MAN TRIED IN COCAINE CASE ALTHOUGH NO DRUGS FOUND

A Baton Rouge man accused of being part of a cocaine trafficking ring in
the Valley Park neighborhood went on trial Monday even though prosecutors
admit no drugs were found in his possession.

Louis Brown, 9152 Great Smokey Ave., took part in a conspiracy with several
friends and associates to deal powder and crack cocaine, prosecutor Robert
Piedrahita told jurors in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge.

Brown faces one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of
possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of unlawful use
of a communications facility.

In his opening argument, Piedrahita told jurors that even though
investigators never caught Brown with drugs, he can still be convicted
because he was part of a conspiracy.

"Under the law, you can hold him liable for the acts of others in that
conspiracy," Piedrahita said.

Brown's attorney, Murphy Bell, told jurors that authorities never caught
Brown on tape talking about drugs.

The only evidence against him is the word of people seeking lighter prison
sentences for drug dealing, Bell said.

"He's gotten drawn into this thing with virtually no evidence because of
other people," Bell said.

Brown and 15 others were arrested in July 2000 during a sweep of the Valley
Park neighborhood north of Interstate 10 between College Drive and South
Acadian Thruway.

All but two of the 16 people arrested -- Brown and Leonard "Trick"
Williams, 24, 3576 Dalton St. -- have pleaded guilty in the case. Williams
is in a federal psychiatric facility after being declared unfit to stand trial.

Prosecutors allege that the 16 people were part of a loose-knit gang known
as the "Hillside Gs."

The FBI and sheriff's deputies raided Brown's home, where they found
digital scales with cocaine residue on them, Piedrahita said.

But Bell said Brown used the scales for measuring bird seed because birds
were his "passion."

The investigation relied on wiretaps and alleged members of the conspiracy
working with investigators.

The wiretaps were necessary because people living in Valley Park all know
each other, meaning a new person, such as an undercover agent, would stand
out, FBI Special Agent Glen Methvin testified.

"Most of the people have lived in that area their entire lives and would be
aware of strange cars or people," Methvin said.

Piedrahita said the tapes may not make sense sometimes because the people
on them often speak in code.

"Drug dealers don't like to advertise what they do," Piedrahita said.