Jamal Lewis Indicted in Drug Case

NFL rushing leader Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens was indicted Wednesday on federal drug conspiracy charges for allegedly trying to help a childhood friend buy cocaine.

Lewis, 24, who came within 40 yards of the NFL single-season rushing record last season, is charged with one count of conspiracy to intentionally possess with the intent to distribute cocaine from June 23, 2000, until July 19, 2000 -- only about three months after the Ravens made him the fifth overall pick of the draft, and about the same time he signed a six-year, $35.3-million contract.

A second count stems from Lewis’ alleged use of a cellphone during the actions that resulted in the first count. No drugs were purchased, according to the indictment.

Lewis could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Ed Garland, said the running back was innocent and would turn himself in today and appear in federal court in Atlanta, his hometown.

“Jamal Lewis denies any involvement in any criminal activity or any activity involving drugs,” said Garland, who successfully represented another prominent Raven, linebacker Ray Lewis, against murder charges stemming from a street brawl in Atlanta four years ago.

The friend, Angelo Jackson, was indicted along with Jamal Lewis. Jackson, whose connection to the Raven star was not completely clear, was arrested and made his initial court appearance Wednesday.

U.S. Atty. William S. Duffey said the indictment stemmed from a drug investigation that has led to 30 convictions and helped dismantle an Atlanta cocaine-trafficking ring. Duffey did not say whether Lewis was associated with that group.

Based on information from a female informant for the government, the indictment says the conspiracy involved “at least five kilograms [about 11 pounds] of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.”

FBI special agent Hoyt Mahaley said in an affidavit an informant contacted Lewis about the cocaine on June 23, 2000, and recorded the conversation.

“The cooperating source told Lewis that he/she was willing to sell the narcotics to Lewis’ associates for a price that Lewis can tax,” meaning he could mark the price up for a profit, Mahaley said in the affidavit.

“And Lewis responded, ‘Yeah,’ ” according to court documents.

Hours after that call, Lewis and Jackson met the informant at an Atlanta restaurant, where they asked how much cocaine the informant was capable of distributing, the affidavit said.

Court documents also allege Jackson and the informant met again, without Lewis, on July 12, 2000, at a gas station in suburban Atlanta. They allegedly discussed drugs during that meeting, but no purchase was made.

Raven spokesman Chad Steele said the organization “had no clue” its star running back would be indicted. In a statement released to the media, Raven General Manager Ozzie Newsome pointed out that the allegations against Lewis pre-dated the player’s first training camp with the team.

“We believe in due process, and Jamal will have his day in court,” Newsome said. “There are two sides to every story. From what we know of the charges, these seem out of character for the Jamal we know.”

Raven defensive end Anthony Weaver said the allegations surprised him. “I know Jamal’s character,” Weaver said, “and to me, he’s always been a straightforward guy.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment on behalf of the league.

Lewis rushed for 2,066 yards last year, the second-highest single-season total in NFL history behind the 2,105 yards Eric Dickerson gained for the Rams in 1984. In becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, he broke the NFL’s single-game rushing record with a 295-yard effort against Cleveland on Sept. 14.

Lewis was a standout player at the University of Tennessee who made himself available for the NFL draft following his junior season. As a rookie, he played a key role as the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

However, Lewis was suspended four games by the NFL in November 2001 for a repeat violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension did not cause him to miss any games that year -- he was already out for the season with a knee injury -- but it did cost him about $233,000 in salary.

This also is not Lewis’ first legal problem. In 1997, Lewis and a 17-year-old woman were charged with shoplifting from a Macy’s store in an Atlanta mall. Store security officers said they observed a clerk slip a $109 polo shirt into Lewis’ shopping bag without charging him. Lewis was sentenced to three years’ probation, fined $1,000 and granted first-offender status for the crime.

Several other NFL players have faced drug charges.

Among the first was former Ram defensive back Darryl Henley, who was convicted of drug trafficking in 1993 after a former cheerleader with the team was arrested at an Atlanta airport with about 25 pounds of cocaine in a suitcase.

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Times staff writer Sam Farmer and Associated Press contributed to this report.