EX-POLICE CHIEF PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGE

He Faces As Much As 40 Years in Prison

Bethel Man Charged With Distributing Crack Cocaine Intentionally

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The former Bethel police chief pleaded guilty
Monday to illegally distributing crack cocaine.

Reginald Laverne Roberts was the top lawman in the small Pitt County
town for about five years before his arrest in October 2005.

He pleaded guilty to one charge as part of an agreement that resulted
in the dismissal of four other charges. He entered his plea during in
a brief hearing in federal court before U.S. Judge Malcolm J. Howard.
Sentencing is scheduled in March.

Roberts, 41, faces a possible sentence of at least five years and as
much as 40 years for intentionally distributing more than five grams
of crack cocaine, according to the plea agreement. He also faces a
maximum fine of $2 million.

Roberts and a department lieutenant, Jerome Earl Cox, 31, were
arrested after an investigation by local, state and federal officers.
Cox previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the illegal
distribution of cocaine and faces sentencing in February.

The arrests shocked Bethel, a town of about 1,850 people 12 miles
north of Greenville. Bethel Mayor Frank Hemingway said after the
arrests that Roberts had been credited with ridding the town of crime.
The town had bought the chief a sport utility vehicle to help with
anti-drug efforts, the mayor said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Bennett said Roberts had been under
surveillance by investigators who arranged for an informant to tell
the chief that illegal drugs were in a truck seized by law officers.
Bennett said Roberts and Cox broke into the truck and took drug
scales, drugs and money. During an earlier hearing, Bennett
characterized Roberts as the instigator of the activities. He said
Roberts, who used the nickname "De Man" on a personalized license
plate, was "the thief, crook, drug dealer."