Lawyers, feds talk Lewis plea bargain

Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 | 10:12 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Attorneys in Atlanta representing Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis and federal prosecutors are engaged in plea negotiations that could resolve a drug indictment against Lewis, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today.

Federal prosecutors have offered a deal, the newspaper said, in which Lewis would receive a sentence of less than one year in prison, according to lawyers familiar with the negotiations.

Lawyers and prosecutors have been discussing a possible deal over the past two weeks. Any agreement would have to be approved by U.S. District Judge Orinda Evans, who is presiding over the case.

Lewis, last year's NFL offensive player of the year and an Atlanta native, faces charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine and using a cellphone to set up a drug transaction. The case stems from a federal investigation in the summer of 2000 when the FBI used a cooperating witness to contact Lewis to arrange a cocaine deal.

Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates declined to comment Thursday about the case. Don Samuel, a member of Lewis' defense team, referred questions to his partner, Ed Garland, who also declined to comment.

If no agreement can be reached, Lewis and longtime friend and co-defendant Angelo Jackson would stand trial on Nov. 1 in the midst of the NFL season. If convicted, Lewis and Jackson would face sentences of at least 10 years in prison.

Coach Dennis Erickson also noticed improvement, but he stopped short of naming Rattay the starter.