News for F2KIV

[lostnfound117]

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.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Jamal Lewis is so fine.

[abaici]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
Jamal Lewis is so fine.

Ain't he though!! Just a big ole strapping man

[kiml122]

I read in Sunday's paper that Jamal's lawyer is going to petition the court to have him serv his time during the off season of the NFL.....let's see how this turns out for him.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by ladylike
It shows I'm on his mind that much.

Yes, sir! There you have it! They actin' like women. This is too catty! LOL

[lostnfound117]

Dang, she look like Bey....

[kiml122]

Originally posted by lostnfound117
Dang, she look like Bey....

She is all stomach like Jada Pinkett

[TheEpitome1920]

She looks cute. I don't understand why they were all hush hush about it. She's not the first teen mom.

[CrimsonTide4]

Scottie Pippen retires after 17 years of basketball:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

[lil_sunshine]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
She looks cute. I don't understand why they were all hush hush about it. She's not the first teen mom.

The Knowles clan was hush hush about it b/c she's Beyonce's YOUNGER sister, she got pregnant out of wedlock (Daddy Knowles likes to appear like he has control of his daughters), the whole fam is in the public eye often for Beyonce and everything she's doing and the clan didn't think that the whole teen sex/teen pregnancy thing would affect the clan and show up on their doorstep..... JMHO.....

[TheEpitome1920]

Judge Connected To C-Murder Trial Indicted For Corruption

By Nolan Strong
Date: 10/3/2004 1:40 pm



A judge that helped set the tone for the murder trial of rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller has been indicted on federal corruption charges, after he and another man allegedly conspired with a bail bonds mogul and took more than $20,000 in bribes.

State Judge Alan Green was indicted last week on seven federal counts that include racketeering and mail fraud, in a probe of corruption at the Jefferson Parish courthouse.

Authorities say Green and Louis Marcotte conspired together to raise the maximum amount a suspect or their relatives paid in order to be released from jail.

Master P. has frequently stated that his brother, who is accused of murdering a 16-year-old in a nightclub shooting in 2002, never received a fair trial due to the ongoing corruption in the court system.

“The whole system there is corrupt." Master P. told AllHipHop.com in June. “There are so many witnesses that said C didn't do this. Look at what the D.A. has done, clearing records and that kind of thing. Everyone assumed he was guilty but people testified he didn't do it. Now he's sitting there incarcerated and we believe he's innocent."

The younger Miller was convicted of the murder in a controversial trial. He is facing a mandatory life sentence.

Miller’s first trial was scrapped, after it was learned that prosecutors withheld information during the first trial and even expunged the criminal records of their witnesses, in an attempt to bolster their credibility.

Another Judge, Ronald Bodenheimer, is serving a 46-month sentence for helping Marcotte and for other crimes uncovered in a 5 ½ year government sting operation known as Operation Wrinkled Robe.

Green is also under investigation for reversing a judgment in favor of Kmart and awarding the victim of a slip-and-fall accident more than $800,000, after he and several others accused of the same crimes allegedly rigged the case.

[nikki1920]

Now isnt THAT interesting? re: the previous post

re: Solange. I find it very interesting that people are willing to rush relatively young people into a sham marriage ONLY for the sake of saving face re: pregnancy (Brandy and Solange). Just a thought...

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by nikki1920
I find it very interesting that people are willing to rush relatively young people into a sham marriage ONLY for the sake of saving face re: pregnancy (Brandy and Solange). Just a thought...

That ain't new. Used to happen all of the time back in the day. There were a lot of "premature" babies that came out weighing 10 lbs! LOL Most of the time, though, marriage was seen as a committment and an obligation, not something that you did 'cause you wuz in luvvvvvvvvv.

[AKA2D '91]

PUffy has to pay $35,000 A MONTH for child support...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...eople_combs_dc


Tiger is married:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...m/pga_tiger_dc

[lostnfound117]

Last week Cynthia Nixon proudly came out… and now we have reports (from Popbytes.com) that child actor and recently arrested (for pot possession) Mcaulay Culkin has been linked romantically to animal rights activist and television spokesperson, named Jeffrey Brunner (from New Jersey). And through pals who were on the set of his previous movie SAVED!, the formerly married Culkin told them that although 'he will not deny the romantic allegation, he would prefer to begin a new course by keeping his private life private'. He was once married to to Rachel Miner.