DEALER CUTS OFF AID TO JACKSONVILLE CORRUPT-COP CASE; GETS 30 YEARS JACKSONVILLE -- A 29-year-old drug dealer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after refusing to continue to cooperate in a federal grand jury investigation of some Jacksonville police officers. Derrick "Smiley" Smith had earlier worked out a plea agreement in which prosecutors would drop all but one drug charge and would consider asking for further relief, depending on his cooperation with prosecutors. But Smith quit cooperating and U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. refused to allow him to withdraw a guilty plea, sentencing him to 30 years in federal prison. "This is a very strange case," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Klindt told Adams. "Smith provided a great deal of information. He was very cooperative. Then, all of a sudden, something happened. It was like being in a room and the lights went out." Klindt told the judge that as late as Thursday that he had asked Smith to resume his help. When given a chance, Smith did not tell the court why he had quit cooperating. "My cooperation has expanded this entire investigation where it is today," he told the judge. Smith was one of three drug dealers who have cooperated with the investigation. Smith reportedly provided details on how at least one police officer was receiving payoffs for providing information about drug investigations. The information led a task force of city, state and federal investigators to look into allegations of police and others being involved in a murder and robbery. Five police officers have been stripped of their duties, but no charges have yet been filed.
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