FBI INFORMANT EARNS HIS FREEDOM

Informant Aided Probe of Prison Crime

TAMPA - In 1989, Rene Garcia Myles was 22 years old and had nothing to
look forward to but a life in federal prison for cocaine and weapons
convictions.

Instead of giving up, Myles turned himself around, focusing his energy
on helping the good guys - putting his own life in jeopardy while
helping the FBI ferret out corruption and gang activity behind bars.

On Friday, Myles was rewarded. A federal judge reduced his life
sentence to the 19 years he had served. As his family erupted in
tearful celebration, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich said,
"What is justice for you - the sentence I impose is time served."

"You were law-abiding, even though you were in a prison," said the
judge, who in 1989 imposed the life sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Adams had asked that Myles'
sentence be reduced to between 27 and 33 years.

"Mr. Myles has been of substantial assistance to the FBI in several
investigations at Coleman" federal prison, Adams said. "Our society is
permeated with crime in all areas, including the prison system. ... We
believe that combating the crime committed by correctional officers is
of utmost importance."

Rooting Out Corruption

Among the help provided by Myles was information on "the most violent
gangs within the prison, to include the leaders of the Texas
syndicate, G-27, white supremacist and Latin Kings gangs," according
to a motion filed by Adams. "During the course of this investigation,
the largest marijuana organization" at Coleman, "consisting of 14
inmates and two corrupt" prison employees, "was dismantled.
Additionally, 11 other inmate gang members were charged and convicted
for conspiracy to introduce heroin" into the prison.

Myles' information helped lead to the arrest and conviction of three
inmates and to the seizure of 2 grams of heroin and a pound of
marijuana, worth $55,000 wholesale in the prison, Adams wrote.

With the information from Myles, the FBI initiated three public
corruption investigations at the prison. He also recruited his family
to help the investigation of one corrections officer, Adams wrote.

"He certainly has put himself at tremendous risk," said attorney Grady
Irvin, who said he has known Myles for only two months and represented
him only for the sentence reduction.

Kovachevich ordered Myles to serve three years of probation and
directed probation officials to provide him vocational assistance.

Myles said that behind bars, he has "mostly been doing custodial
maintenance, learning how to do floors, stuff like that."

Asked what kind of job he would be interested in pursuing, he said,
"I'm exceptional at doing floors, stripping and waxing."

Irvin said his law firm would pay for a year of vocational school for
Myles.

Headed Home

After the hearing, Myles' sister, Denise, was beaming. "It's a great
day!" she said. "It's a God-blessed day!"

Although there were issues about whether Myles would have to return to
Coleman to have his release processed or to retrieve his belongings,
the judge ordered U.S. marshals to do what was necessary for Myles to
be freed Friday without having to return to Coleman.

Irvin said after the hearing that Myles had been an "A" student who
skipped the fifth grade. But his mother developed problems and he was
raised by his aunt and great aunt.

When he was in the sixth grade, his aunt and caregiver died of an
infection. The next year, her mother, Myles' other caregiver, also
died.

It was about this time that his life went downhill.

By the time he was sentenced to life in 1989, he had two prior felony
convictions and seven children by seven women.

When he was in prison, his mother died. His children became
adults.

As life on the outside passed him by, Myles decided to join the good
guys.

The judge on Friday lauded his "persistent, continuing willingness ...
to do what needed to be done, not just once, not just twice, not just
three times, but repeatedly beyond that, to learn things for the
government and to allow them to proceed forward with a number of
prosecutions."

As the hearing was ending, the judge wished Myles luck, saying, "Don't
disappoint us."

Outside the courtroom, his aunt, Belinda Harris, said, "I'm just
overwhelmed. I still have chills. He's coming home."