Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Jail Drug Transfer

A lawyer charged with smuggling cocaine to members of the Black Guerrilla family while they were held in Los Angeles County Jail pleaded guilty Tuesday to drug possession.

In exchange for his guilty plea, federal prosecutors dropped conspiracy and other drug charges against Lawrence J. Elkins, 35. Elkins faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1-million fine.

Elkins was accused of attempting to pass more than an ounce of rock cocaine wrapped in five balloons packed into a condom to Dwayne White, 26, through White’s sister, Kimberly White, 19. The brother and sister pleaded guilty to reduced charges in May and agreed to testify against Elkins.

An affidavit filed with the federal complaint said an informant told officials that Elkins sympathized with the Black Guerrilla family prison gang and that he received at least $300 each time he acted as their “drug runner.”