An 89-year-old man caught by authorities with 200 pounds of cocaine is expected to plead guilty to drug trafficking in a Detroit court, the Washington Post reported.
Leo Sharp of Michigan City, Indiana was caught with the load of drugs on Interstate 94 in Washtenaw County in 2011. After a state trooper pulled him over for a driving violation, he reportedly said to the officer "Just kill me and let me leave this planet."
Sharp's next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday and is one of 19 people under indictment. The government alleges he is responsible for the transportation of 1,400 pounds of cocaine to Michigan between 2009 and 2011.
Magistrate Steven Whalen told Sharp he could spend the rest of his life in prison and may have to pay a $10 million fine if convicted.
As he entered court two years ago for arraignment, he told reporters "They forced me to take it," referring to drug dealers who he claim threatened to harm his children and grandchildren if he didn't do what they ordered.
Sharp, a farmer, said he intially became caught in the scheme after a friend of one of his employee's approached him in Florida.
"He asked me if I was busy. I said 'Not as busy as I'd like to be,'" said Sharp, who was told to drive to Raleigh, N.C. and pick up luggage filled with cash.
From there he drove to Arizona, where he left the luggage and picked up bricks of cocaine along in addition to more money and a slip of paper including a freeway exit number in Detroit. He said he was not directly threatened with weapons, but the intent of the people he was working for was obvious.
"I knew what they were into," Sharp said.
While driving near Chelsea in Washtenaw County, he was pulled over for improper lane usage on Oct. 21. Eventually a police dog was brought in and sniffed out 104 bricks of cocaine, which Sharp said was seized along with money he was carrying.
