MORE CHARGED IN DRUG BUST

Federal Officials Seeking Forfeiture Of Property

Three more people charged in connection with a cocaine-trafficking
operation were taken into custody Wednesday, one day after federal and
state authorities announced more than 30 arrests and seized 31 vehicles.

A Miami-area woman, Denise Killerlane Winkler, 43, has been arrested
on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms -
approximately 11 pounds - of cocaine.

She is among 11 people under federal indictment in the wake of a
three-year investigation that culminated this week with the release
of a 41- page affidavit detailing cocaine buys witnessed and recorded
by drug agents.

Federal authorities are seeking the forfeiture of the popular
Sandshaker Lounge & Package Store, two Pensacola beach condominiums
and one home on Gonzalez Street in Pensacola.

Agents seized 31 vehicles, including sports cars, SUVs and a
late-model Hummer. Drugs and drug paraphernalia have been found inside
some of the vehicles, and officials said they will continue to look
for additional evidence.

Although the federal investigation - "Operation Sandshaker" - spanned
three years, surveillance of Pensacola Beach resident Mitchell
"Jackie" Seale III intensified during the past two months.

Agents intercepted all calls to and from Seale's cell phone and
installed surveillance cameras inside and outside his Panferio Drive
home.

Seale and 10 others are charged with one count each of conspiracy to
distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.

Many of the suspects are mentioned in the 41-page affidavit, which
details specific telephone calls in which arrangements are made to
purchase cocaine.

Agents videotaped Seale and other suspects cutting, snorting and
packaging cocaine in his home and making exchanges for money in
several locations on Pensacola Beach and in Pensacola.

Twenty-nine people also face charges at the state level, ranging from
criminal conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance to
trafficking in cocaine.

By Wednesday afternoon, most suspects had been taken into custody,
although law enforcement officials were still working to serve a
handful of remaining warrants.

In addition to Winkler, officials on Wednesday also arrested David
Lynn Collins, 54, and Vivian Elizabeth McGinnis, 37, on state charges.

As attorneys began to consider defenses for their clients, new
information emerged Wednesday about some of the suspects.

David Collins, 54, co-owner of Collins-Keifer Seminars. In 1997, then-
Gov. Lawton Chiles appointed Collins to the Florida Real Estate
Commission Education and Research Foundation, according to the company
Web site. Collins' company offers a variety of real estate-related
seminars. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon at the Comfort Inn on
Pensacola Beach, where the firm was offering a course.

Thomas Seiles Kennedy, 52, insurance agent at Fisher Brown Inc. and a
member of the Downtown Pensacola Rotary Club. He was one of the 52nd
Don Tristan de Luna knights at the Fiesta of Five Flags celebration in
2001.

Pamela Reynolds, 52, math teacher at Gulf Breeze Middle School, led
the Gulf Breeze High School girls soccer team to a state championship
in 2000. Santa Rosa County School District officials received a copy
of Reynolds' arrest report Wednesday and are considering what action
to take, said Jane Allen, assistant superintendent of human resources.

"We are reviewing the procedures with our School Board attorney and
the superintendent to determine the appropriate action," she said.

Karen Dyess, 48, chairwoman of the 1999 Great Gulf Coast Arts
Festival.

Deborah L. Ward, 49, owner of Cuttin' Loose, a hair salon in downtown
Pensacola.

Edith Knapp Mason, 29, a pharmaceutical company representative.

Milissa Schang, 41, longtime friend of the Weissman family, which
founded Pensacola landmark Trader Jon's. Jackii Weissman, wife of
deceased bar owner Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman, said she was shocked
to hear that Schang, a divorced mother of four sons and a daughter,
was arrested.

"I just think she got caught up in the web," Weissman said. "I don't
believe she had anything to do with it. I'm just glad I wasn't over at
the Sandshaker when they came."

Pamela Randall, 43, bartender at the Sandshaker.

James Rausch, 60, Sandshaker employee.

Jeff E. Cary, 47, bartender at McGuire's Irish Pub.

Shawn Smith, 47, competitor in local sailing races as skipper of the
Entropy.

Authorities also released information about Michael Jay O'Quinn, 48,
of the 600 block of Carondelay Drive in Pensacola, who was arrested
Tuesday on state drug charges.

As three of the suspects arrested Tuesday made court appearances
before Judge James Roark, one attorney questioned the validity of charges.

"My speculation is that they're charging a bunch of recreational drug
users for conspiracy," said Ron Johnson, an attorney for John Todd
Pallin, 40. "And I'm not sure that's going to fly as a matter of law."

Pallin, a boat captain for local attorney Fred Levin, was at Escambia
County Jail and appeared in the courtroom through closed-circuit TV
to request a reduction in his $50,000 bond.

Johnson argued that Pallin, charged with criminal conspiracy and
possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, is not a flight risk.

"He has lived in Pensacola all his life. He owns his own home. He's
full-time employed here," Johnson said during the hearing.

Assistant State Attorney John Simon argued against the reduction,
advising the judge that "these are pretty well-to-do, middle-aged
people who have financial resources they can use."

Pallin's father, a retired department supervisor at the West Florida
Medical Center Clinic, and his mother were in court Wednesday. Johnson
requested that they be allowed to use their beach home, worth at least
$500,000, as part of a property bond for their son's release.

Johnson had not questioned Todd Pallin explicitly about the charges
leveled against him but said he did not believe Pallin was a major
player in the local cocaine trade.

"I don't think Todd is a drug dealer," he said.

Pallin's bond reduction was approved, and he was released from jail
Wednesday evening.

Another suspect who faces state charges - James Allen King, 39 - had
his request for a bond reduction rejected by the judge, who pointed
out eight instances in which King failed to appear for court in the
past.

"Back in my youth, I was going through an alcohol problem shortly
after my father passed, away and I got into trouble with some
worthless checks," King said. "My mother isn't in the best of health,
and I'm just trying to get out so I can take care of her."

Roark set a court date of Dec. 31 for King and Dana Powell, a local
psychotherapist being held on a federal indictment, but also faces
drug possession charges at the state level.

Powell is scheduled to appear in court Friday, along with the other
suspects facing federal prosecution, for an arraignment and detention
hearing.

Jim Jenkins, an attorney for Sandshaker owner Linda Murphy and several
of those facing state charges, said many of the people who have been
arrested in the drug sting are not dealers.

"The majority of the people who have contacted me are merely personal
users of cocaine," he said.

Jenkins pointed out that under Florida law, the possession of more
than 28 grams of cocaine meets the definition of trafficking.

"Even if you never made an attempt to sell cocaine, even if you never
had the intent to sell cocaine, it's considered trafficking under the
law," Jenkins said.

"So if you've got more than 28 grams of cocaine, even if it's only for
your personal use and you don't try to distribute it to anyone else,
you can be charged with trafficking."