By William F. Doherty, Globe Staff, 07/15/98

Newton couple who pleaded guilty to marijuana trafficking charges yesterday in US District Court were ordered to forfeit their property and $1 million in cash to the government.

Murray Altman, 46, and his wife, Barbara, 40, were ordered to forfeit their home on Woodland Avenue in Newton, a vacation home in Rindge, N.H., rental property in New Hampshire, their Volvo, two boats, and their antique fire engine.

Murray Altman received a 10-year prison sentence from Judge Richard G. Stearns and Barbara Altman was placed on probation.

Prosecutors said Murray Altman brought large quantities of Mexican marijuana from Texas and stored it in his basement before repackaging and selling it.

Murray Altman also stored LSD and hashish in his basement and frequently cooked the hashish into chocolate bars that he sold or gave away, prosecutors said.

They said he also had a number of semi-automatic handguns.

Two others pleaded guilty in the case yesterday: Frederick G. Brewer, 58, of West Roxbury, was sentenced to two years in prison; Michael P. Kaplan, 46, of Lexington, will be sentenced in October.

This story ran on page B08 of the Boston Globe on 07/15/98.
© Copyright 1998 Globe Newspaper Company.

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