Sunday, September 30, 2001
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Sunday, September 30, 2001 |
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Pavilion drug deal results in 15-year sentence
By JOHN MUNFORD
Who knew a package of sugar at the movies could cause such trouble? A $25,000 drug deal at Tinseltown Fayette Pavilion in March 1999 has led to the conviction of the man police said attempted to buy the dope, which was actually powdered sugar wrapped up by undercover officers working the case. A Fayette County jury found Jeffrey Bernard Watson guilty of criminal attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Superior Court Judge Johnnie Caldwell sentenced Watson to 15 years in prison. The key witness for the defense was an admitted -- and convicted -- drug dealer himself. Johnny Houston, who is serving nine years for possession of cocaine, testified Wednesday that Watson called him several times on his cell phone to set up the deal. Watson originally wanted five kilos of cocaine but scaled the order back to one kilo, Houston said. Houston said he leaned into a white truck Watson drove and exchanged a package of cocaine (actually powdered sugar) for a bag filled with $25,000. After the exchange, the white truck sped away, attempting to elude authorities as they swept in to make the arrest. The chase ended in the parking lot of Pearle Vision, where Watson dashed into the store and left the package of "cocaine" in a restroom area, officers testified. Undercover officers from the Clayton County Drug Task Force participated in the sting. Houston admitted that he was assisting authorities because to plead guilty to drug charges in federal court he had to disclose all information about his dealings with illegal drugs, which included giving information about who he dealt with. Days before, Houston himself had been arrested for having three kilos of cocaine while he was on probation for federal offenses. In response to pointed questions alleging he got "a deal" in exchange for testifying, Houston said, "I didn't get no deal."
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