Millionaire Is Indicted in Drug Case

A grand jury yesterday indicted Zhenli Ye Gon on charges of aiding and abetting a conspiracy to make methamphetamine that would be sold in the United States. The charges carry a possible sentence of 40 years in prison.

The 44-year-old Chinese-born millionaire, who is now a Mexican resident and owner of a major Mexican pharmaceuticals company, was arrested Monday in a Wheaton restaurant based on identical charges in a criminal complaint that U.S. officials filed against Ye Gon in June. He is wanted in Mexico on related charges that through his pharmaceutical business, he supplied international drug cartels with chemicals to make methamphetamine. The charges came after a March raid of his Mexico City mansion, where Mexican authorities seized $207 million in cash.

Yesterday's indictment does nothing to substantially change Ye Gon's status, other than solidify U.S. rights to prosecute him. The indictment also includes prosecutors' claims that, if Ye Gon is convicted of the drug manufacturing charges, he would have to forfeit any profits from his illegal drug business to the U.S. government.

Martin F. McMahon, one of Ye Gon's attorneys, reiterated yesterday that his client is being framed by Mexico's ruling party. McMahon said that much of the $207 million seized in Ye Gon's home was part of a presidential campaign slush fund and that party officials ordered him to conceal the money from investigators.