LATE president Michael Sata’s nephew Henry Kasolo faces up to 40 years in an American prison after pleading guilty to one count of trafficking in 100 grams of heroin from Lusaka to the United States.

Kasolo, who was arrested in the US, is facing five counts of conspiring to import various quantities of heroin into that country in addition to conspiracy, aiding and abetting with others unknown.

According to a plea agreement entered into by Kasolo and the American government, he has agreed to plead guilty to the importation of 100 grams of heroin which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years and a minimum of five years, in addition to a fine of US$5 million, among others.

“The defendant agrees to plead guilty to Count Two of the Indictment, charging the defendant with Importation of 100 grams or more of heroin, a Schedule one controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952(a) and 960(a). The maximum penalties for this offence are: a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 40 years of imprisonment, a fine of $5,000,000, forfeiture of assets as outlined below, a special assessment pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 3013, and a minimum supervised release term of four years. The defendant understands that any supervised release term is in addition to any prison term the defendant may receive and that a violation of a term of supervised release could result in the defendant being returned to prison for the full term of supervised release,” read the agreement.

It was noted that Kasolo pleaded guilty because he actually committed the offence and admitted the facts within the statement of facts.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that beginning in and around 2019, and continuing thereafter up to and including June 25, 2021, the exact dates being unknown to the grand jury in Prince William County, Virginia, and elsewhere, Henry Kasolo, did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with others, both known and unknown, to unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally import into the United States, from a place outside thereof, one kilogramme or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule one controlled substance.

The indictment stated that the primary purpose of the conspiracy was to import heroin into the US from Zambia, Africa, using various methods.

According to the indictment, in furtherance of the conspiracy, and to effect the objects thereof, the defendant and his co-conspirators committed overt acts in the Eastern district of Virginia and elsewhere.

It states that on or about November 29, 2019, Kasolo shipped a parcel via UPS from Lusaka, Zambia to an address in Manassas, Virginia, containing approximately 488 grammes of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.

Count two involves the importation of heroin, aiding and abetting where it is alleged that on or about November 29, 2019, and continuing until on or about December 4, 2019, in Prince William County, Virginia, within the Eastern District of Virginia, Kasolo did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally import into the United States from a place outside thereof, and aid and abet the importation of 100 grammes or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule one controlled substance (in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 952(a) and 960(a), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2).

In count three, it is alleged that Kasolo, unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally imported into the United States from a place outside thereof, and aid and abet the importation of, 100 grammes or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

In count four, it is alleged that on or about July 31, 2020, and continuing through on or about August 14, 2020, Kasolo did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally import into the United States from a place outside thereof, and aid and abet the importation of 100 grammes or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

In count five, it is alleged that Kasolo on or about May 4, 2021, and continuing through on or about May 11, 2021, knowingly, and intentionally imported into the US from a place outside thereof, and aid and abet the importation of, 100 grammes or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

The grand jury also ordered that upon conviction, Kasolo shall forfeit to the US all firearms and ammunition used in or involved in the commission of the offence.