Story Archive

Old Enough to Know Better

A major sting operation led to the arrest of 18 alleged drug smugglers, including Leo Sharp, who was convicted of hauling nearly $3 million worth of cocaine across the country for a Mexican cartel. On his 90th birthday, Sharp was sentenced to three years in federal prison. “I’m really heartbroken I did what I did. But it’s done,” Sharp said. “I won’t live in prison, I’m just going to end my life if I end up there.” U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds explained that she couldn’t justify not sentencing him because of his age. “It would be weak for me to say, ‘Well, he’s an old man....’ I think respect for the law requires there be some custody in this case.” Sharp’s lawyer, Darryl Goldberg, made a bid for leniency. “Mr. Sharp is part of a great generation ... before we were even born, he was on top of mountains fighting Nazis,” he said. “That’s not how we honor our heroes whether they’ve fallen from grace or [not].” (MS/Detroit Free Press) ...He’s right: running drugs is not a way for him to honor the heroes he served with.