KEY WITNESS IN U.S. DRUG CASE RECANTS TESTIMONY

Woman Had Pleaded Guilty To Role In Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine

A key government witness in the prosecution of alleged drug conspirators
accused of distributing more than a ton of cocaine has recanted her grand
jury testimony and other statements helpful to law enforcement, a
prosecutor said Monday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bella told U.S. District Judge Rudolph T.
Randa that he learned of Yvette Peterson's change of heart and testimony a
week ago when attorney James Shellow sent him a statement from Yvette
Peterson recanting the testimony.

Shellow represents Lonnie Peterson, who is Yvette Peterson's brother and
the alleged ringleader in the cocaine conspiracy. Yvette Peterson has
admitted participating in the conspiracy.

Shellow said after the hearing that he had "no idea" why Yvette Peterson
contacted him about recanting her testimony instead of going to her own lawyer.

During Monday's hearing, Bella said that Yvette Peterson is "destroying her
life" by turning her back on the plea agreement.

Yvette Peterson pleaded guilty in September - five months before the
indictment against other alleged conspirators was made public - to
conspiracy to distribute more than 50 kilograms of cocaine.

The count carries a penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment, plus a fine
of up to $4 million. Under the plea agreement, however, Yvette Peterson
could have won from prosecutors a recommendation for a lesser sentence if
she continued to cooperate.

Bella said Monday that Yvette Peterson was a key witness in the
government's case but that "the government is prepared to go to trial anyway."

The government has filed a motion in the case asking that lawyers for the
defendants who have not reached plea agreements be prohibited from
referring to Yvette Peterson's "recantation of her statements to federal
agents and of her grand jury testimony unless she testifies as a witness at
trial."

Defendants still facing trial are Lonnie Peterson; his mother, Patsy
Peterson; and Shawn Jenkins.

Another defendant, Cynthia Peterson, Lonnie Peterson's wife, pleaded guilty
Monday to using a communication facility to facilitate a drug conspiracy.

Defendants Timothy Firley, Odie Brown and Chauncy Cargile are awaiting
sentencing after earlier reaching plea agreements with the government.

Kimberly Johnson pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession with intent
to distribute 1 kilogram of cocaine and distribution of 1 kilogram of
cocaine. She was sentenced to five years in prison.