They were caught with a small fortune in cocaine and Ecstasy, enough to net six-figure profits in Las Vegas street and club sales.

That was last August, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court by Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer Kirk Hooten.

Since then, no indictment has been filed against the two men arrested for possession and conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs.

Zachary Moran, son of local attorney and former Nevada Gaming Commission member John Moran Jr. and grandson of former Sheriff John Moran, remains free in the custody of his father while the case unfolds.

David Levy, named in the criminal complaint as Zachary Moran's partner, has been jailed since his arrest. An order of detention issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge George Foley on Aug. 29 cited Levy's prior criminal history and the danger he poses as a flight risk.

"There are no conditions or combination of conditions that could be fashioned to assure the appearance of (Levy) at further proceedings," Foley said in a 2005 court document.

The two are scheduled to appear in federal court for a preliminary hearing May 30. Moran and Levy were arrested in an operation that utilized the services of a confidential source working with Hooten. At the time of their arrest, Hooten reported the two men possessed five kilograms of cocaine and 7,250 tabs of Ecstasy.

"You're big time if you have five kilos of cocaine," said Las Vegas Narcotics Detective Joe Pannullo, when asked to comment on the amount of drugs involved in the case.

"If you break it down, you can sell an ounce of cocaine for about $500, but every dealer's different," Pannullo said.

Ecstasy, a drug popular on the club scene because of the sense of euphoria it can produce, goes for $15 to $25 a pill. One thousand tabs of Ecstasy is referred to as a "boat," Pannullo said. A 'boat' retails for about $10,000.

According to Hooten's complaint, Moran told his confidential source that he had a partner with connections to Mexican drug cartels for cocaine and Los Angeles suppliers for Ecstasy.

"Moran told (confidential source) that Levy had been arrested in France in possession of one million tabs of (Ecstasy) and that he was just finished with his sentence served in France and here in the United States," Hooten reported.

Hooten's source also said Moran, identified as manager of the Western Cab Co., was only interested in dealing in large quantities.

Transactions between the unidentified source, an undercover task force officer and Moran took place at the cab company, 801 S. Main St.

Meetings between Moran and the confidential source were recorded by law enforcement. The two were taken into custody on Aug. 27.

Moran and Levy met the confidential source and the undercover officer at the MGM Grand conference center. Levy was driving a limousine.

The undercover officer verified the presence of the drugs and called in other officers to assist. Levy attempted to flee but was stopped by police blocking the limo's path. Police recovered a semiautomatic handgun from Moran's vehicle.

Attorney Michael Cristalli, who does not represent either defendant but is experienced at litigating drug cases, said an indictment probably will be filed before a preliminary hearing is held. That's the procedure usually followed in federal court.

Cristalli said it was unusual, but not unheard of, for such a long period of time to pass without an indictment filed.

"The defendants have a right to see the evidence that the government has against them," Cristalli said.

Levy's attorney of record is Richard Wright, who just completed the lengthy political corruption trial involving his client Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, a former Clark County commissioner.

Wright could not be reached for comment last week and Tuesday.

Cristalli said defense attorneys in such a case probably would explore whether entrapment occurred and seek the identity of the confidential source.

Asked whether it was possible that the defendants might be used by law enforcement as a way to get to their suppliers, Cristalli said that does happen, but that he couldn't comment on what's going on specifically with Moran and Levy.

"That would be pure speculation on my part," Cristalli said.

Review-Journal writer Brian Haynes contributed to this report.