Law Enforcement:Sting Operation Set Up In A Garage Effects State Officer's
Capture.

The sting that led to the arrest of Richard W.Parker,an agent with the
Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement who lives in San Jaun
Capistrano,allegedly began with a tip from a source in Detroit.

The source told police of purchasing up to 5 kilograms of cocaine from
another man, Gerhard Ewald Hensel of Redondo Beach, at least twice a
year for the past six years.

The source, who has a criminal record, is cooperating with authorities
in hopes of receiving leniency in a drug case.

An FBI affidavit describes the alleged conspiracy this
way:

On June 30, the FBI source was wired to meet Hensel at a garage in
Lomita to "buy" 6 kilograms of cocaine in an undercover surveillance
operation. Hensel was arrested after the source signaled that he was
shown the drug. Two brick-like packages were found in plain view and
five more bags were hidden in ceiling lights, according to the FBI.

Hensel allegedly told investigators that Monica Lilliam Pitto, 39, of
Manhattan Beach and her friend Christine Whitney, 26, of Manhattan
Beach supplied the drugs. He said both women had told him that a "DEA
agent" had provided them the drugs.

Hensel, still working with officials, made a monitored call to Pitto,
offering to pay her $38,000 for the drugs he "sold" to the FBI source
and to buy 2 more kilograms of cocaine.

She allegedly said she would work on getting the drugs for him, and
also told him he could get them from Whitney.

On July 2, FBI agents gave Hensel $38,000 to pay Pitto in Manhattan
Beach.

About 11 a.m. on that day, Pitto went to a parking structure in
Pasadena where an FBI air unit allegedly observed her parking on the
roof and walking toward the elevators.

At about 12:20 p.m., a dark green truck FBI officers say was driven by
Parker pulled up near the elevators. Officers say they watched as
Parker and Pitto met near his truck. Pitto handed Parker an item. He
opened what appeared to be a tool box drive away, they said.

Pitto left on foot and was arrested shortly after.

Surveillance units followed Parker as he left the parking structure
and arrested him a short distance away.

A narcotics-sniffing dig alerted authorities to several spots in
Parker's car, an FBI agent said in the affidavit, including an
envelope in the trunk holding about $50,000.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"