RETURETA & WASSEM, PLLC

FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES INDICTMENT AGAINST

ZHENLI YE GON WITH PREJUDICE

Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia today dismissed all criminal charges against Zhenli Ye Gon with prejudice.  As a result, the United States Department of Justice will be unable to renew its prosecution of Mr. Ye Gon at a later date.

Agents of the United States government arrested Mr. Ye Gon in Wheaton, Maryland on July 23, 2007 while he was dining in a restaurant.  Several days later, a single count indictment was filed in Case No. 07-181 charging Mr. Ye Gon with aiding and abetting the manufacture of methamphetamine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.  Throughout the two years of his harsh confinement, Mr. Ye Gon has steadfastly maintained that he was not guilty.  Prior to his arrest, Mr. Ye Gon owned and operated a successful pharmaceutical company in Mexico, Unimed Pharm Chem Mexico.

Fifteen months after his arrest, Mr. Ye Gon retained prominent criminal defense attorneys Manuel J. Retureta, Esq., A. Eduardo Balarezo, Esq., and Leigh Anne Wassem, Esq.  Since entering their appearances in October of 2008, Mr. Ye Gon’s defense team has worked tirelessly to defend him.  Mr. Ye Gon and his attorneys are extremely pleased by today’s developments. 

              Nearly two years after Mr. Ye Gon’s arrest, the Department of Justice filed a motion requesting leave to dismiss its case against him without prejudice on June 22, 2009.  While the government’s motion clearly showed that federal charges should never have been filed against Mr. Ye Gon, it would have permitted the Department of Justice to renew its prosecution at a later time.  As a result, Mr. Ye Gon’s defense team filed several pleadings vigorously and successfully arguing that the circumstances surrounding his case required that it be dismissed with prejudice, in order to preclude such later prosecution.  Earlier this week, Judge Sullivan inquired whether the Department of Justice would consent to dismissing its case with prejudice.  Today, the Justice Department announced that it agreed to do so.

            Mr. Ye Gon wishes to express his gratitude to the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan, who throughout the proceedings against Mr. Ye Gon has employed both extraordinary judicial insight as well as humanity in his fair handling of Mr. Ye Gon’s case.  In addition, Mr. Ye Gon would like to extend his appreciation to Sandra K. Levick and Catharine F. Easterly of The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, as well as the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia, A.J. Kramer.

            Mr. Ye Gon intends to vigorously contest the extradition proceedings pending against him, and shall fight his forced return to Mexico, where he believes there is a reasonable probability that he will be unable to receive a fair trial.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

RETURETA & WASSEM, P.L.L.C.

MANUEL J. RETURETA, ESQ.

202.450-6119

MJR@RETURETAWASSEM.COM