N.C.: Man charged with drug trafficking here illegally, but
Man charged with drug trafficking here illegally, but released before immigration officials arrive
Published: Friday, October 23, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 23, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.
Wilmington | An undocumented Jamaican arrested Thursday by the Wilmington Police Department and charged with marijuana trafficking was able to post bond and get out of jail before he was flagged by immigration officials.
Lesbert Miller, who police believe is 47 years old, was arrested about 10:30 a.m. Thursday during a drug bust in the 1200 block of Dock Street, according to a police news release. At the scene, police confiscated two packages containing about 40 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $32,000.
Miller was taken to the New Hanover County jail and held in lieu of $60,000 bond. He had what appeared to be a valid Jamaican passport, but told officers that he was in the United States illegally, said police spokeswoman Lucy Crockett.
Officers at the jail ran Miller’s name and fingerprints name through various databases, but they had no hits, Crockett said. Miller was able to post bond before authorities could obtain an immigration detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A detainer ensures that an illegal immigrant will be handed over to federal authorities once local legal charges are resolved. Even if Miller had been placed on an ICE detainer, it doesn’t prevent an illegal immigrant in pre-trail detention from being released on bond, Crockett said.
“We still have protections for everyone in this country to a certain degree, especially before a conviction,â€
