ATLANTA COCAINE DEALERS FACE 30 YEARS IN PRISON

JUROR REMOVED FROM PANEL; FEARED FOR SAFETY

After Judge Bensonetta Lane removed a juror from the panel of twelve because the juror feared for her safety, a Fulton County Jury today returned verdicts of guilty against DeJuan McCrory and Gary Googer of Atlanta for one count each of Trafficking in Cocaine. Trafficking in Cocaine is charged when the weight of the drug exceeds 28 grams.

Atlanta Police officers observed the car driven by McCrory cross the center lane into on coming traffic. The officers stopped the car and found that neither Googer, a passenger in the vehicle, nor McCrory, could not provide a consistent story about their travel plans. The officers secured consent from the defendants to search the vehicle. Under the front seat of the vehicle, they discovered a large bag containing three separate smaller bags of cocaine.

The defendants are both recidivists with multiple prior drug convictions. Both are facing 30-year non-paroleable sentences. They will be sentenced on June 5, 2007.

The juror was replaced by another juror and deliberations in the case continued until the verdicts were reached. The excused juror said she had seen the defendants near the area she lived on prior occasions. She said that if the case did not turn out as the defendants expected, she feared for her safety.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us