JURY CLEARS TWO LAWYERS

TAMPA, Fla., April 13 (UPI) - After five days of deliberations a
federal jury as acquitted two lawyers of conspiring to get a convicted
drug dealer a sentence reduction.

Paul Lazarus of Miami and Howard Freidin of Fort Myers were found not
guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges.

The two lawyers were accused along with two Drug Enforcement Agency
operatives of misleading federal prosecutors about the ``substantial
assistance'' provided in drug cases by Daniel Hostetter, a convicted
cocaine dealer who is serving a 16-year sentence.

Prosecutors said the four men misled them about the help Hostetter
provided in hopes of recieving a lesser sentence. The drug dealer
allegedly paid $40,000 to the four men.

The two DEA operatives, Leonardo Velazquez amd Michael Woods, pleaded
guilty to the charges and are awaiting sentencing.