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Billionaire faces drug charges after hotel-room raid

On Behalf of | Aug 16, 2018 | Drug Charges

While many people in Maryland may think of drug charges as something more likely to affect poor or marginalized people, one billionaire was arrested on drug trafficking charges in Las Vegas on Aug. 9. Henry Nicholas, the founder of Broadcom Inc., was arrested by police at the Encore hotel. They allege that heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine were all found in his hotel room. Nicholas was arrested along with another woman in the room.

Nicholas was later released from custody, and a hearing in the case was scheduled for September. His lawyer noted that they were currently gathering facts before making a statement about the case. This is not Nicholas’ first brush with the law. Previously, he was accused of other drug offenses as well as improperly backdating stock options. He previously entered rehab for alcoholism, and media outlets tracked allegations against him by former colleagues and co-workers. However, he has also advocated for legislation to increase the rights of crime victims.

The 59-year-old man is known for founding Broadcom, a semiconductor manufacturer, in 1991 with $5,000 of his own money. Since that time, the firm has become one of the largest tech hardware producers in the world, and its chips are found in a wide range of devices. He retired from the company in 2003 and his net worth is listed at $3.1 billion.

People who are accused of drug crimes may face severe consequences, including incarceration, heavy fines and a felony criminal record. A criminal defense lawyer can help people dealing with drug charges to develop a strategy to combat the allegations, which could include a challenge to the constitutionality of the search that led to the seizure of the drugs.