MAN POSES AS INMATE FOR 15 MONTHS

ATLANTA - Pierre Carlton easily fooled federal authorities, who, after all,
aren't used to people trying to sneak into prison.

Carlton agreed to serve another man's 20-month prison sentence after he was
promised cash and crack, authorities say. He spent 15 months posing as
Dexter Mathis and proved to be a model prisoner. Carlton earned a high
school equivalency certificate, kicked his drug habit, and spent most of
his time reading.

Then, 47 days from being released early for good behavior, Carlton got sick
of pretending and didn't show up at a halfway house.

Now, authorities have found the real Mathis, who allegedly cooked up the
scheme when he was out on bail after pleading guilty to receiving $2,762 in
proceeds from a bank robbery. Mathis is back in jail and has pleaded
innocent to conspiracy charges that could add five years to his original
sentence.

Mathis's lawyer, Steven Berne, said his client was only trying to help
Carlton by sending him to a minimum security prison where he could get off
drugs.

''Mr. Carlton had a drug addiction, and Mr. Mathis educated him on the
benefits of drug treatment in prison,'' Berne said yesterday. ''This was a
decision made by Mr. Carlton.''

However, authorities say Mathis was Carlton's drug supplier and was able to
persuade Carlton to serve his sentence by offering him cash and crack after
his release.

On June 7, 1999, Mathis drove Carlton to the US marshal's office, where
Carlton, who had memorized Mathis's biographical information, turned
himself in.

Carlton is 32 and Mathis is 31, but the pair don't look much alike. Carlton
is at least 4 inches shorter than Mathis, who is 6 foot 3 and weighs more
than 200 pounds.

''The only thing they have in common is they're both black males,'' said
Paul Kish, Carlton's lawyer.

He said Carlton has pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme and will
probably face probation.