|
|
News
Release FEDERAL
JURY CONVICTS SPRINGFIELD PAIR
SPRINGFIELD, MA - As a result of their conviction by a federal jury late yesterday, two crack cocaine dealers from Springfield face minimum federal prison terms of 30 years and possible life sentences for distributing cocaine and crack cocaine. The convictions were announced yesterday by Michael J. Sullivan, United States District Attorney, and Vincent J. Mazilli, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s New England Division. Following a ten-day trial, a federal jury sitting before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor convicted GARY WHITE, age 31, and JEROME CAPLETON, age 29, both of Springfield, Massachusetts, of conspiring to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine between December 21, 1999, and September 21, 2000. The two men sold a total of over 900 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer. At the trial, the undercover officer testified about dozens of consensually recorded conversations and meetings he had with White throughout the 10-month investigation. The evidence at trial demonstrated that White acted as a drug broker by obtaining cocaine and crack cocaine from several sources of supply during the investigation. Initially, his supplier was Edwin Rodriguez, who on August 20, 2001, pled guilty to his involvement in the conspiracy. White’s source of supply for the last three deals was Capleton. The evidence also showed that White planned to steal $14,000 from the undercover police officer during the last deal on September 21, 2000. Another individual, Lincoln Brown, was indicted with the other defendants on September 21, 2000, and charged with supplying White with crack cocaine. Brown remains a fugitive. White and Capleton are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ponsor on January 29, 2002. Each defendant faces a minimum penalty of 30 years imprisonment followed by ten years of supervised release and a maximum penalty of life in jail and a $10 million fine. The case was investigated by the Springfield DEA Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse in U.S. Attorney Sullivan’s Springfield Office. |
