TAMPA, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- A Tampa federal judge decided not to slap a
contempt of court citation on two U.S. Customs agents, but gave the agency
a tongue-lashing for their lack of internal communication. U.S. District
Judge William Castagna chastised agents Peter Girard and Patrick Olive for
allowing a convicted drug trafficker work for them longer than he had been
allowed. Luis Plata of Hialeah Gardens had his sentence for drug
trafficking reduced from nine to three-years because of his cooperation.
The 42-year-old Plata worked at a warehouse near Miami International
Airport watching for drug activity in the fall of 1994, but was only
allowed to work for Customs for 90-days according to a judge's order. The
two agents allowed Plata to continue his work for them without the judge's
permission to Customs to extend Plata's tenure.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan