medpot
08-26-2008, 07:07 AM
The Peterborough Examiner (http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1172430)
Letters to the Editor (http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/feedback1/default.aspx?e4=an_editorialemail)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Area man in U. S. jail on drug charge
Authorities found $2M in marijuana in rented truck
Posted By GALEN EAGLE EXAMINER COURT WRITER
The U. S. government is trying an Ennismore man as a drug mule after Wyoming police pulled over a speeding U-Haul truck in May, finding 369 pounds of high-grade marijuana worth an estimated US$2 million.
Christopher Kyle, 33, is currently in custody in a county jail about 120 kilometres northeast of Cheyenne, Wyo., U. S. Department of Justice U. S. Attorneys spokesman John Powell told The Examiner.
He has been charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
"He is in our custody. He has not made a plea as of yet," Powell said. "At this point we're looking to go to trial."
Kyle was arrested May 2 in Douglas, Wyo., a small rural community of about 5,000 people.
A sheriff's deputy stopped Kyle for speeding on an interstate at about 6 p. m., according to the Wyoming newspaper Casper Star- Tribune.
The deputy called for backup and a police dog alerted officers to the marijuana in the U-Haul, where officers found about $8,000 in cash as well, the newspaper reported.
Wyoming's Converse County Sheriff's office declined an interview, saying it could not comment on cases currently before the courts.
Tim Hill, a special agent with the Casper, Wyo. office of the Division of Criminal Investigation, said the marijuana has a street value of about $2 million US. "It was ultra high-grade marijuana," said Hill. "It's all marijuana bud."
It was likely Kyle was passing through Wyoming to another destination, Hill said, adding he also couldn't comment further because the case was now before the courts.
Beverly Hills, Calif. lawyer William Kroger, who specializes in clients facing serious drug charges, is representing Kyle.
On his website, Kroger can be seen posing with a large amount of marijuana. A caption reads: "not only did Mr. Kroger successfully argue that the case should be dismissed but also that the marijuana should be returned to his client."
Kroger declined an Examiner interview request.
"I am sorry but we have a policy to not comment on any of our cases," Kroger stated in an e-mail. "It goes against the most sacred principle of the attorney/client privilege."
The ball is now in Kyle's court, Powell said. He can either plead guilty or go to trial.
"We're waiting to hear from his defence attorney on what they would like to do next," Powell said. "At this point we do not have anything from his attorney saying he is willing to plea."
If found guilty, Kyle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in jail and a maximum of 40 years, Powell said.
He could also face a fine of up to US$2 million, Powell said.
But mandatory sentences can be reduced if a defendant cooperates with the government, Powell said.
"I can't say that's what has happened in this case, but that would be something we look at in any case," he said. "We would just say he has cooperated with our investigation and for that we recommend a downward departure from the mandatory sentence."
Powell said he does not know why Kyle was in Wyoming or where he was headed.
"No, we don't know."
Obviously the marijuana wasn't for personal use, he said. "Considering the amount of a marijuana, it's considered to be an intent to be distributed. It's more than personal use, obviously," Powell said.
Powell said he could not comment on evidentiary issues and did not want to jeopardize a possible plea bargain.
"That would be part of the investigation itself ... if there is a consideration of a plea bargain, we're not allowed to talk about that," he said.
Article ID# 1172430
Letters to the Editor (http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/feedback1/default.aspx?e4=an_editorialemail)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Area man in U. S. jail on drug charge
Authorities found $2M in marijuana in rented truck
Posted By GALEN EAGLE EXAMINER COURT WRITER
The U. S. government is trying an Ennismore man as a drug mule after Wyoming police pulled over a speeding U-Haul truck in May, finding 369 pounds of high-grade marijuana worth an estimated US$2 million.
Christopher Kyle, 33, is currently in custody in a county jail about 120 kilometres northeast of Cheyenne, Wyo., U. S. Department of Justice U. S. Attorneys spokesman John Powell told The Examiner.
He has been charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
"He is in our custody. He has not made a plea as of yet," Powell said. "At this point we're looking to go to trial."
Kyle was arrested May 2 in Douglas, Wyo., a small rural community of about 5,000 people.
A sheriff's deputy stopped Kyle for speeding on an interstate at about 6 p. m., according to the Wyoming newspaper Casper Star- Tribune.
The deputy called for backup and a police dog alerted officers to the marijuana in the U-Haul, where officers found about $8,000 in cash as well, the newspaper reported.
Wyoming's Converse County Sheriff's office declined an interview, saying it could not comment on cases currently before the courts.
Tim Hill, a special agent with the Casper, Wyo. office of the Division of Criminal Investigation, said the marijuana has a street value of about $2 million US. "It was ultra high-grade marijuana," said Hill. "It's all marijuana bud."
It was likely Kyle was passing through Wyoming to another destination, Hill said, adding he also couldn't comment further because the case was now before the courts.
Beverly Hills, Calif. lawyer William Kroger, who specializes in clients facing serious drug charges, is representing Kyle.
On his website, Kroger can be seen posing with a large amount of marijuana. A caption reads: "not only did Mr. Kroger successfully argue that the case should be dismissed but also that the marijuana should be returned to his client."
Kroger declined an Examiner interview request.
"I am sorry but we have a policy to not comment on any of our cases," Kroger stated in an e-mail. "It goes against the most sacred principle of the attorney/client privilege."
The ball is now in Kyle's court, Powell said. He can either plead guilty or go to trial.
"We're waiting to hear from his defence attorney on what they would like to do next," Powell said. "At this point we do not have anything from his attorney saying he is willing to plea."
If found guilty, Kyle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in jail and a maximum of 40 years, Powell said.
He could also face a fine of up to US$2 million, Powell said.
But mandatory sentences can be reduced if a defendant cooperates with the government, Powell said.
"I can't say that's what has happened in this case, but that would be something we look at in any case," he said. "We would just say he has cooperated with our investigation and for that we recommend a downward departure from the mandatory sentence."
Powell said he does not know why Kyle was in Wyoming or where he was headed.
"No, we don't know."
Obviously the marijuana wasn't for personal use, he said. "Considering the amount of a marijuana, it's considered to be an intent to be distributed. It's more than personal use, obviously," Powell said.
Powell said he could not comment on evidentiary issues and did not want to jeopardize a possible plea bargain.
"That would be part of the investigation itself ... if there is a consideration of a plea bargain, we're not allowed to talk about that," he said.
Article ID# 1172430