JUDGE RELEASES DRUG DEALERS

LUMBERTON - Two Robeson County men, including one who was serving a
life sentence, have exited prison after having provided federal
authorities information as part of the investigation called Operation
Tarnished Badge. Federal District Judge Terrence Boyle, in releasing
them during a hearing Wednesday, also expressed concern about the
fairness of their trials.

Boyle on Wednesday granted a motion from the U.S. Attorney's Office
reducing the sentences of Eugene Strickland and Mickey Strickland to
"time served." According to the Bureau of Prisons' Web site, both were
released from the federal prison in Butner on Thursday.

Both Sticklands, along with 10 other family members and friends, were
indicted in 1999 on a single count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine
and related firearm offenses. Eugene Strickland, 34, received a life
sentence and Mickey Strickland, 47, was sentenced to 21 years.

Both Stricklands were interviewed by federal officials investigating
corruption in the Robeson County Sheriff's Office. Operation Tarnished
Badge has led to guilty pleas from more than 20 former county lawmen,
including former Sheriff Glenn Maynor.

According to Robert J. McAfee, Eugene Strickland's attorney, the
government had requested that the sentences be cut by one-third. The
judge, however, decided the sentences should be cut even more.

"Judge Boyle voiced a number of concerns during the hearing about the
use of corrupt deputies to build a criminal case, and how such
corruption undermined the notion of a fair trial in federal court,"
the attorney said.

McAfee also said that he is not sure how many of the other eight
people convicted along with the Stricklands in 1999 will try to have
their sentences reduced. He said he has just been appointed to
represent Marshall Strickland, Eugene Strickland's brother.

"I don't know how much information the others have given to federal
investigators," he said.

Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt said Thursday night
that he only became aware of Boyle's ruling when contacted by a
reporter. He said that he had not prosecuted the Stricklands on state
charges and that the two were already serving time in federal prison
when they provided information related to Operation Tarnished Badge.

"The use of Rule 35 in federal criminal practice is commonly used to
get sentences reduced," Britt said. "This isn't unusual."

Britt also told The Fayetteville Observer earlier Thursday that he
expects others to seek relief from either the state or federal courts
as a result of Operation Tarnished Badge. His office has already
thrown out more than 300 cases involving the former lawmen.

During the Stricklands' trial in 1999, four lawmen who have pleaded
guilty to charges in Operation Tarnished Badge testified. Those
officers were Charles Strickland, Steve Lovin, Roger Taylor and Kevin
Meares.

Strickland, a former lieutenant, supervised the Sheriff's Office Drug
Enforcement Division. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money
laundering and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Lovin is a former detective with the Drug Enforcement Division. He
pleaded guilty to money laundering, satellite piracy and conspiracy to
commit an offense against the United States. He was sentenced to 12
years in prison.

Taylor is a former deputy with the Drug Enforcement Division. He
pleaded guilty to engaging in money laundering and satellite piracy.
He was sentenced to three years, 10 months in prison.

Meares, a former deputy with the Drug Enforcement Division, pleaded
guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to
eight months in prison.

Maynor, the former sheriff, pled guilty to perjury and having deputies
campaign and perform yard work while on the county clock. He is
scheduled to report to prison on Aug. 1 to being serving a six-year
sentence.