Drug Dealer Says He’ll Get Less Jail Time for Testifying : Justice: ‘Freeway Rick’ claims his testimony in trial of six county narcotics officers could let him keep $2 million and cut his 10-year sentence in half.

A convicted drug dealer, who ran one of Los Angeles’ largest cocaine rings before expanding to other states, testified Wednesday that his 10-year prison sentence may be sliced in half and he could retain $2 million in drug assets after a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

Ricky Donnell Ross, whose notoriety as a drug trafficker named “Freeway Rick” spawned a special law enforcement task force, said he agreed to testify for the prosecution in the civil rights trial of six Los Angeles County narcotics officers. In return, Ross said, prosecutors agreed to consider seeking a sentence reduction that could put him back on the streets in January, 1993.

The officers are accused of framing Ross by claiming that the 31-year-old drug dealer shot at them and dropped a kilogram of cocaine during a pursuit in 1987. Ross was arrested several weeks later, although the charges were subsequently dismissed.

The incident is included in a 31-count federal indictment against five sheriff’s deputies and a Los Angeles police detective who allegedly planted narcotics on drug suspects, beat traffickers, skimmed hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug cash and falsified police search warrants.

Like Ross, many of the alleged victims were convicted or admitted drug dealers operating in South-Central Los Angeles. Some have already testified for the government during the 3-month-old trial, but none have had the stature of Ross, a former high school dropout who said his organization at its peak sold hundreds of kilograms of cocaine a week and operated in California, Ohio, Missouri and Texas.

“Some days we made $2 million,” said Ross after he was questioned by defense attorney Larry Bakman about the size of his operations. “Sometimes, we went two or three days without making a dime.”

Ross, who is serving a 10-year prison term for a drug-trafficking conviction in Cincinnati, told jurors that he had purchased more than a dozen houses and apartment buildings, several businesses, a motor inn and set up two corporations with his drug earnings. At one point, Ross said he owned half a dozen cars or trucks for his personal use, purchased a $75,000 speedboat and was able to celebrate his birthday in Aspen, Colo., with his partner in the drug business and other friends.

Although his only jobs since high school had been teaching tennis, mowing lawns and pumping gasoline, Ross said he made so much money in the drug business that he would keep as much $800,000 in cash in dwellings scattered around the city. And he said he employed as many as 15 people--at $1,000 a week--to make his cocaine deliveries.

Ross estimated his net worth today at between $1.5 million and $2 million from his investments, residential property and businesses--all bought with drug money--although he said some of his properties were now in foreclosure.

“When was the last time you filed a tax return, Mr. Ross?” Bakman asked.

“I never have,” he replied.

Ross testified that after agreeing to cooperate with the government, he had accepted a 122-month sentence for cocaine trafficking in Ohio.

However, Ross said he was told that prosecutors would consider recommending to the court that his sentence be reduced to a range of 51 months to 63 months in prison.

If the lower sentencing range is accepted, Ross said he could be released in about a year.

In addition, he said, prosecutors have made no attempt to seize his assets under a law that allows the government to take possession of property obtained through illegal drug sales.

“You mean you could be back on the streets in January, 1993, and be worth $2 million?” Bakman asked.

“Yes, sir,” said Ross.

The dealer also testified that his immunity agreement protected him from being prosecuted for statements that he made during the trial about his illegal activities.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Emmick said he could not confirm Ross’ estimate of his possible release date. And he said the government has not been precluded from seizing Ross’ properties. “Forfeiture is still legally available,” he said. “There is nothing in the (plea) agreement on that subject.”

Ross has testified that he had been fleeing officers on the night of April 14, 1987, because he feared for his life. After a car chase, Ross said he ran away on foot, heard a gunshot and then learned later that the officers had accused him of shooting at them and abandoning an athletic bag containing a kilogram of cocaine.

Ross said he was unarmed at the time and had no drugs.