Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
5 Drug Ring Members Plead Guilty, Used Profits to Finance Movie
781 views
Skip to first unread message
therolypolyrowdy
Jan 25, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/25/00
to
5 members of drug ring plead guilty
Leader allegedly used profits to make movie
By MARK SCHAVER, The Courier-Journal
A major drug trafficker, who prosecutors say helped finance a movie by
shipping hundreds of pounds of cocaine and marijuana to Louisville,
pleaded guilty yesterday as his trial was scheduled to begin.
Robert Hayes, 31, admitted in U.S. District Court that he was the
leader of a drug ring that regularly bought cocaine and marijuana in
Texas and Miami to sell in Louisville.
Hayes was one of five defendants -- including his wife and his brother
-- who reached plea agreements yesterday.
Hayes helped finance a movie, "Winner Takes All," with money he earned
selling drugs, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Taft said.
"Winner Takes All," which was filmed in Louisville, has been showing on
the Black Entertainment Television cable network this month. It stars
Hayes and tells the story of two brothers who grow up in the ghetto --
one to become a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and the other a
member of a crime syndicate.
"Sometimes art does imitate life," Michael Lewellen, BET vice president
for corporate communications, said with a chuckle.
Lewellen said the network was unaware of Hayes' background or his
upcoming trial when it decided to show the movie. He said the network
bought the rights to broadcast the movie from an independent company
based in Los Angeles and knew nothing about its financing.
The movie is also available at some Louisville video stores.
In exchange for a lighter sentence, Hayes agreed to cooperate with the
government and pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including operating a
criminal enterprise, conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana and
money laundering.
Prosecutors say Hayes was connected to $794,616 in cash that was found
hidden in a Chevy Blazer parked at Louisville International Airport in
January 1998.
Taft said Hayes' brother, Marvin Hayes, 48, helped stuff the cash in
the truck. Marvin Hayes pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to
distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Jose Colchado, 27, of Texas, who Taft said had come to Louisville to
drive the Blazer back to Texas, also pleaded guilty yesterday to
conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Taft said Victor Bright, who was gunned down outside his home in
November 1998, 10 months after the Blazer was seized by police, helped
Marvin Hayes load the Blazer with cash. Taft described Bright, whose
murder remains unsolved, as an "associate" of Robert Hayes.
Taft said he didn't know why Bright was killed, or if his death had
anything to do with the case.
Another defendant, Julius Black, 28, also pleaded guilty to conspiring
to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Last year prosecutors investigated allegations that Black had
threatened to harm Taft and Chief Judge Charles R. Simpson III, who is
presiding over the case. The investigation found no evidence Black made
the threats.
A conspiracy count against Robert Hayes' wife, Jay Hall, 28, was
dismissed yesterday, but she pleaded guilty to a charge of helping
Robert Hayes distribute marijuana, said Marisa Ford, a spokeswoman for
the U.S. attorney's office.
A sentencing date won't be set until after the trial of Walter Johnson,
who is the only one of nine defendants arrested who hasn't pleaded
guilty. A 10th defendant, Javier Martinez, remains at large.
Three other people have already pleaded guilty in the case.
Robert Hayes faced a maximum of life in prison, although his plea
agreement calls for prosecutors to recommend the minimum in the range
called for under federal sentencing guidelines. His most serious
charge, operating a criminal enterprise, carries a 30-year minimum.
Hayes quibbled with a lengthy description Taft gave of the evidence
against him and his relationship with the other defendants.
"A lot of 'em see a way to get out, and they're puttin' the weight on
me, but I'm coppin' out to it," Hayes said.
Asked by Simpson if he was the organizer or manager of the drug ring,
Hayes said, "No sir, I gave orders."
Taft said that some of Hayes' drug money was laundered through a bank
account of a music recording business he owned called P.G.L.
Entertainment. Taft said Hayes told a banker that P.G.L. stood for
"Pimps, Gangsters and Legends."
But Hayes' lawyer, Mark Wettle, said the first letter of P.G.L. stood
for "Players."
BACK TO NEWS DIGEST
Leader allegedly used profits to make movie
By MARK SCHAVER, The Courier-Journal
A major drug trafficker, who prosecutors say helped finance a movie by
shipping hundreds of pounds of cocaine and marijuana to Louisville,
pleaded guilty yesterday as his trial was scheduled to begin.
Robert Hayes, 31, admitted in U.S. District Court that he was the
leader of a drug ring that regularly bought cocaine and marijuana in
Texas and Miami to sell in Louisville.
Hayes was one of five defendants -- including his wife and his brother
-- who reached plea agreements yesterday.
Hayes helped finance a movie, "Winner Takes All," with money he earned
selling drugs, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Taft said.
"Winner Takes All," which was filmed in Louisville, has been showing on
the Black Entertainment Television cable network this month. It stars
Hayes and tells the story of two brothers who grow up in the ghetto --
one to become a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and the other a
member of a crime syndicate.
"Sometimes art does imitate life," Michael Lewellen, BET vice president
for corporate communications, said with a chuckle.
Lewellen said the network was unaware of Hayes' background or his
upcoming trial when it decided to show the movie. He said the network
bought the rights to broadcast the movie from an independent company
based in Los Angeles and knew nothing about its financing.
The movie is also available at some Louisville video stores.
In exchange for a lighter sentence, Hayes agreed to cooperate with the
government and pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including operating a
criminal enterprise, conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana and
money laundering.
Prosecutors say Hayes was connected to $794,616 in cash that was found
hidden in a Chevy Blazer parked at Louisville International Airport in
January 1998.
Taft said Hayes' brother, Marvin Hayes, 48, helped stuff the cash in
the truck. Marvin Hayes pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to
distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Jose Colchado, 27, of Texas, who Taft said had come to Louisville to
drive the Blazer back to Texas, also pleaded guilty yesterday to
conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Taft said Victor Bright, who was gunned down outside his home in
November 1998, 10 months after the Blazer was seized by police, helped
Marvin Hayes load the Blazer with cash. Taft described Bright, whose
murder remains unsolved, as an "associate" of Robert Hayes.
Taft said he didn't know why Bright was killed, or if his death had
anything to do with the case.
Another defendant, Julius Black, 28, also pleaded guilty to conspiring
to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Last year prosecutors investigated allegations that Black had
threatened to harm Taft and Chief Judge Charles R. Simpson III, who is
presiding over the case. The investigation found no evidence Black made
the threats.
A conspiracy count against Robert Hayes' wife, Jay Hall, 28, was
dismissed yesterday, but she pleaded guilty to a charge of helping
Robert Hayes distribute marijuana, said Marisa Ford, a spokeswoman for
the U.S. attorney's office.
A sentencing date won't be set until after the trial of Walter Johnson,
who is the only one of nine defendants arrested who hasn't pleaded
guilty. A 10th defendant, Javier Martinez, remains at large.
Three other people have already pleaded guilty in the case.
Robert Hayes faced a maximum of life in prison, although his plea
agreement calls for prosecutors to recommend the minimum in the range
called for under federal sentencing guidelines. His most serious
charge, operating a criminal enterprise, carries a 30-year minimum.
Hayes quibbled with a lengthy description Taft gave of the evidence
against him and his relationship with the other defendants.
"A lot of 'em see a way to get out, and they're puttin' the weight on
me, but I'm coppin' out to it," Hayes said.
Asked by Simpson if he was the organizer or manager of the drug ring,
Hayes said, "No sir, I gave orders."
Taft said that some of Hayes' drug money was laundered through a bank
account of a music recording business he owned called P.G.L.
Entertainment. Taft said Hayes told a banker that P.G.L. stood for
"Pimps, Gangsters and Legends."
But Hayes' lawyer, Mark Wettle, said the first letter of P.G.L. stood
for "Players."
BACK TO NEWS DIGEST
TO NEWS ARCHIVE
All pages © 1998-99 The Courier-Journal Terms of Service
Send questions and comments to The Webmaster
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Wayne Johnson
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
On Tue, 25 Jan 2000 22:40:51 -0800, therolypolyrowdy
<duke56N...@webtv.net.invalid> wrote:
<duke56N...@webtv.net.invalid> wrote:
>5 members of drug ring plead guilty
The entire article is posted text.
Of what interest is this to anyone?
Wayne "There is not even a date on it...how old is this stuff?"
Johnson
cia...@ix.netcom.com
therolypolyrowdy
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
The story is from yesterday's Louisville Courier Journal and I thought
it was an interesting story even though there wasn't a lot of murder
and mayhem in it. I've often wondered what big time dope dealers did
with all that cash that we sometimes see the cops seizing on television
newscasts, I knew they invested some in legit businesses but I never
dreamed they would use it to make movies about themselves.
it was an interesting story even though there wasn't a lot of murder
and mayhem in it. I've often wondered what big time dope dealers did
with all that cash that we sometimes see the cops seizing on television
newscasts, I knew they invested some in legit businesses but I never
dreamed they would use it to make movies about themselves.
Dyttohed
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
I always wondered how Spike Lee and his bro's would come up with the cash
for their flicks:
______________________________________
for their flicks:
______________________________________
therolypolyrowdy <duke56N...@webtv.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:1f1200dc...@usw-ex0106-045.remarq.com...
5 members of drug ring plead guilty
pky...@gmail.com
Jul 2, 2014, 12:34:39 AM7/2/14
to
My dad escorted this guy to the hospital recently. We were both skeptical he had made a movie but I'll be damned if its not true lol.
0 new messages