Unconditional bail is set at $500,000 for one of three men charged in connection with a drug operation in Rochester.
Antoine Lamont Caradine, 33, of 607 Fifth Ave. S.E., was arraigned on a string of drug charges Thursday. Winona District Judge Jeffrey Thompson set the unconditional bail at $500,000 and granted Caradine's request to be represented by a public defender. An evidentiary hearing is set for June 11.
Caradine is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree sale of drugs, first-degree controlled substance crime, two counts of second-degree, two counts of third-degree and two counts of fifth-degree sale of drugs between Oct. 7 and Dec. 11, 2009.
He is accused of conspiring with Lorenzo Eugene Heard, 29, of Mableton, Ga., and Charlie Trilane Brady, 31, of 223 18th St. S.W., in the drug operation.
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Heard and Brady. Heard is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree drug offense, first-degree sale of 50 grams or more of amphetamine, phencyclidine or hallucinogen; two counts of second-degree sale of drugs and one count of felony theft. Brady is charged with a single count of second-degree controlled substance crime for allegedly conspiring with Heard in the sale of amphetamine, phencyclidine or hallucinogen.
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The complaints detail a narcotics investigation, which included controlled buys by an informant who was outfitted with an electronic transmitter and allegedly purchased the drugs using money provided by the Southeast Minnesota Narcotic and Gang Task Force, who were on surveillance during the various transactions.
All three men have prior criminal convictions. Brady was convicted in 2003 of second-degree drug offense and is on pre-trial release now for charges of third-degree controlled substance crime.
Caradine was convicted in 1996 of aggravated robbery, in 2001 of second-degree drug offense, 2005 of motor vehicle theft, and in 2007 of third-degree drug offense and a felony fleeing a peace officer. Heard was convicted in 2000 of third-degree assault and in 2006 of robbery in Cobb County, Ga.
