Ex-DEA Agent Testifies Partner Proposed Killing 3 Men

A former federal drug agent testified Tuesday that his partner, Darnell Garcia, proposed murdering three men whom Garcia suspected were leaking information to investigators gathering evidence in a burgeoning corruption scandal within the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Wayne L. Countryman, 47, of Walnut, told a federal court jury in Los Angeles that Garcia attended two meetings--one in 1987 and another in 1988--in which plans to kill the men were discussed. Also attending the meetings, Countryman said, was then-DEA agent John Jackson.

At the time, the U.S. attorney’s office, the DEA and the Internal Revenue Service were involved in a massive investigation into the theft of narcotics from the DEA’s evidence vault in downtown Los Angeles and a number of other alleged cocaine and heroin thefts by the three former agents.

The following year, the three former DEA agents were indicted by a federal grand jury on a variety of criminal charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering. The government alleges that Garcia has about $3 million in drug profits frozen in foreign bank accounts. He contends that the money represents profits made through gold jewelry smuggling.

Countryman, under questioning by Assistant U.S. Atty. Stefan D. Stein, testified that at the 1987 meeting Garcia “wanted to know who was giving information to the DEA.”

Countryman said that Garcia suspected that two brothers-in-law of a Jackson business associate, Sherman Lair, were the source of the leaks.

Garcia, Countryman said, “thought we should go and take care of” the brothers--one of whom was subsequently convicted of cocaine possession in a separate case.

“What do you mean take care of?” Stein asked.

“Kill them,” Countryman replied.

The meeting, Countryman testified, was held in a conference room at the law offices of Los Angeles criminal defense attorney John Robertson, who represented Jackson in the corruption case.

Robertson on Tuesday denied any knowledge of what was said at the meeting. “I was never a party to any such meeting,” he said. “No way.”

At another meeting of the three then-DEA agents in 1988, Countryman said Garcia speculated that Lair was the source of damaging leaks to federal investigators.

Again, Countryman said, Garcia proposed that “we should take care of (Lair).”

Countryman said Garcia was advised that Lair carried a gun. He said that Garcia replied, “I don’t care. Take care of him.”

At both meetings, Countryman emphasized that he and Jackson disagreed with Garcia’s assessment of the situation. None of the individuals were harmed.

Countryman and Jackson, 41, of Claremont, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and have agreed to testify for the government in the hope that they will receive reduced sentences.

Lair, 40, of Alta Loma, pleaded guilty last September to participating in a narcotics conspiracy stemming from the same case.

Garcia, 44, of Rancho Palos Verdes, who is charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and leaking intelligence information to drug fugitives, has maintained his innocence. His jury trial began Nov. 20.

It was Countryman’s second day on the witness stand in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. Last Friday, Countryman accused his former colleague of narcotics trafficking and stealing drugs and cash from drug dealers.

Garcia defense attorney Mark Overland launched an effort to impeach Countryman’s testimony. Overland noted that the former DEA agent was suspended for a month in November, 1985, “for making false and misleading statements” to his supervisors.

Countryman said he was suspended because he had engaged in a private business deal without DEA authorization.