MOBILE, Alabama – A former Montgomery police corporal accused of drug trafficking now faces a federal charge.

Cpl. Lyvanh Rasavong pleaded not guilty in Mobile’s federal court Thursday conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. At the same time, Mobile County District Charles McKnight approved a state prosecutor’s request to dismiss a related local charge.

The federal indictment accuses Rasavong of conspiring with another man, Somphith “Mike” Khemmanivanh to sell 4 pounds of marijuana in November and December. The indictment alleges Khemmanivanh sold an ounce of marijuana to an undercover law enforcement officer on Dec. 11.

Khemmanivanh has not yet been arraigned.

Rasavong’s attorney, Caleb Cunningham, said he had just received a packet of evidence from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and could not comment in detail.

“Obviously, we’re wanting to make sure that justice is served and Mr. Rasavong is treated fairly,” he said.

Rasavong, 42, resigned his position from the Montgomery Department of Public Safety in December amid the drug investigation.

According to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, deputies caught Rasavong with 3 pounds of high-grade marijuana at a home in Irvington. Sheriff’s officials said he also was associated with a bust on Oct. 19 during which officers found 100 marijuana plants in a shed in Chunchula.

According to law enforcement officials, Khemmanivanh owned the mobile home where authorities arrested Rasavong.

Cunningham said his client’s parents lived briefly in the Mobile area several years ago and that he has friends in the region.

According to court records, items found in the search of the Irvington home included a heat-sealed bag containing several smaller bags of suspected marijuana in a bathroom vanity, ammunition and three heat-sealed bags containing one pound of marijuana each in a garage.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine “Kit” Nelson allowed Rasavong to remain free pending trial and a May trial date.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to five years in prison.

Updated at 4:40 p.m. to include comments from defense attorney Caleb Cunningham.

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