Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jan 2000
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Houston Chronicle
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COLONEL'S WIFE WILL PLEAD GUILTY

Heroin-smuggling Conspiracy Alleged

NEW YORK (AP) -- The wife of the former commander of the U.S. Army's
anti-drug operation in Colombia will plead guilty in a federal heroin
smuggling case, prosecutors said.

Attorneys for Laurie Anne Hiett, 36, reached an agreement earlier this
month with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to drug conspiracy
charges, according to court papers filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Lee Dunst.

Hiett surrendered to federal authorities in August after they
intercepted two 1.2 kilogram packages of heroin that she allegedly
shipped to the United States from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.

She was accused of making four other similar shipments.

Hiett had said she believed the parcels contained books, candy, coffee
and Colombian artifacts. She is expected to plead guilty Jan. 26.

On Wednesday, Dunst refused to comment on the deal. Hiett's attorney
did not return a call for comment.

The Army insists Col. James Hiett, then head of U.S. anti-drug
operations in Colombia, was unaware of his wife's alleged crimes.

Court papers allege he was living with a bungling drug smuggler who
shipped her goods with a return address.

The colonel requested removal from his military post in Colombia after
the allegations arose.

Earlier this month, co-defendant Hernan Arcila, 54, pleaded guilty to
drug conspiracy, admitting that he accepted shipments from Colombia at
his Queens address. He, like Mrs. Hiett, faces a possible 10-year
prison term.

Authorities had at first said the packages linked to Hiett contained
cocaine, but they later said lab tests showed the substance was heroin.