THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250408
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
A Texas man was ordered released on bond Wednesday after being indicted for allegedly supplying as much as 1,500 pounds of marijuana to Hampton Roads.
Victor Manuel ``Manny'' Sanchez was indicted earlier this month for conspiring to deliver marijuana to the area between June 1994 and November 1995.
Sanchez, 42, was ordered released by U.S. District Judge Richard B. Kellam after his attorney argued that he had extended family in El Paso, some of whom had pledged to forfeit property if he fled. Sanchez also has steady employment in the air conditioning and heating business there.
Sanchez was arrested March 19 in El Paso as part of a large-scale investigation by the FBI, Norfolk police and Virginia Beach police. He allegedly sent shipments of marijuana to Hampton Roads, sometimes by UPS. Shipments from 30 to 125 pounds arrived up to two times per week.
Court papers charge that Sanchez would often have larger quantities shipped by truck from El Paso, then meet the driver in Norfolk to unload the marijuana into a storage unit on Croft Street, near Norfolk International Airport.
Sanchez allegedly was paid via Western Union or would receive payments - up to $25,000 at a time - in person when he flew into Norfolk to supervise delivery of truck shipments.
Prosecutors said the government fronted more than $5,000 to purchase marijuana from Sanchez, who traveled to and from Norfolk using assumed names. Investigators kept him under surveillance and taped numerous conversations in which Sanchez arranged to deliver the drugs.
A search of his home in Texas turned up one of the marked bills used to purchase drugs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Comstock told the judge Wednesday that Sanchez purchased the drugs in Mexico, then crossed the border near El Paso to pick up the drugs from a warehouse.
Defense Attorney Bernard Panetta, from El Paso, said the amount of drugs in the case was between 400 and 700 kilos - 882 to 1,543 pounds. The street value is estimated at $1,500 a pound. If Sanchez pleads not guilty and is convicted he could face up to 40 years, Panetta said. However, if he cooperates, he could get as little as four years.
Court papers show that relatives posted about $160,000 of real estate and $15,000 cash to ensure Sanchez's appearance for his trial June 17. Sanchez has no significant criminal history.
Judge Kellam said in his order that there was no evidence Sanchez would not appear for trial or posed a danger while out on bond. As conditions of bond, Sanchez must maintain his employment, report weekly to authorities and not carry a gun. by CNB