Pubdate: Sat, 17 July 1999 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 1999, The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Forum: http://tampabayonline.net/interact/welcome.htm Author: Sarah Huntley, The Tampa Tribune INFORMING PAYS OFF FOR DRUG DEALER TAMPA - The judge says he is loath to reward a career criminal but gives a cocaine dealer credit for his aid. He will serve 10 years. Samuel Earl Jones, 29, walked into a federal courtroom Thursday knowing he could spend the rest of his life in prison. But the admitted cocaine dealer caught a break. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara sentenced Jones to 10 years after a federal prosecutor asked that he receive credit for cooperating with authorities. Jones was one of several people arrested last year in a crackdown on a cocaine distribution ring that authorities called the biggest and most sophisticated in south St. Petersburg. The alleged kingpin of the group, Elrick Bernard Wynn, remains a fugitive. Jones, who had other drug convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy just before the case went to trial. In April, he testified against seven co-defendants. Six were convicted. Because Jones is a repeat criminal who was involved in moving major quantities of drugs, federal sentencing guidelines required him to serve a mandatory life sentence. But the law allows judges to depart from the guidelines if a prosecutor requests leniency. Jones' cooperation was substantial in "scope, detail and significance," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Ruddy said Thursday. Jones also helped agents recover 2 kilograms of cocaine in Georgia and was willing to take the stand against another defendant, who later pleaded guilty. Lazzara told Jones he often is concerned about rewarding informants, because so many of them have extensive histories of wrongdoing. Jones was able to testify as a valuable government witness, the judge said, because he spent years "peddling his poison on the streets of south St. Petersburg." Lazzara added, however, that he realizes law enforcement agencies have to rely upon informants. "I guess it is just a fact of life that we have to deal with people like Mr. Jones," he said. Sarah Huntley covers federal courts and can be reached at (813) 259-7616. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D