Leonard William King

William Leonard Pickard, born October 21, 1945, was a central figure in what is considered the largest LSD manufacturing case in history. Prior to his arrest, Pickard held a position at UCLA's Drug Policy Research Program and had an academic background that included studies at UC Berkeley. His early life involved academic achievement, including a scholarship to Princeton, though he left to pursue interests in Greenwich Village jazz clubs. Pickard's involvement with LSD production dates back to the 1960s, with a prior arrest in 1988 for manufacturing LSD in California, for which he served five years. During his imprisonment, he embraced Buddhism. He later enrolled at Harvard University, focusing on drug abuse in the former Soviet Union. Pickard was eventually granted compassionate release in July 2020, after serving 20 years of a life sentence.

Born on October 21, 1945, William Leonard Pickard came from a prosperous family, with his father practicing law and his stepmother a specialist in fungal diseases at the CDC. He excelled academically in high school, earning honors and being recognized for his intellect. Pickard attended Princeton University on a scholarship but departed after one term, opting instead to frequent jazz clubs in Greenwich Village. He later worked as a research manager in the Department of Bacteriology and Immunology at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1971 to 1974. Following this period, his academic and professional history shows a significant gap of two decades.

Pickard was involved in large-scale LSD production, operating mobile laboratories to avoid detection, typically relocating every two years. Locations included Oregon, Aspen, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the Santa Fe site chosen for lower costs, proximity to precursors, and minimal humidity. His operations reportedly produced approximately one kilogram of LSD every five weeks. He dealt with significant quantities of cash, preferring high-denomination bills to minimize bulk. His partner in these operations was Clyde Apperson, who assisted with laboratory setup and dismantling. Pickard's final arrest occurred in 2000 while transporting an LSD laboratory from a former missile silo near Wamego, Kansas.

In December 1988, authorities discovered a substantial quantity of LSD and Pickard at an architectural shop in Mountain View, California, leading to his arrest and a five-year prison sentence for manufacturing LSD. During this time, he converted to Buddhism. After his release, he continued his studies, eventually enrolling at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. His most significant legal case concluded with his conviction in what was described as the largest LSD manufacturing case in history. Pickard received two life sentences, while his partner Apperson received 30 years. Pickard was granted compassionate release on July 27, 2020, after serving two decades of his sentence.

During his imprisonment, Pickard engaged in research concerning civil liberties, justice, and drug-related issues, expressing concerns about the opioid epidemic. He responded to media and academic inquiries on these topics. A website dedicated to his case provided regular updates on his activities until September 2017. In 2015, he published a novel titled 'The Rose of Paracelsus.' Pickard also reflected on his prison experiences, noting the humanity and dignity found within captive populations and the importance of service and courtesy.

“While doing research in unstable regions abroad, amid the chaos, I found my way by noticing the instances of humanity. Captive populations are similar; courtesy and service to others is the only path. ... long-term prisoners, especially the nonviolent who may be captive for decades, somehow retain a certain dignity. In all these years, lost among the thousands, I have seen only one man cry.”

“it was a privilege each morning to teach reading to an illiterate black man in his forties. We laughed sometimes, but always yearned for our families ... He hid Jack and Jill from his cellmate, so others would not ridicule him. I asked why he wanted to learn. He replied, 'So I can read bedtime stories to my children. How very brave h”