Three men were arrested October 8th, 2013 on suspicion of possession with intent to distribute cocaine: Vincenzo Salzano (left), Armando Salzano (center), and Mohammad Nekouie (right). All three withdrew motions this week in state district court.
(East Baton Rouge Parish Jail)
Baton
Rouge Police officer Luke Cowart and K9 Roux assisted in the search of
the plane and found 10 kilos of cocaine, which hadn't been located in
the initial search.
Three Colorado men arrested this month in Baton Rouge after a search of their small plane turned up 72 pounds of cocaine have withdrawn court filings that might have triggered dual prosecution in both Louisiana and federal courts.
If the drug case is taken up in both state and federal court, the men could face two separate prison sentences, one on top the other.
The state hasn’t filed formal charges against the men, but the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office still technically could. The suspects remain in state custody, but a federal hold on them will keep them locked up if the state decides to hand over the case to the feds.
Vincenzo Salzano, the 55-year-old apparent owner of the plane; his son, Armando Salzano, 32; and his son-in-law, Mohammad Nekouie, 32, each remain booked in East Baton Rouge Parish prison, where they’ve been since October 9th, 2013, on a $1 million state bond.
All three suspects, each with a different attorney, had asked for a bond reduction hearing and pretrial examination -- a hearing to determine whether there was probable cause to make the arrest -- which was set for Thursday in 19th Judicial District Court Judge Richard Anderson’s courtroom. The proceedings could have prompted formal charges from the state, had motions played out.
East Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor John Russell said he was prepared Thursday to prosecute both Salzanos in hearings on their motions, but was notified Wednesday their defense attorneys sent a written request to Judge Anderson’s office withdrawing the motions.
Had the pretrial examinations taken place, any testimony presented in state court could potentially have been used during a federal trial.
In his original motion for a bond reduction, Armondo Salzano said he was willing to move his family, including his wife and three young children, to East Baton Rouge Parish for the duration of the court proceedings. Vincenzo Salzano and Nekouie also said they could reside in the parish and stay with family members, which could help assure the court they wouldn't flee if released on bond.
The case could potentially be handed over to the U.S. Attorney General as early as Thursday.
The men were arrested October 8th, 2013 on suspicion of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to Louisiana State Police and affidavits of probable cause. They were flying from McAllen, Texas, to Atlanta on a Beechcraft 58P Baron, and stopped to refuel in Baton Rouge.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) notified Louisiana State Police that an aircraft with a suspicious flight pattern was going to land at the airport. Officials met the plane when it landed, searched the plane and discovered 71.8 pounds of cocaine, according to records.
The suspects have hired lawyers from three local firms. Vincenzo Salzano is represented by James Boren of the Morris Bart firm. Armondo Salzano is represented by John Di Giulio of the Manasseh, Gill Knipe Belanger firm. Nekouie is represented by John McLindon of Walters, Papillion Thomas Cullens firm.
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