Accused cocaine trafficker asks home confinement be lifted as too 'burdensome'
A federal judge has refused to allow the lead defendant in a six-person federal drug trafficking indictment to be released from home detention and location monitoring, disagreeing with his contention that those conditions are "unduly burdensome." U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab on Monday ruled that the conditions will remain for Leon C. Ford, 55, formerly of Pittsburgh, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos or more of cocaine.
He was indicted in the fall with five others, all middle-aged and all facing at least 10 years in prison time because of prior drug convictions. Some could potentially receive life terms. Ford, who was convicted in federal court in 2000 of the exact same offense, faces a mandatory minimum 15 years this time.
A magistrate judge had released him on a $25,000 bond with conditions of home confinement and GPS monitoring. He and his lawyer argued that the conditions were a burden for him because they limited his ability to visit his grandchildren and other family members.
The government said, however, that there are "serious safety and flight concerns" that favor keeping Ford on home detention and monitoring. The 15-year sentence is one of those, prosecutors said, and the seriousness of the crime and his criminal history are others. Prosecutors said the release conditions are "clearly not burdensome."
Judge Schwab agreed, although he said there's nothing to prevent Ford from asking his probation officer if he can visit his grandchildren.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2022/01/31/Accused-cocaine-trafficker-asks-that-home-confinement-be-lifted-as-too-burdensome-U-S-judge-says-no/stories/202201310084