Broadcom Billionaire Suspected of Drug Dealing In Vegas

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Billionaire co-founder of Broadcom, Henry T. Nicholas III, was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of narcotics trafficking, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police department said.

Both Nicholas, 59, and Ashley Fargo were detained at just before 10:45 p.m. Tuesday after hotel security called the police to the room, Las Vegas Police Officer Larry Hadfield, a department spokesman told the LA Times. Hotel security reported finding contraband in the room, and police discovered heroin, cocaine, meth and ecstasy in his suite at the Encore Hotel.

Both Nicholas and Fargo were arrested and booked for multiple felonies on suspicion of trafficking heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamines, according to Hadfield. Both since have been released from custody, he said.

Fargo is reportedly the ex-wife of the Wells Fargo heir, according to media sources.

Nicholas, whose fortune is reported to be more than $3 billion, hashad other run-ins with the law. In 2008, he was indicted on charges he provided cocaine and ecstasy to business associates and friends. The same indictment also alleged Nicholas and his entourage smoked so much pot while onboard a private jet traveling from Orange County to Las Vegas, the pilot had to put on an oxygen mask and that Nicholas installed a private room at his Laguna Hills home to meet with prostitutes, according to the Times.

A separate indictment accused Nicholas and Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli of backdating stock options. A federal judge later dropped both charges.

Nicholas resigned as president and CEO of Broadcom in 2003. The billionaire has been an advocate for crime victims in recent years and financially backed a victims' bill of rights called ''Marsy's Law,'' named after his sister who was stalked and killed in 1983 by an ex-boyfriend.

Five states, including California, have a Marsy's Law on their books

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