FRESNO — A Fresno man was convicted Thursday of heading a multimillion-dollar cocaine trafficking operation that stretched from California to Missouri and Tennessee. Victor Lamont Brown could face 30 years to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Coyle set Jan. 22 for sentencing.
Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Fresno police confiscated $1.1 million, guns, a money counter and a publication on cocaine smuggling when they raided Brown's home Aug. 7, 1998.
In a separate raid, the officers found 6 kilograms of cocaine at his father's house.
Although Brown admitted on the witness stand that he had been a cocaine dealer, he said he was convinced to quit after a spiritual awakening following his 1993 arrest and subsequent prison term.
The money, he said, was profits from his earlier dealings, not from the massive cocaine-distribution system prosecutors had charged.
Brown's lawyer, Jerome P. Mullins, said the verdict is likely to be appealed.
Five co-conspirators charged in the Fresno case with Brown - including his father, James - testified against him and identified him as the leader of an operation that they said included shipments of hundreds of pounds of cocaine and produced profits of millions of dollars. The Fresno case is connected to a continuing investigation in Kansas City that has resulted in about 20 convictions. Tamarick Vanover, a one-time kick return specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs, and former Chiefs running back Bam Morris pleaded guilty in that investigation and are cooperating.
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CA Is Burning said:
CA Is Burning said:
Too bad democrats are allowed to vote
Rick Bonilla said:
This is the second time you have hit the nail one the head in as many days! Thank you
Dirk van Ulden said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
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