24233: (news) Chamberlain: Haitian Drugs (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   MIAMI, Feb 9 (AP) -- A Haitian who ran a cocaine smuggling operation was
sentenced Wednesday to nearly 20 years in prison by a federal judge
unswayed by the man's charitable works in his Caribbean homeland.
   Jean Eliobert Jasme, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy counts filed in
Miami and New York City. Under a plea deal, Jasme is helping investigators
probing any ties involving Haitian officials under ousted President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide to drug smuggling and bribes.
   Judge Marcia Cooke rejected defense arguments for a lighter sentence
based on Jasme's aid to the poor and disaster victims in Haiti, a frequent
stopover for boats and planes carrying Colombian cocaine under Aristide and
previous military governments.
   "He operated a cocaine smuggling business that hurt many more people
than he ever helped," the judge said. "You don't get to wash your hands
clean" after taking part in a smuggling venture that dated to 1992, she
said.
   The plea deal allows Jasme to return to court later for a reduced
sentence based on the value of his help to investigators.
   A co-defendant, Wista Louis, 45, was sentenced to nearly 16 years in
prison. Her husband, Emmanuel Thibaud, already is serving 14 1/2 years on
drug charges.