DRUG BUST NETS $500K

Jewelry Store Owner Arrested For Drug Trafficking.

A Bossier City jewelry store owner was arrested Wednesday morning on
federal drug-trafficking and conspiracy charges.

Edward Martin Bass, 29, owner of Bass' Fine Jewelry in the 2100 block of
Airline Drive, was booked into Caddo Correctional Center on one count each
of conspiracy to import a controlled substance, importation of
methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute LSD.

Bass, who lives in the 400 block of Heritage Drive in Bossier City, is
named in a sealed indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in
Shreveport in its most recent session, U.S. Attorney Donald Washington
said. "(The) reality is that heads of drug organizations come from any and
all walks of life."

The indictment charges Bass conspired with others to import ecstasy from
Belgium into the United States and to distribute LSD in the
Shreveport-Bossier City area.

Agents intercepted four shipments of a methamphetamine mixture weighing
just more than three pounds and more than 13,000 dosage units of LSD,
Washington said. The methamphetamine mixture originated in Belgium, he
said. The street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be more than
$500,000, he said.

"There is no doubt in my mind it was all intended for local distribution,"
said Bill Grant, resident agent in charge of the Shreveport office of the
Drug Enforcement Administration.

According to the indictment, Bass allegedly had contacts in Belgium and San
Diego mail packages of drugs to addresses in Bossier City and Flowood,
Miss., between the summer of 1999 and through August 2000.

The drugs were mailed to "mostly fictitious names (Bass) was using with
other associates here to try to get those packages," Grant said.

At least three of Bass' associates, including one Belgian citizen, have
been indicted and are in custody, Grant said.

The DEA Task Force made up of Shreveport and state police, Bossier and
Caddo sheriff's deputies and National Guardsmen became involved in the
investigation in December 1999, Grant said.

Bossier City police had been investigating Bass' alleged connections to
drug activity long before the task force was notified, he said.

Bossier City police have worked well with the DEA in the past, including in
this case.

But Bossier City Police Chief Mike Halphen withdrew the department's
representative on the DEA task force late last month in a rift with the
federal government. Halphen told reporters earlier this week he made the
move because he believes federal agents recently began investigating his
narcotics officers based on bogus information provided them by a drug
suspect in an unrelated case.

Halphen said Monday the false information was that Bossier City narcotics
officers had let a drug suspect go without arresting him in exchange for a
$40,000 payoff. Halphen said the federal government refused to talk to him
when he asked questions, so he did his own investigation which cleared his
narcotics unit.

Halphen attended Wednesday's news conference announcing Bass' indictment,
as did representatives of the DEA and other law enforcement agencies.
Afterward, Halphen said Bossier City police will continue to work with the
federal government on criminal cases but he hadn't yet decided whether he
would restore the department's representation on the DEA task force.

Bass could face up to life in prison, a $4 million fine or both, if convicted.

Bass' shop was closed Wednesday afternoon. A handwritten sign advised
customers the business would reopen today.

"Edwards bought some golf clubs from me and some golf balls, but I didn't
know anything about this," said Golf Etc. owner Bobby Rosett. Golf Etc. is
adjacent to Bass' jewelry shop.

"I didn't have any idea," Rosett said. "He seemed like a nice enough guy."

Rosett said he saw several people stop to look into the jewelry store and a
few have come into his shop to ask why Bass' shop is closed.

Times staffer Larry Burton contributed to this report.