LAUDERDALE LAWYER PONDERS DEAL IN BOCA COCAINE-PLANTING CASE

Fort Lauderdale lawyer Alexandre Lasnaud wants out of jail, and he is
hoping that cooperation with federal law enforcement might help him do that.

Lasnaud, 31, was arrested on Saturday on charges he helped coordinate a
scheme to frame a Boca Raton businessman's former wife by planting cocaine
in her car. The businessman, Gary Robert Gillman, is a client of Lasnaud's
being held in the Palm Beach County Jail on charges he hired someone to
kill his father and his father's girlfriend.

Gillman was trying to set up his ex-wife because he didn't want her to have
custody of their two children, according to court papers.

During his first appearance before a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale on
Tuesday, Lasnaud heard that the U.S. Attorney's Office objected to his
release on bail because they fear the French-born lawyer could obtain a
fake passport and flee the country.

"My mom is in the U.S.; my kids are here. The business I've been working on
for 21/2 years is here. I don't want to go anywhere," Lasnaud told U.S.
Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer.

Lasnaud opted to postpone a detention hearing until Thursday so he could
decide whether he wants to cooperate with authorities. He is charged with
obstructing justice and conspiring to distribute cocaine. He faces a
maximum of 50 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

While in jail awaiting trial, Gillman bailed out his cellmate so that man
could break into the garage at Gillman's ex-wife's home and plant cocaine
in her car, court documents said. The cellmate was then supposed to tell
police that Gillman's ex-wife was dealing crack cocaine, according to court
documents.

Lasnaud found out about the scheme and started coordinating it, according
to court papers. Later, Gillman agreed to cooperate with the FBI and wore a
body wiretap during a Dec. 28 meeting with his lawyer.

In February, Gillman pleaded guilty to hiring the hit man and to plotting
to have his former wife arrested.