ANNISTON DRUG CZAR FOUND GUILTY

Nellie Patton, who authorities say is one of Anniston's most notorious
and prolific crack cocaine distributors, was convicted here Wednesday
of federal drug charges, and could now face life in prison.

Ms. Patton, 47, of 300 Glen Addie Ave., Anniston, was found guilty of
all four charges against her after a two-day trial wrapped up in U.S.
District Court.

A three-year investigation by local, state and federal agencies led to
her arrest Oct. 24.

"She was the leader of one of the biggest drug rings in northeast
Alabama, and she has been for a while," said Jason Murray, of the
Calhoun County Drug Task Force, the agency that spear-headed the
investigation.

At her peak, Ms. Patton introduced 10 kilograms or about 22 pounds of
crack cocaine each month into local drug markets, Murray said, adding
that this was "a conservative estimate."

Each kilogram earned Ms. Patton about $80,000, Murray
said.

"When I started working here three years ago (Patton) was the
number-one name we kept hearing when we questioned people," Murray
said, "Her name always seemed to surface, or at least her
organization."

Agents at the task force described Ms. Patton as the intimidating
puppeteer of a broad network of drug distributors, with a dozen
regular dealers and about six outposts for crack cocaine throughout
Anniston.

She received cocaine from sources in California, Florida, Georgia and
Texas.

Then, after converting most of it into the crystalline crack form, she
turned around and sold it to drug traffickers in Talladega, Gadsden,
Birmingham and throughout Calhoun County, Murray said.

"It was a pretty good-size organization," Murray said.

After this week's trial, where the defense called no witnesses, Ms.
Patton was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute more
than five kilograms of narcotics, and three counts of possessing crack
with the intent to sell or distribute.

Because she has two prior felony drug convictions, Ms. Patton faces a
mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole on each
count, said U.S. Attorney Bob McGregor, who prosecuted the case.

Ms. Patton had four co-defendants, one of whom was convicted Wednesday
of two charges against him.

Anniston resident Branton Henderson, 24, the common-law husband of Ms.
Patton's daughter, was found guilty of conspiring to distribute
narcotics, and possession of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with
intent to distribute.

Though the jury could not come to a conclusion about a third charge
against Henderson, he will likely face a minimum sentence of 10 years
in jail without the possibility of parole, McGregor said.

He could also receive a life sentence for his crimes.

Two other co-defendants named in the indictment, Earl Lamont Kirby and
Trent Rowser, pleaded guilty in February to the charges against them
and currently await sentencing.

Ms. Patton's daughter Latrika Devon Patton, 29, who is also
Henderson's wife, was found not guilty Wednesday of conspiracy to
distribute narcotics.

After U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon read the rulings aloud, Latrika
Patton exited the eighth floor courtroom with tears streaming down her
face, as her mother and husband were taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.

The marshals will hold Ms. Patton until sentencing occurs in about two
months.

Henderson was temporarily placed on house arrest so he could get his
affairs in order before reporting to prison.

McGregor, pleased with the two convictions, said Latrika Patton's
acquittal was not particularly disappointing.

"She was peripheral," McGregor said. "The fact of the matter is that
she was influenced greatly by her mother and her (husband) Branton
Henderson."

Authorities have seized more than $100,000 in cash from Ms. Patton, as
well as some expensive cars, Murray said.

The investigation into Ms. Patton and those surrounding her operation
was begun in 1999 by the Calhoun County Drug Task Force, specifically
agent Randall Sanders.

As Ms. Patton's nationwide connections were uncovered, the Drug
Enforcement Agency joined the investigation.

"Had it not been for the DEA, (the investigation) would not have
gotten as far as it did," Murray said.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, and
Alabama ABC board also contributed to the investigation.