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.