GIRLFRIEND OF KEY FIGURE IN DRUG RING REVERSES PLEA TO GUILTY

Burleson-Mowrey Admits Delivering Cocaine, Denies Knowing Seale`s Activities

Another suspect facing federal drug conspiracy charges in the "Operation
Sandshaker" investigation into cocaine trafficking on Pensacola Beach
reversed her plea to guilty Friday.

Bonnie Burleson-Mowrey, 39, said she had "made some bad decisions and been
lied to a lot," but she admitted to helping friends get drugs from her
boyfriend, Mitchell "Jackie" Seale on several occasions.

Seale and three other suspects pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to a federal charge
of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Since that initial arraignment, five other suspects, including Burleson-
Mowrey, have withdrawn their original not guilty pleas and admitted to
playing a role in Seale's drug ring.

Although Burleson-Mowrey told U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson on Friday
that she had helped Seale deliver cocaine to friends and collected money
for him, she said she wasn't aware of many of his activities, including
trips to South Florida to buy drugs.

"I didn't know where he was going or how much he was getting," said a
choked-up Burleson-Mowrey.

Her attorney, Elizabeth Timothy, said Seale had a key to Burleson- Mowrey's
apartment on Scenic Highway, and often while she was at work at CPA
Software, he was "doing things behind her back."

Timothy said Burleson-Mowrey never was paid for helping Seale and remained
totally independent from him - with her own job and residence.

While those points did not affect Burleson-Mowrey's guilty plea, Timothy
said she intended to raise them at Burleson-Mowrey's sentencing, which is
scheduled for March 24.

Another federal suspect, home builder Scott Carstens, has not reversed his
original plea of not guilty.

The plea of yet another suspect, Denise Winkler, a South Florida woman
charged in connection with the investigation, has been placed under a
court-ordered seal and is not public record.

Meanwhile, the federal government is moving forward with plans to seize the
property of three "Operation Sandshaker" suspects.

According to court documents, federal authorities have filed preliminary
orders of forfeiture for the Sandshaker Lounge and Package Store, the
Pensacola Beach home of Sandshaker owner Linda Murphy and her husband,
Robert, and the home of McGuire's Irish Pub bartender Jeff Cary.

"This is just the next step in the process," said Assistant U.S. Attorney
Len Register. "The forfeitures will be finalized during sentencing."

Cary is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 26, while the Murphys are slated for
Feb. 27.

Every suspect who has pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with
the drug conspiracy investigation faces from 10 years to life in prison and
fines of as much as $4 million apiece.

Under the forfeiture orders, the government is seeking to take control of
the Murphys' home at 1111 Panferio Drive and Cary's residence at 915 E.
Gonzalez St.

Also subject to seizure is the Sandshaker itself, along with all of its
stock, accounts, assets and contract rights, and its liquor license from
the State of Florida.

Register said that the government will "advertise and publish" notice of
the impending forfeitures before the sentencing dates.

"That way, any third parties who think they might have claims on these
properties will be put on notice, and they'll have a chance to come
forward," he said.