Billionaire, friend get no-jail plea deal in Vegas drug case

A California technology billionaire and his friend have paid $1 million to avoid prison time while acknowledging evidence against them without admitting guilt in a Las Vegas Strip hotel room drug case.

Henry Nicholas and co-defendant Ashley Fargo entered Alford pleas in Nevada state court to two felony drug possession charges.

Defense attorney David Chesnoff says they’ve contributed the agreed-upon funds to three Las Vegas-area youth and drug rehabilitation programs.

Nicholas and Fargo could have their cases dismissed in a year if they complete community service and counseling.

Police reported finding heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and psychedelic substances in travel cases in their hotel room in August 2018.

Nicholas and Fargo denied owning the cases.

Nicholas co-founded Broadcom. Forbes estimates his net worth at almost $4 billion.