Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 20, 1994                   TAG: 9410200084
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COCAINE RING'S LEADER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS

Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Wolthuis said Barry Newman was the point man for a drug conspiracy that brought 75 to 100 kilograms of cocaine into the area from 1990 until April 1993, when he was arrested.

Wolthuis said Newman was "a very significant player" in the Roanoke Valley's drug market.

Most of Newman's drugs were coming from a supplier in Florida, Wolthuis said. The Roanoke County man drove to North Carolina on numerous occasions and picked up three or four kilograms of cocaine each time.

Newman then would return to Roanoke County and store the drugs at his brother's trucking company, named Stash Transport, Wolthuis said. He said the trucking company had at least one legitimate client, but mainly was used as a front for Newman's drug business.

Newman, his brother and five others were charged in a 12-count indictment in June 1993.

Newman likely would have spent the rest of his life in prison if convicted on all counts, Wolthuis said. Instead of going to trial, he pleaded to guilty to two counts in the indictment.

Wolthuis said the government was happy with the deal because Newman will be in his mid-60s when he completes the 20-year sentence. Under "kingpin" laws, the federal court system doesn't allow parole for drug-trafficking crimes.

Newman was the last of the six members of the conspiracy sentenced. The others and there sentences were: Colin Newman, three years; Russell P. Carrington, six years and eight months; John L. Walker, four years and four months; Lonnie Quinn, two years and eight months; John Lester Ferguson, six months; and William S. Roberts, four years and six months.