Man agents say was busted with 77 kilos of cocaine is freed on promise to appear in court
A man who DEA agents said was recently busted with 77 kilos of cocaine in Texas before helping agents bust another man Monday at an Ann Arbor hotel was released Tuesday on a promise to appear in court.
Khanh Le, who is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute approximately 77 kilos of cocaine, was given a $25,000 unsecured bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen during a hearing Tuesday in federal court in Detroit, court records show.
Mach Tan Le, who was arrested at the hotel after allegedly accepting a delivery of cocaine from Khanh Le, is facing the same charge and has agreed to be detained without bond, records show.
It's unclear whether the men are related. DEA agents have not released details about the bust, including the name of the hotel or ages of the men, citing an ongoing investigation.
According to affidavits by DEA Special Agent Brent Halbert, Texas Department of Public Safety officers found 77 kilos of cocaine in Khanh Le's car during a traffic stop Friday on I-40 in Oldham County, Texas. He had initially refused to consent to a search of his car, affidavits say, but officers brought a drug-sniffing dog to the scene. He decided to cooperate with agents and make the delivery in Ann Arbor, affidavits say.
Khanh Le must comply with a number of conditions under his bond, including limiting his travel to Minnesota, where he lives, and the Eastern District of Michigan. He also must check in regularly with pretrial services, said Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit.
Attorney Rhonda Brazile, who is representing Khanh Le and Attorney Robert Kinney, who is representing Mach Tan Le, could not immediately be reached for comment this morning.
Both men are scheduled to return to court on May 2.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
a2baggagehandler
Fri, Apr 15, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
wow, winning
Chandelle
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 : 10:09 p.m.
I am speechless....
IRISH DONN
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
"Man agents say was busted with 77 kilos of cocaine is freed on promise to appear in court" Again, the system has failed! This guy will not show up for court! For having 77 kilos of cocaine he would spend the rest of his life in prison! I would not show up for court if I were him! Of course he "promised" because by doing so it got him released! Stupidity by the court and the judge! What a bunch of suckers!
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 : 12:41 p.m.
I'm speechless.
RJA
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 : 12:58 a.m.
HUH? WHAT? Am I really reading what I just read?
Fat Bill
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
Quick, lets get a pool going... how many days till he's officially absconded...
ronaldduck
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 10:57 p.m.
If he's got any brains at all he's already gone home to Laos. Otherwise he's in for a long spell in federal prison.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
Judging by the headline, this doesen't even deserve a comment.
Roadman
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 6:04 p.m.
If he was cooperating with the DEA, the United States Attorney's Office would likely not contest an unsecured bond allowing him to go free. The magistrate almost always defers to the government's position if the prosecuting official agrees to release the defendant.
treetowncartel
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.
That guy is a mark on the streets. The feds probably freed him so they can follow him and see if the supplier's goons try and take him out. He should have stayed in lock up, got some credit for time served and be closer to his life in the witness protection program.
zip the cat
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
Well all I can say is if the feds are going to release someone caught with 77 kilos of coke then they should release Monica conyers and let her serve her remaining 30 months at home. And while there at it let Kwame out. I am at a loss as to whats going on in the courts local/federal. If I were a law officer I would be looking for another job. Why spend all your energy on a judical system that rewards the crooks. Any one who has the funds to buy 77 kilos of coke has the funds to not show up.
Wolf's Bane
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 5:44 p.m.
April 1st was a over a week ago! C'mon, get real... A2.com
Meli
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:50 p.m.
REALLY?! Busted with 77 kilos of cocaine and all it takes is a "promise" to appear in court? What a joke.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:38 p.m.
Wow what bail bondsman is going to front that? They're not from the area, are on the hook to their suppliers for a boatload of money, and they're being allowed out on bail?!!?? PLEASE PLEASE tell me this is a setup so the law can see who they contact or come in contact with because otherwise by their own hands or by their supplier's, these two are going to disappear...
Garrett
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
Khanh Le, is the one cooperating with the authorities. He is the one who performed the 'controlled' delivery of the coke after he was busted with it in Texas. So it makes sense they'd give him the option. The other guy, not so lucky.
1bigbud
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Trust Me i Mailed the Check Yesterday
alan
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
Ohhhh, okay. As long as he checks in I guess we're all set. I can't get my daughter to call when she's going to be late.
John of Saline
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 3:08 p.m.
Seriously?