DEFENSE BEGINS PRESENTATION; MARTIN'S CO-DEFENDANT FEATURED

MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Dolphins receiver Tony Martin was almost an afterthought
as the defense in his drug and money-laundering trial concentrated on
co-defendant Rickey Brownlee.

A private financial investigator disputed an IRS agent's decision not to
credit some $1.4 million of restaurant income to Brownlee, Martin's longtime
friend.

Retired IRS agent Douglas Schwartz, now in private practice, said his own
investigation showed Brownlee profited from two restaurants.

"Based on my analysis and talking to witnesses, I do feel this is Rickey
Brownlee's money," Schwartz said.

Several former restaurant employees testified that Brownlee ran the
establishments, even though the restaurants were licensed in the name of an
associate.

The testimony was aimed at countering government arguments that Brownlee,
who spent seven years in prison for two 1980s drug convictions, earned his
living by dealing drugs and that Martin helped him launder the profits.

Martin, 33, is accused of leasing three cars in his name on behalf of
Brownlee, who paid him back with cash. Martin also is accused of writing a
$100,000 check to Brownlee's first lawyer in exchange for cash.

At issue is whether Martin, who has known Brownlee since childhood and calls
him his uncle, knew he was accepting drug money.

IRS agent Ron Wise, testifying during the prosecution's presentation, said
Brownlee amassed some $1.3 million in unexplained wealth. Wise said during
cross-examination that he did not include restaurant income because the
businesses were licensed to somebody else.

Schwartz said that regardless of whose name was on the paperwork, all
indications pointed to Brownlee running the restaurants.

Asked by assistant U.S. attorney Ron DeWaard whether Brownlee might have
used a restaurant account to hide drug money, Schwartz said: "The man did
not take this $1.4 million and hide it under his mattress and deposit drug
money into his account."

Schwartz said it would not be unusual for Brownlee to have large amounts of
cash on hand since the restaurants generated mostly cash income.

Brownlee, known on the streets as "the Mayor of Opa-locka," is charged with
five counts of possessing heroin or cocaine with the intent to distribute,
and one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute.