Ex-Players Guilty in Drug Case : Court: Charles Thompson’s testimony helps convict two former athletes at Oklahoma.

Two former Oklahoma athletes were convicted by a federal jury Wednesday of obtaining cocaine for former Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson to sell.

After three hours of deliberations, the jury convicted John Green, 25, of Detroit and Lamont Harris, 23, of Dallas. They were accused of supplying 17 grams of cocaine to Thompson, who sold it to an undercover FBI agent in January, 1989. He is serving a two-year prison sentence in connection with that sale.

Green and Harris were each found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine distribution. Harris also was found guilty of using a telephone to facilitate a drug transaction.

Both face up to 40 years in prison, although prosecutors said sentences would probably be similar to Thompson’s.

U.S. District Judge Ralph Thompson denied bond for both pending formal sentencing.

A third defendant, Kenneth Hill, 21, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty Monday. Hill then testified along with Thompson against Green and Harris. He was accused of originally supplying the 17 grams of cocaine.

Leslie Kaestner, assistant U.S. Attorney, said the convictions wrapped up prosecutions in the undercover investigation. She said it may be two months before sentencing is handed down.

“It was apparently Mr. Harris who initiated all these goings on,” Kaestner said. “We feel that he was the one most involved.”

Kaestner said the testimony of Thompson and Hill was vital to getting the convictions.

“I believe it was very damaging,” she said.

During the case, Thompson said he sold cocaine to undercover FBI agent Floyd Zimms at the behest of Green, a former teammate from Detroit, and Harris, a former track star.

Zimms testified Tuesday that Thompson arranged to sell him an ounce of cocaine for $1,400. He said he initially introduced himself to Thompson as “Tony,” a collector of illegal debts.

Zimms said he had several meetings with Thompson before obtaining the cocaine Jan. 26, 1989.

Green was a letterman on the 1987 Oklahoma football team. Harris lettered on the Oklahoma track team from 1986 to 1988.