News briefs for Oct. 30, 2002

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002 | 11:16 a.m.

Utah man pleads guilty in meth case

A St. George, Utah, man has pleaded guilty to his part in a conspiracy to sell a drug used in making methamphetamine to illegal drug manufacturers in four states, including Nevada.

Michael Uzan, 43, entered his plea to conspiracy and money-laundering charges in U.S. District Court Tuesday. He was ordered to forfeit $6.5 million, a 2001 Porsche Boxster, a 2002 Jaguar sedan and a home in St. George.

Uzan was indicted in Las Vegas on Oct. 10, 2001, and charged with conspiracy, distribution and possession of pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant that can be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Between March 2000 through September 2001 Uzan, who owned MDI Pharmaceuticals in Dillon, Mont., is alleged to have conspired with a group of defendants to ship pseudoephedrine to small stores in Las Vegas, Utah, Colorado and Michigan for the purpose of selling the drug to methamphetamine manufacturers.

Man injured as SUV hits bus

A 36-year-old Las Vegas man was in serious condition this morning at University Medical Center after his sport utility vehicle rear-ended a Citizens Area Transit bus about 7:40 p.m. Monday at Nellis Boulevard and Nellis Oasis Lane, Metro Police said.

The bus was stopped in the right travel lane when Robert Glidewell, driving a Ford Explorer, rear-ended it. Glidewell, who was not wearing his seat belt, was taken to UMC.

The bus driver, Veolonda Fuller, 23, was treated for moderate injuries. Two passengers were treated for minor injuries, police said.

Alcohol may have been a factor in the collision, police said.