Cocaine suspect a Canadian national
By Daily Press staff
Charges were filed Wednesday against the Santa Monica man who was arrested this week for allegedly having more than $5 million worth of cocaine in his apartment.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed one count of possession for sale of a controlled substance against Amir Ali, a 24-year-old middle eastern Canadian national who lives on 18th Street, between Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona Avenue.
The charges also note that the amount of cocaine — 24 kilos — carries more time in jail. Ali faces up to 19 years in jail, said DA spokeswoman Jane Robison.
Ali isn’t charged with intent to distribute because the DA’s office felt there wasn’t enough evidence to get a conviction, Robison said.
“If they had him in the middle of a sting operation, then maybe, but they don’t have enough evidence,” she said.
And although he’s not an American citizen, no additional charges will be filed against him and he will serve jail time, if convicted.
Ali, whose bail was set at $2 million, was transported on Wednesday from Santa Monica Jail to downtown LA for his scheduled court appearance. His arraignment was postponed until Friday so he could retain an attorney, Robison said.
Ali was arrested by police on Monday night after police responded to a suspicious circumstances call from an unknown man. When patrol officers arrived, they located the drugs in Ali’s apartment, said Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Frank Fabrega. Then a search warrant was obtained and police found more cocaine inside the apartment, as well as several thousand dollars. It is unknown how the officers initially found the cocaine or how police gained entry to the apartment.
Ali wasn’t home, but he arrived shortly after police were investigating the scene. When he drove up and saw police, he fled. Police were able to apprehend him shortly after.
— Carolyn Sackariason
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 9, 2003. Read the original PDF.