From daylilies to drug courier? More details on 87-year-old found with 228 pounds of cocaine
Leo Sharp, the 87-year-old Indiana man arrested near Chelsea with 228 pounds of cocaine in his truck, is a "colorful eccentric," according to a story in today's Detroit News.
Some of that personality came out during an Oct. 24 court appearance.when his comments made onlookers - including attorneys - laugh, but also prompted his attorney to warn him that he didn't have to talk.
At that hearing, Sharp told a federal judge that he'd been forced at gunpoint to travel with the drugs toward Detroit.
He was arrested Oct. 21 just outside of Chelsea on I-94 when a Michigan State Police trooper pulled him over for improper lane use and following too closely. A drug dog "hit" on the car a short time later.
According to sources in the Detroit News story, Sharp may have been in line to earn at least $100,000 for the trip.
Comments
RJA
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 3 p.m.
LOL, my friends in Austraila will enjoy this story. (they are big into growing daylilies)
snapshot
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
87 years old, what's he got to lose? A "life" sentence turns into long term health care and companionship. A much better late life than many of our elderly we kick to the curb and abuse in their later years. And of course there's always the possibility he is telling the truth. Many elderly folks can be persuaded to do things that clear minded, young, educated, people like the posters here, would think completely irrational. A real punishment for this "criminal" would be to let him go "free".
Mike
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 9:10 p.m.
Good point, maybe all of us uninsured should do it..................
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
Snapshot, did you read the Detroit News story or Google his name with Carefree Vacations? I don't think he is just a poor old man who got talked into something.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
If I was a drug dealer I don't think I'd force somebody at gun point to run my drugs. I think I'd find somebody a little more willing to take on the job. And in either case unless they were on my "regular driver" schedule I would probably be 3 cars behind them the whole trip. I'd be the guy who got off at the next exit and turned around when he got pulled over. By way of disclaimer.... I am NOT A DRUG DEALER.... but i do watch more than my share of cop shows on TV.
Jimmy McNulty
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 1:18 p.m.
Hahaha! Yes Craig, what DO you do in your spare time?
snapshot
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.
Good thing you're not in front of a judge trying to explain that "disclaimer". I imagine the court would have some laughs over it.
a2citizen
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
uh, Mr. Lounsbury, you have the right to remain silent, you have the right to...
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
Just Google "Earl E. Sharp Carefree Vacations". Cooincidence?
unclemercy
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
and i quotes, no results found for "Leo E. Sharp Carefree Vacations".
Marilyn Wilkie
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
Ooops "Leo E. Sharp Carefree Vacations"
RunsWithScissors
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
OMG! He's the doppelganger of actor David Kelley (see "Waking Ned Devine").