GUILTY PLEA SETS COURSE FOR 11 IN DRUG CASE

The only things left for 11 federal suspects in Operation Sandshaker to
argue are their sentences.

With one guilty plea Tuesday and the announcement of another guilty plea,
each of the people indicted in federal court in early December now has
pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine.

Pensacola Beach contractor Scott Carstens entered his guilty plea Tuesday
before U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson, who set sentencing for April 14.

Also on Tuesday, Vinson unsealed the guilty plea of Denise Winkler, a South
Florida woman whose Dec. 18 plea was closed to the public at her attorney's
request. The U.S. Attorney's Office requested that the plea be made public
Tuesday, and Vinson lifted his order.

Fifty-three people have been arrested in the Sandshaker investigation since
the first group of indictments was announced in December. Forty- one people
have pleaded not guilty in state court, and one recently arrested federal
suspect has yet to enter a plea.

The investigation alleges that a widespread network of cocaine dealing
centered on Pensacola Beach and the beach's Sandshaker Lounge & Package
Store.

Although Carstens, 52, pleaded guilty, his attorney characterized his role
in the conspiracy as "very minor."

"He didn't receive any money," defense attorney Barry Beroset said in court.
"His association with the conspiracy was mainly through friends."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Swaim said Carstens had received and distributed
cocaine on multiple occasions.

He also "introduced new parties" into the conspiracy and allowed his unit at
the Emerald Isle Resort Condominium to be used for the storage, distribution
and packaging of cocaine, Swaim said. Federal officials are seeking to seize
the condo.

Carstens also faces unrelated state racketeering charges. He was arrested
last week on his alleged role in an online gambling operation.

Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Len Register said Winkler, of Pembroke
Pines, was the primary cocaine "broker" for local ringleader Mitchell
"Jackie" Seale, who sold the drug to dozens of others in the Pensacola area.

Winkler helped arrange deals between Seale and the individual supplying
Winkler and was present when Seale made most of his purchases, Register
said. Seale is one of the 11 who has pleaded guilty.

Escambia County Sheriff's Investigator Charlie Griffith Jr. previously had
said Domingo "Chino" Gonzalez of Pembroke Pines was Winkler's supplier.

Gonzalez, arrested last week, is the only federal suspect who has not yet
entered a guilty plea. He appeared before a magistrate judge in Fort
Lauderdale Tuesday and was ordered held until he is transported to Pensacola
later this week.

Each of the 11 initial federal suspects faces a sentence of 10 years to life
in prison. If convicted, Gonzalez would face the same potential penalty.

The three-year drug investigation is not yet closed, and officials have said
more arrests are possible.