Thread: CA-Willows pot defendant now in federal custody

Willows pot defendant now in federal custody
By GREG WELTER
Posted: 09/23/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT


WILLOWS — A man sentenced to probation earlier this month on marijuana possession charges, then ordered held by immigration authorities when it was learned he was in the U.S. illegally, is now in federal custody.
Ricky The Chu, 35, was picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at the Glenn County Jail Sept. 16 and transported to a federal detention facility in Southern California.

Chu, reportedly a native of Vietnam, was arrested in January on suspicion of cultivating marijuana in the basement of a building he rented in downtown Willows, and inside a home he rented near Artois. Pot plants worth more than a million dollars at maturity, and more than $82,000 in growing equipment, was confiscated from the two locations.

Officials said Chu never opened his business in a space above the basement, to be called the ".99 Cents With Value" store.

Chu initially pleaded not guilty to cultivation charges and, through his family in the Bay Area, hired noted San Francisco attorney Terence Hallinan to represent him.

A plea bargain was reached in August, with Chu confessing to charges of marijuana possession and theft of utilities. He received five years probation, plus time served. A three-year state prison term was suspended.

Chu was processing out of the Glenn County Jail when his immigration status came to light.

Glenn County sheriff's Sgt. James Miranda said ICE officers mentioned that those detained on immigration charges can


sometimes get out on bail until their status is determined, but didn't know if Chu would be eligible.



http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_13399295

They found out he is an IA but law enforcement is restrained from taking the logical action of investigating the immigration status of 'his family'.