Art-for-Drugs Case Goes to Jury Today

A jury will begin deliberations today in the drug trafficking trial of Jose Becerra Uribe, a former Coachella city manager accused of attempting to swap world-famous paintings supposedly belonging to Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton for 110 pounds of cocaine.

In closing arguments Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Atty. Gregory W. Jessner urged jurors to find Uribe guilty, saying prosecutors had presented “mountains of evidence” during the trial to show the defendant was a “sophisticated drug trafficker.”

Uribe’s attorney, Kenneth Reed of Santa Ana, contended that the government had not proven its case, arguing instead that his client was entrapped by drug dealers who became government informants.

Uribe was arrested two years ago in an Irvine Marriott hotel room by undercover federal agents who had worked out a deal to exchange the cocaine for artwork, including 10 Renoirs, two Dalis and a Matisse, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said during the trial that Uribe and an associate, Raymond Torres, who has since pleaded guilty to attempted cocaine possession, told undercover government informants that the paintings belonged to Newton, who has been mired in bankruptcy since 1992. Documents show that some of the Renoirs were bought, charged to Newton’s account and shipped to his Las Vegas home.

During the trial, Uribe testified that he thought he was exchanging the paintings for money--not cocaine.

Uribe thought he was “dealing somebody’s [stolen] paintings,” Reed said Tuesday.

In rebuttal, Assistant U.S. Atty. Thomas Warren said recorded conversations between Uribe and undercover agents proved that he was plotting to swap the artwork for cocaine.

“The evidence is simply overwhelming,” Warren said.

If convicted, Uribe faces up to life imprisonment.