87-Year-Old Man Claims He Was Forced At ‘Gunpoint’ to Transport $2.9 Million in Cocaine
- Posted on October 25, 2011 at 6:16pm by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
Leo Sharp
An 87-year-old Michigan City, Indiana, man is embroiled in a bizarre case after he was arrested in Michigan with 104 bricks of cocaine in his pickup truck (worth about $2.9 million).
But Leo Sharp, the unsuspecting elderly man at the center of what is shaping up to be a bizarre legal battle, told a judge that he was forced at “gunpoint” to carry the drugs.
On Monday, Sharp could barely contain himself in the courtroom, as he ardently attempted to defend himself.
It seems he’s not the only one who is surprised by the allegations waged against him. His attorney, Ray Richards, says that Sharp’s age is somewhat unprecedented — at least in his experience. “This will be my first actual drug case where the accused is this old,” Richards explains.
The Detroit Free Press has more about Monday’s court appearance:
In court, Sharp did not offer a full explanation about what happened. But at one point, he tried telling U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Randon that he was forced at gunpoint to haul the cocaine, until his lawyer stepped in and advised him to just answer the judge’s questions.
Richards said this was Sharp’s first time in the federal court system, and his client likely was confused by the questioning.
While he was released on bond, three days after he was stopped for improper lane use while driving alone on Interstate 94 near Chelsea, 60 miles west of Detroit, his legal troubles are far from over. Still, he told the Associated Press that he’s innocent after he made his way out of the courtroom.
The incident unfolded when Sharp was stopped last Friday. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says that troopers, with the help of a drug-sniffing dog, discovered the mass amount of cocaine in his truck.
A criminal complaint signed by a DEA agent is thin on details, and there was no mention in court about Sharp’s destination.
Sharp is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute the drug. If convicted, he could spend at least 10 years behind bars. But he seems more than ready to fight the allegations.
In fact, he apparently says that he wants to write a book about the debacle.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Comments (22)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 679 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 635 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 360 Comments
Have You Seen the Giant ‘Sand Obama’ Sculpture in Charlotte? 311 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 134 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 183 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 146 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 134 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
PDfromToledo
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 1:13pmhe’s 87 years old … he did it for the money…
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 6:36pmInteresting. The government and some it’s most highly elevated “law enforcement” agencies are implicated in (what I’d call a treasonous act) against Americans. Yet they would have you believe that THIS guy is a criminal for trying to save his own life.
While THEY did it for their own glorification. Now, I’m not a genus, but on the surface, this seems a bit ‘off’ to me.
“Americans” are suspects but law enforcement that PROMOTES crime (fast and Furious) are not suspects. Like I said, I’m not a genus. But something just smells wrong here.
Report Post »lookatthefactsjack
Posted on October 27, 2011 at 8:14amSo the old guy hauls the coke under threat of death, then drives in the wrong lane so he gets stopped by the cops. hmmmm. I wonder if the bad guys are gonna make good on their threat?
Report Post »blazingaway
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 5:40pmThe Feds have become the problem.
Report Post »They are using more and more force to control people.
They allow the drugs and drug lords to destroy and control the people.
Ultimately, they want to control everyone who is not one of them.
They protect the rights of the criminals and walk all over the rights of the public.
They attempt to trick and intimidate the public and bend over backwards to accommodate the criminals who have the money to buy them and own them
common cents
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 5:30pmImproper lane use is exactly what I got stopped for in Co. back in July.
Report Post »I was stopped by a K-9 unit for driving in the fast lane (apparently it’s the law in Co.)
No one behind or in front of me. The officer separated me and my wife, then accused us of having stories that didn’t match.. He lied to us to try to get us to change our stories.
He also asked where we were from, where we were going, where we have been and on what days etc.
When we got home from Vacation I called to complain and was told this is the new normal?
Really, the new normal is Violation of Constitutional rights?
LB
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 12:59pmThere must be a national threat that we are not being told about. Maybe the arrest of that Iranian assasination ring has uncovered all the radical rings in our country so the gov. is uping the searches ie. TSA roadside checks etc.. They do it in such a way they think we are not aware our rights are being limited.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 1:29pmThe Feds are moving all the dope.
Period.
Abolish Federal Government “security” agencies, they’re corrupt.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 12:52pmsounds like a set-up
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 12:28pm“he was stopped for improper lane use”? Then the cops get a drug sniffing dog out for an 87 y/o man? Were they bored or what? This whole thing sounds ginky.
Report Post »kalli
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 3:59pm@GONZO:
Report Post »My thoughts exactly.
tinch
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 11:50amNever know, but he does seem pretty old to be hauling that amount CC. I would think that one he was getting a pretty fat check to haul it or yea he was forced to….
I also wonder what the hell is improper lane usage? And again why bring on the drug dogs how many 87 year old gang bangers are out there? Damn Old folks you cant trust a one of them…Oh sorry that was racist….
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 12:05pmIf guilty, then he’ll cause every elderly citizen to be regarded as a potential threat. Nice going champ!
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 11:13amWow! What a defense.
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:20amProbably held the gun on himself while he was driving…..
Report Post »kickthecan
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:10amSo, what exactly is “improper lane use”? What made a State Trooper so suspicious that an 87 year old man was hauling drugs that he called for drug sniffing dogs? Something’s goofy here.
Report Post »common cents
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 5:27pmImproper lane use is exactly what I got stopped for in Co. back in July.
Report Post »I was stopped by a K-9 unit for driving in the fast lane (apparently it’s the law in Co.)
No one behind or in front of me. The officer separated me and my wife, then accused us of having stories that didn’t match.. He lied to us to try to get us to change our stories.
He also asked where we were from, where we were going, where we have been and on what days etc..
c0mm0nsense
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 9:09amWhere is the old man’s Background Check in this report? Tell me in 87 years report of a drug dealer would not be interesting?
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:24amThese drug thugs always entrap our kids into selling drugs and such! Now it’s the elderly! Anything to push the blame on everyone else for their illegal activities! The price of your freedom is worth more than anything!
Report Post »raybojabo
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 8:19amNice try ,old fart. We’re supposed to believe that a drug lord just handed over 3mil in cocain to the first octagenarian that came along and said “Here, take this to Grandma’s house?”
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 10:36amRay, when they threaten your family, your children, your wife, if you do not do this they will all be dead. What would you do?
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 3:18pm@ hunter –
Report Post »I must have missed the part of the article about his family being threatened, or even any mention of a family!!!!!!!!!
lukerw
Posted on October 26, 2011 at 1:27amHe must have a fear… of dying!
Report Post »