MAN GIVEN 30 YEARS FOR HELPING RUN NARCOTICS RING

Hortman Found Guilty of 5 Crimes, Including Money Laundering,
Conspiracy

A Milwaukee man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for helping
run a narcotics ring that moved at least 50 kilograms of cocaine and
$1 million in drug money through the city.

Charles L. Hortman, 27, was found guilty during a 2001 jury trial of
five federal crimes, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and
money laundering.

The 30-year sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman
was at the low end of a federal sentencing recommendation for Hortman,
who could have been sentenced to life in prison because of two
previous felony drug convictions.

Federal officials allege that the 16-member drug conspiracy funneled
drugs from Los Angeles to Chicago and Milwaukee between 1994 and 1999.
Sometimes they traveled on commercial airlines, transporting drugs and
money in their luggage and in their clothing. Sometimes they used
aliases, but several - including Hortman - got frequent flier cards
under their real names.

Court records show that in October 1996, Hortman was stopped at
Mitchell International Airport with $8,960 in cash in his underwear,
pants pockets and the lining of his coat. In March 1997, authorities
investigated a drive-by shooting. Hortman was a passenger in the
victim's vehicle. Inside the car, authorities recovered three
handguns, three cell phones and $3,680. Hortman had an additional $969.

A confidential informant told authorities that Hortman was a key
figure in the drug ring's Milwaukee operations, according to court
records. Prosecutors say the ring's national leaders were Darrington
Sampson and Terri Edwards, the ex-wife of convicted Milwaukee drug
dealer and murderer Dillard Kelley.

At his sentencing hearing, Hortman said he was still trying to figure
out what had happened.

"I guess I'm a dummy. I went to trial, but I'm not never gonna believe
that what happened to me in that courtroom was fair," he said. "I have
never proclaimed to be no angel, but this crime I'm about to be
sentenced for, I didn't do this one."

Hortman was the 13th defendant to be convicted and sentenced as part
of the federal conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Three others are fugitives.