Businessman Freed of Cocaine Charges

The federal government accused a Michigan businessman of shipping tons of cocaine across the Pacific Ocean. Agents seized his home, two cars and a sailboat.

But, after a San Diego judge dismissed the charges, Thomas W. Lane may sue the government for false arrest. Lane, 56, also wants back more than $220,000 in property seized by drug agents, said his attorney, Grant Gruel.

Last November, Lane was indicted in San Diego after the Coast Guard seized 700 pounds of cocaine from his 45-foot sailboat as it sank about 300 miles off Mexico.

However, Coast Guard officials said an additional 3,700 pounds of cocaine went down with the Swiftsure, which the two-man crew set ablaze before jumping overboard.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration claimed the shipment was the fourth in two years arranged by Lane. They alleged that Lane captained the maiden voyage.

U.S. District Judge William Enright in San Diego dismissed the charges without prejudice last week at the prosecutors’ request.

Lane’s attorney said the government dropped the case because two witnesses--the Swiftsure’s crew--failed polygraph tests.

Arthur Young, 46, of San Diego, and Freddy Sanchoyerto, 25, of Hialeah, Fla., both pleaded guilty to drug charges and face sentencing Aug. 10 in San Diego.