JURY CONVICTS THREE, ACQUITS THREE OTHERS IN LITTLE ROCK DRUG RING CASE

Three of five people accused of conspiring to import large quantities
of drugs and then distribute them for profit in the Little Rock area
were convicted Wednesday by a federal court jury.

A sixth person, Bobby Glenn Banks, 23, of Little Rock, was acquitted
of being a felon in possession of a firearm - the only charge that
remained against him after his conspiracy charge was thrown out during
the trial.

Of those charged with conspiracy, which could carry a sentence of up
to life in prison, the jury returned innocent verdicts for Shirlena
Wright, 28, also of Little Rock, and Donald B. Miller, 38, of Augusta.

Wright was also acquitted on the only other charge she faced,
distribution of crack cocaine, but Miller was convicted on that charge.

With a big smile on her face, Wright left the courthouse minutes after
the verdict, saying she was going home to her son. Banks also was released.

Those convicted of conspiracy, and now awaiting sentencing, include
Maurice McDonald, 31, of Little Rock, one of four accused of being the
"major distributors" in the illegal drug operation.

McDonald was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack
cocaine, marijuana and PCP, two counts of distribution of crack
cocaine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The firearm in question, a .45-caliber pistol, was one that Little
Rock police shot from McDonald's hand while conducting early morning
raids on May 28, 1998, two days after a 66-count indictment was handed
down against 54 people by a federal grand jury in Little Rock.

Police contended that McDonald aimed the weapon at two officers,
prompting them to shoot in self-defense.

Also convicted Wednesday of conspiracy were Rodney Dewayne "Dino"
Floyd and Jamo Jenkins, both 31 and from Little Rock. Floyd was also
convicted of using a telephone to commit a drug felony, and Jenkins on
possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

No sentencing date has been set for any of those convicted Wednesday
or for any of the 38 others who either pleaded guilty to various
charges before trial or who are currently in a pretrial diversion
program that may result in their charges being dropped.

The U.S. attorney's office dropped charges against some of the 54
before the trial and against four people during the trial. Also during
the trial, U.S. District Judge Stephen M. Reasoner acquitted defendant
Freddie Lee Platt, 27, of Little Rock, ruling that the admissible
evidence wasn't enough to convict.

In an indictment handed down May 26, 1998, Steven Tyrone "Skee"
Miller, 32, of Little Rock was described as the leader of the
organization. He, McDonald, William Wadlington and Clinton Davis Lewis
Jr. were described as the major distributors of drugs that Miller sent
his associates to California to get.

Wadlington was later killed outside the El Rancho nightclub in Little
Rock, a club owned by Miller. Miller and the others pleaded guilty
before trial and are awaiting sentencing.

In pleading guilty, Miller admitted to distributing as much as 150
kilos of cocaine, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat Harris.

In closing argument on Monday, Harris described how Miller organized
his associates to bring cocaine and marijuana to Little Rock, where

the cocaine was "cooked up," diluted, and turned into crack, and then
sold in smaller quantities through a vast distribution network.

The drug trafficking ring was broken up by members of the Metrock task
force, which consists of various members of local law enforcement
agencies, after a judge authorized wiretaps on some key suspects'
telephones. About 6,500 conversations were secretly recorded.

Some defense attorneys had questioned the government's attempt to link
their clients to the conspiracy charge.

Charles Peden, representing Wright, told jurors that his client got
snagged as she was trying to distance herself from the drug trade, not
participate in it.

"She was tempted to sell drugs, but she wanted out, and she got out,"
Peden told jurors. "She quit before any transactions took place." He
said Wright tried to get away from McDonald by steering him toward one
of her best friends - Platt.

But when the inexperienced Platt was "ripped off" during a drug sale,
causing McDonald to lose money and suspect Platt of double-crossing
him, Wright felt she had to intercede to save her friend from
McDonald's wrath, Peden said.

Explaining testimony about Wright getting about $2,000 worth of
furniture out of storage and giving it to McDonald to placate him,
Peden said she was simply trying to help a friend in a situation where
she felt responsible.

"She gave up her furniture for Freddie Platt, so Freddie Platt
wouldn't get shot," Peden asserted.

Richard Hutto, attorney for Donnie Miller, Steven Miller's uncle,
argued that no credible evidence had been presented to show that the
uncle had any knowledge of his nephew's drug business. Under the law,
Hutto told jurors, "a person without knowledge of a conspiracy, even
if they do something to further that conspiracy, is not guilty."