DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS

Defendant Quit Helping Police Corruption Probe

Just before Derrick "Smiley" Smith was sentenced to 30 years in prison
Thursday on a drug charge, federal prosecutor Jim Klindt expressed his
bewilderment at why Smith chose to face such hard time rather than continue
to cooperate in a federal grand jury probe of Jacksonville police.

"This is a very strange case," Klindt told U.S. District Judge Henry Lee
Adams Jr. "[Smith] provided a great deal of information. He was very
cooperative. Then, all of a sudden, something happened. It was like being
in a room and the lights went out."

Smith, 29, was one of three drug dealers who were catalysts to the ongoing
police corruption investigation after they were arrested in August 1999.
Smith, Abdul "Blue" Robinson and Dondrecka "Marlo" Bates were indicted by a
federal grand jury for distributing cocaine in Jacksonville as far back as
1989.

The men worked out plea agreements in which prosecutors would drop all but
one drug charge and could consider asking for further relief depending on
their cooperation. Bates' help included providing information that
implicated Smith and Robinson, while those two have given investigators
details such as how at least one police officer was receiving payoffs for
giving tips about drug investigations.

The information led a task force of city, state and federal authorities to
other details that include allegations of police and others being involved
in murder and robbery.

Last month, Bates got seven years in prison after Klindt filed a motion
allowing the judge to go outside the federal sentencing guidelines, which
he did on the low end. Robinson got 21 years without any relief, though he
could still get a reduction within the next year.

Smith, who was sentenced Thursday after the judge denied his attempt to
change his plea, faced 30 years to life. Klindt recommended Smith get the
low end, but he declined to file a motion -- known as a 5k -- to allow the
judge to give Smith less time.

Smith, who went through several attorneys, had zero credibility because of
how he changed, Klindt said. Though the corruption probe has moved far
beyond the initial offerings from the drug dealers, Klindt told the judge
that as late as yesterday he tried unsuccessfully to convince Smith to
resume his help.

Given a chance to speak, Smith did not tell the court why he stopped
cooperating.

"My cooperation has expanded this entire investigation to where it is
today," said Smith, who offered no other details.

Smith's attorney, Calvin Rivers, asked Adams to be lenient and ignore
Smith's near flippancy in court proceedings.

"Even though he may appear to be crass and belligerent, we have to
understand this man is fighting for his life," Rivers said. "He wants to be
treated fairly."

Several of Smith's relatives and most of the police task force involved in
the grand jury probe attended the sentencing. Also on hand was Sheriff Nat
Glover, who has stripped five police officers of their duties during the
probe. No charges have been filed.

"I thought it was fitting and proper that I should be here," said Glover,
who was not on hand when the other drug dealers were sentenced. "This
investigation certainly has had some long-range impact on my desire to look
at some internal challenges. I respect the judgment of the court. Justice
is being done."