DOPE SELLER TO LOSE NAZI FINDS IN PLEA BARGAIN

The Memorabilia He Said Were Bought With Marijuana Proceeds Are Likely
Headed To A Museums.

A collection of Nazi memorabilia that includes Luftwaffe chief Hermann
Goering's coat and wedding sword may soon be exhibited in U.S. museums
as part of a Laguna Beach man's plea agreement, finalized Monday with
his sentence of 30 months in prison for distributing marijuana.

Brynn Garrett Downey, 46, of Laguna Beach admitted purchasing the
memorabilia, valued at up to $2 million, with the proceeds of a
marijuana operation that handled an estimated 9 tons of the illegal
substance, valued at $7 million, from 1993 to 1996. He had agreed to
testify against seven ring members but they pleaded guilty before he
was called.

Assistant U.S.Attorney Jeffrey W. Johnson said the ring made weekly
trips across the Mexican border, sometimes hiring elderly drivers
because their appearance was unlikely to raise suspicion. One of the
defendants, Lorenzo Rios Osuna, 32, of Victorville, was sentenced to
19 years and seven months. The others received lesser terms.

Thom Mrozek, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Alejandro N. Mayorkas, said
the forfeited Nazi memorabilia could be auctioned to private
collectors but because of its historic value it is more likely to be
donated to museums.

Downey had faced a 10-year prison term, but U.S. District Court Judge
J. Spenser Letts opted for a lesser sentence late Monday after he
noted that the defendant had helped investigators and has been working
as a volunteer employment counselor at the Friendship Center in Laguna
Beach.

In addition to charges that he helped distributed the marijuana,
Downey also admitted failing to report some $750,000 in income to the
Internal Revenue Service. He has already repaid $500,000 in back taxes.