JOHN EB. HUNT WASHINGTON OFFICE:

ist District, NEW JERSEY Room 1440
LONGWORTH BUILDING

t
COMMITTEE: TELEPHONE: 225-6501

ARMED SERVICES Congress of the Gnited States rg a io a

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT House of Representatives yee ce emp
Gash titgton, D.C. 205 1 5 GLOUCESTER COUNTY OFFICE:

67 CoorpeR STREET
Woopsury, NEW JERSEY

August 22 PY 1973 TELEPHONE: 845-0200

Mrs. Mary Wilson

Woodbury Country club
Cooper Street

Woodbury, New Jersey 08096

Dear Mary:

With reference to Stephen's case, I have been ad-
vised by the State Department that he was arrested June 24
in Mexico on charges of possession, transporting and traffick-
ing narcotics. The case is consigned, which means it can come
up for a hearing and sentencing at any time between the time
of arrest and one year from that date. It is my understanding
that he is scheduled to be transferred in the near future to
Nogales, Mexico.

Now as to the financial points you raise in your
letter. Any fee between a lawyer and client is personal and
there is no way to gauge what a normal charge might be. As
for other payments, if a person is sentenced to less than
five years and if the prosecutor and defense attorney agree
they do not intend to appeal the decision, under Mexican law,
bond can be set by the court. This also varies, depending
upon the judge and the seriousness of the charges. The
prisoner may then elect to serve his sentence or to pay the
bond and be set free. Technically, the prisoner is supposed

to report to a parole officer once a month but it is my under-
standing that if the prisoner leaves the jurisdiction of the

court, this is not enforced.

That is the status at the moment, Mary, and I am sorry
it is not a more encouraging report. The only thing I can advise
you is not to pay any money to anyone without first checking to
make sure it is legitimate. The lawyer's fee, of course, is a
personal matter and the only other payment possible would be the
bond, if Stephen's sentence is for less than five years and if
he decides to pay the bond rather than serve the sentence.

With warm personal regards, I remain

iS

Mefhber of Congress