Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 26, 1990 TAG: 9005260130
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A U.S. District Court jury in Roanoke had convicted Maurice "Dread" Perez - nicknamed for his dreadlock hairstyle - in March for possessing more than 50 grams of crack cocaine.
Perez's attorney, Don Wolthuis, filed the motion after receiving information that one of the Immigration and Naturalization Service agents who testified at Perez's trial had pleaded guilty in Northern Virginia to criminal charges of making a false statement.
Judge James Turk overruled the request.
In the Northern Virginia case, Philip M. Salemme attempted to obtain criminal charges against a Nigerian gas station attendant with whom he had gotten into an argument. During the argument, Salemme struck the man several times with his service revolver.
Following an investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Salemme was discharged from his position with the INS.
"In light of this revelation, we filed the motion," Wolthuis said. Salemme's actions showed racial bias as well as propensity toward lying, said Wolthuis.
Perez has complained that his native appearance led officials to target him during a drug raid. He testified earlier that he was approached by authorities during Operation Caribbean Sunset - a crack-eradication effort so named because of its focus on Jamaican and Haitian drug dealers - solely because of his hairstyle, multicolored Egyptian T-shirt and hat.
Testimony during his trial showed that INS agents approached Perez and asked him about his citizenship. During questioning, officials noticed the corner of a plastic bag protruding from Perez's pants pocket.
The bag contained more than 100 rocks of crack cocaine - about 60 grams. Police also found Perez carrying more than $2,000 in cash.
by CNB