MAN GIVEN 40 YEARS IN DEATHS OF PAIR DURING 1995 DRUG DEAL

A man was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison for his part in the
murders of two men whose bodies were torched after they were ambushed
during a 1995 drug deal in northeast Houston.

Adelio Romero, 25, was originally charged with capital murder in the Aug.
4, 1995, deaths of Timothy Powell, 22, and Marcus Johnson, 23, said
prosecutor Ira Jones. He pleaded guilty in August to the lesser charge of
murder as part of a plea bargain.

Romero, who was sentenced Friday by state District Judge Susan Brown, must
serve 20 years before he's eligible for parole.

His co-defendants -- Julian Mata Jr., 27, and Jorge "Kilo" Porras, 22 --
pleaded guilty to capital murder and were sentenced to life in prison. They
must serve at least 40 years.

Mata, who pleaded in May 1998, is currently in federal prison on an
unrelated weapons charge and will start his life term after he finishes
that time. Porras pleaded in August and is already in state prison.

The plea bargains were struck after Romero agreed to testify against both
men, Jones said.

Powell and Johnson had given Mata and his friends some jewelry for 50
pounds of marijuana, Jones said. But the marijuana was not delivered, so
the two men demanded their jewelry back or some cash.

They were invited to Mata's house in the 5200 block of Barrett to resolve
the dispute, Jones said. Mata was not there, having gone elsewhere to
establish an alibi.

Evidence established that he had ordered Porras to supervise their murders.
Once Powell and Johnson were inside, gunmen emerged from a back room and
shot each three times in the head, Jones said.

Romero did not take part in the shootings, but he did witness them and went
along later when the bodies were disposed of, Jones said.

The men's bodies and sports utility vehicle were taken to the 1300 block of
Maxine, near the Houston Ship Channel. The bodies and the vehicle were
doused in gasoline and set afire, Jones said.