] Actor Tommy Chong of the spaced-out dope-smoking comedy
] duo "Cheech & Chong" pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a
] federal conspiracy charge of selling drug paraphernalia
] over the Internet.
]
] Chong, 64, of Pacific Palisades, California, and his
] family-run business, Nice Dreams Enterprises, admitted to
] conspiring to sell marijuana pipes via Web site
] promotions that featured the comedian's celebrity
] endorsement.

] U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab set a sentencing
] hearing for Sept. 11 and released him on $20,000 bond.
]
] Chong's plea represented a public relations victory
] for a local federal program called "Operation Pipe
] Dreams," which targets drug paraphernalia sales. The
] operation, which began in 2000, has 17 cases pending,
] most from the Pittsburgh area.

Free Chong!