A Red Deer man has reserved his plea on five charges relating to the discovery of a large amount of cash in a furnace.
Leonard John Desjarlais, 36, returns to Red Deer provincial court on May 13 to enter a plea on one count of possession of proceeds obtained by crime, two counts of uttering forged documents and two counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon.
He made his first appearance on Thursday after he was charged late last month.
Red Deer city RCMP were contacted on Nov. 25, 2009, when a repairman discovered a “large sum” of cash in the furnace of a vacant house in Red Deer’s Michener Hill area.
Police said earlier that Desjarlais approached police claiming to be the owner of the money, and while attempting to prove it belonged to him, allegedly committed fraud.
When police searched the home, they found the money stashed in a furnace.
The money is believed to be connected to the drug trade. Mounties also found illegal weapons and documents in the home.
RCMP’s general investigation section, organized crime unit and drug squad executed a search warrant and also seized documents, data, two prohibited weapons and the cash.
Desjarlais was arrested and released from custody.
RCMP said earlier the accused is a local Hells Angels Nomads member.