
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990                   TAG: 9006050360
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MAN JUMPS BOND IN COCAINE CONSPIRACY

A Roanoke man, convicted earlier this year of a cocaine conspiracy that ended abruptly when his cohort tried to sneak a tinfoil-wrapped parcel of drugs through an airport metal detector, failed to show up for his sentencing Monday.

U.S. Judge Jackson Kiser revoked the $30,000 surety bond of Hubert Jones, who authorities believe is somewhere between San Antonio, Texas, and Compton, Calif.

Jones was convicted in January of conspiracy and possession of cocaine. He was arrested after his partner, 18-year-old Harold Cunningham, tripped an alarm at the Roanoke Regional Airport.

Cunningham, who pleaded guilty and was placed on probation last month, had testified that Jones forced him to smuggle the contraband and was waiting on the other side of the metal detector to collect the drugs and board a flight to Charlotte.

Jones, however, claimed that he was going to visit his girlfriend in Texas and that he knew nothing about the cocaine that Cunningham was caught carrying.

A U.S. probation officer told Kiser on Monday that Jones, who had been vacationing with his mother, was expected to report to authorities in St. Louis on April 19. He failed to do so, and the court issued a warrant for his arrest. To date, the warrant has not been served, the probation officer said.

Kiser ordered that new warrants be issued.

William Lindsey, Jones' attorney, said he had not had contact with his client for several months. Lindsey said he spoke with Jones' father on Friday, who called to ask if Lindsey had heard from his son.

by CNB