted of various crimes, including robbery, theft and forgery, which he said he committed to fund his drug habit.
While in prison, he wrote a book, "Drugs, Kids and Crime: Surviving our Drug Obsessed Culture," which drew attention from schools and youth groups.
After his release, Farris started giving talks about his experience and even developed a workshop program.
Betsy Spier, a marriage and family therapist who is on the Over the Wall board of directors, said she was shocked by the arrest.
She said she did not know if Farris had relapsed or needed money, but that he had having trouble sustaining the foundation.
