Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990 TAG: 9007100181
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Robert Lee Easley lost a legal attempt Friday to regain possession of his business - Easley's Lounge, Restaurant and Grocery on Centre Avenue Northwest. The business, better known by patrons as "Babysans" - was seized a year ago by government authorities, who said the business was a haven for drug dealers.
Easley took steps to fight the forfeiture but at the end of a daylong trial, the jury returned a verdict that upheld the decision of the government to seize the property.
The seizure was part of Operation Caribbean Sunset, an effort by federal, state and local authorities to rid Roanoke of crack dealers.
Agents seized the nightclub using a federal law that allows them to confiscate and sell property believed to be either purchased with drug profits or used for drug dealing. The law is designed to give police the ability to go after drug dealers and suppliers by taking away what they value most - money.
Before the seizure, weekend crowds of more than 100 often congregated in and outside Easley's business. Although Easley had not been charged with any crime, authorities said he readily allowed drug dealers onto the premises of the nightclub.
One government informant told authorities that Easley charged an additional amount for admission to drug and crack distributors, in amounts ranging from $4 to $5. Regular admission was $2.
"It was a devastating loss," Easley, 54, said in a phone interview from Washington, D.C., where he now lives with his wife and daughter. "We ran a mom-and-pop operation. I had a fence around the property because I knew drugs were being dealt, and I didn't want it on my property."
The business "happened to be across the street from a city housing project," Easley said. "There wasn't a night that went by when we didn't have at least 90 customers. We couldn't be expected to operate the business and know everything that was going on in it."
Easley said he and his family moved a year ago, not long after the nightclub was seized.
"My wife couldn't face her friends," Easley said. "I was scared to stay there myself. I knew we couldn't stay in that area."
U.S. Marshal Wayne Beaman, whose office runs the government seizure program, said Easley's case was the first time during his nine-year tenure that there had been a trial to contest the confiscation of property.
Easley's property will be sold, Beaman said. Easley will not gain any money from the sale, he added.
Easley, meanwhile, says he is filing for bankruptcy.
by CNB