Pubdate: March 10,1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Section: Metro Page: 4 Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Author: John McDonald DOPE SELLER TO LOSE NAZI FINDS IN PLEA BARGAIN The Memorabilia He Said Were Bought With Marijuana Proceeds Are Likely Headed To A Museums. A collection of Nazi memorabilia that includes Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering's coat and wedding sword may soon be exhibited in U.S. museums as part of a Laguna Beach man's plea agreement, finalized Monday with his sentence of 30 months in prison for distributing marijuana. Brynn Garrett Downey, 46, of Laguna Beach admitted purchasing the memorabilia, valued at up to $2 million, with the proceeds of a marijuana operation that handled an estimated 9 tons of the illegal substance, valued at $7 million, from 1993 to 1996. He had agreed to testify against seven ring members but they pleaded guilty before he was called. Assistant U.S.Attorney Jeffrey W. Johnson said the ring made weekly trips across the Mexican border, sometimes hiring elderly drivers because their appearance was unlikely to raise suspicion. One of the defendants, Lorenzo Rios Osuna, 32, of Victorville, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months. The others received lesser terms. Thom Mrozek, spokesman for U.S. Attorney Alejandro N. Mayorkas, said the forfeited Nazi memorabilia could be auctioned to private collectors but because of its historic value it is more likely to be donated to museums. Downey had faced a 10-year prison term, but U.S. District Court Judge J. Spenser Letts opted for a lesser sentence late Monday after he noted that the defendant had helped investigators and has been working as a volunteer employment counselor at the Friendship Center in Laguna Beach. In addition to charges that he helped distributed the marijuana, Downey also admitted failing to report some $750,000 in income to the Internal Revenue Service. He has already repaid $500,000 in back taxes. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry