Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

April 25, 2007

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TRYING TO SMUGGLE OVER 2.5 POUNDS OF PURE METHAMPHETAMINE ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHT FROM SAN JOSE TO HAWAII

SAN JOSE–United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that Michael James Cade, 27, of East Palo Alto, California pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute of 1,134 grams, that is, over 2.5 pounds, of pure methamphetamine.

According to a criminal complaint, on February 1, 2007, Cade was arrested as he was about to board Hawaiian Airlines flight 43 to Honolulu, Hawaii with six quart-size plastic bags of methamphetamine weighing approximately 3.1 pounds. Transportation Security Administration screeners and San Jose Police Department officers discovered the drugs in the pockets of Cade’s cargo pants while he was going through secondary security screening before his flight. In addition to the methamphetamine, Cade had two cell phones, $10.00, and some miscellaneous items. A lab analysis of the plastic bags showed that they contained 1,134 grams of pure methamphetamine.

On February 14, 2007, a federal grand jury in San Jose indicted Cade on one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(viii). On April 25, 2007, before United States District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel, Cade pled guilty to this charge, admitting that he possessed with intent to distribute 1,134 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Judge Fogel has scheduled sentencing for Cade for July 11, 2007. The maximum statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are 10 years to life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, at least five years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing imposition of sentences, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Matthew A. Lamberti is the Assistant United States Attorney who is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of legal assistant Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and the San Jose Police Department.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.