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One brother gets bail, but other is denied
A federal judge says that while the charges are similar, one's arrest history and lack of verifiable income are worrisome.
By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published April 27, 2006
TAMPA - A federal judge denied bail Wednesday for a man accused of buying homes in upscale Tampa Bay neighborhoods to establish a multimillion-dollar drug operation.
Rigoberto Same Jr. is one of 11 people, mostly from Tampa, charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants. Two of the co-defendants in the case include Same's brother, Yasmany "Monny" Same, and their father, Rigo Same.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Jenkins had previously released Yasmany Same on $200,000 bail. Rigoberto Same's attorney asked the judge to release him under similar conditions.
"There's no reason to believe (Rigoberto Same) is more culpable than his brother," said David Weisbrod, Rigoberto Same's attorney.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Porcelli said that both Same brothers had significant roles in the operation.
The brothers purchased the homes and then oversaw setting them up for the marijuana growing operation, Porcelli said. Sometime in 2004, the group began using indoor farms in at least 10 purchased and rented homes and apartments in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties, according to the federal indictment handed up in December.
Rigoberto Same had his first arrest at 17 years old for robbery, and several others since then that involved drug possession and driver's license fraud. Jenkins said she also felt uncomfortable releasing Rigoberto Same because he had a $175,000 mortgage on a home in Tampa that was being paid, and he had no verifiable income.
Besides the Same brothers and their father, other co-defendants are Herbert Ferrell Jr., Mynor Bonilla, Delvys Villafuerte Castellon, Giovanny Caballero, Jose "Johnny Man" Gonzalez, Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Rocco "J.R." Scarley Jr. and Irisleidy "Edy" Morales.
[Last modified April 27, 2006, 02:19:31]
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