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NFL star's plea deal: 4 months
Hearing for Jamal Lewis set for Thursday

By BILL RANKIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/02/04


NFL star running back Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens has agreed to plead guilty this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to a drug offense that could send him to prison for four months, lawyers familiar with the negotiations said.

According to an agreement reached last week with federal prosecutors, Lewis, the 2003 NFL rushing champion, will plead guilty to using a cellphone to set up a drug transaction in the summer of 2000, the lawyers said.

The sentence, the lawyers said, is expected to include two additional months in a halfway house — a significantly reduced punishment from the 10 or more years in prison that Lewis faced if convicted at trial on the more serious drug conspiracy charge brought against him. His plea hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Still to be determined is whether Lewis, a graduate of Douglass High School in Atlanta, will serve any of his sentence during the NFL season, which began four weeks ago and runs through the Super Bowl on Feb. 6. That will depend on when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Orinda Evans and whether she allows him to begin serving his time when the season is over.

The NFL also is expected to discipline Lewis for the federal drug conviction.

Lewis, 25, who holds the NFL record for most yards rushing in a game, is expected to play Monday night when the Ravens play at home against Kansas City.

Ed Garland and Don Samuel, who represent Lewis, declined to comment Saturday on the negotiations, which have been ongoing for the past few weeks. "Our defense team has been hard at work on this case for some months, and at this time I will not comment on the status of trial preparation," Garland said.

Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Yates also declined comment Saturday.

In February, Lewis and longtime friend and co-defendant Angelo Jackson were indicted on federal charges that alleged they engaged in a drug conspiracy and made cellphone calls to set up a cocaine transaction in the summer of 2000.

Federal authorities have alleged Lewis introduced Jackson to an FBI informant who was posing as a drug dealer in June 2000.

This occurred only a few weeks before Lewis signed his first NFL contract for $35 million with the Baltimore Ravens after starring at the University of Tennessee.

Lewis' phone conversations with the informant, Tomeka Richard, were secretly taped. Jackson's subsequent meetings with Richard also were secretly audiotaped and videotaped.

Jackson was arrested before any cocaine deal was consummated. His attorney, Steve Sadow, has said Jackson steadfastly maintains his innocence and never intended to be part of any drug transaction.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Lewis not only acknowledges his guilt, but has agreed to cooperate in the case against Jackson, the lawyers said.

The plea agreement is expected to allow Lewis, now free on $500,000 bond, to continue his professional football career.

If convicted at trial, which had been set for Nov. 1, of the more serious drug conspiracy charge, Lewis could have been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.

"It's an outstanding deal in light of the potential exposure to a lengthy prison sentence," said Atlanta criminal defense attorney Buddy Parker, who is not involved in the case. "Any time you place your fate in the hands of a jury there are no certainties."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said he would not comment on Lewis' plea agreement or any aspects of the case.

Speaking generally, however, Aiello said that "drug-related violations of law" are grounds for discipline as determined by the NFL commissioner. Such discipline may include a fine, suspension without pay as well as banishment from the league, according to NFL policy.

A number of factors that are considered when deciding what discipline is meted out, Aiello said. These include the severity of the violation and whether the player has a prior history of infractions, he said.

On two prior occasions, Lewis violated the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Last season, Lewis was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for 2,006 yards, just 39 yards short of the single season record, and set the NFL single game record with 295 yards. Last week, he rushed for 186 yards in the Ravens' 23-9 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.