US authorities may accept lower sentence on Dudas

(Jamaican Gleaner): United States prosecutors have indicated a willingness to accept a lower minimum prison sentence for alleged drug kingpin Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, even as they prepare to return to the US District Court in New York for his May 22 sentencing hearing.  Prosecutors now say they are willing to accept an 18-year prison sentence for the Jamaican, down from the 23 years they still think he deserves. Last Friday a judge delayed the sentencing of Coke and ordered the prosecutors to provide proof of their allegations about his violent control of a drugs gang to back their demands for a lengthy prison term. But, according to the prosecutors, even if the allegations about Coke's murderous control of an international criminal gang are not proven, an 18-year prison sentence is deserved.

"The undisputed facts before this Court make (it) clear that the appropriate sentence, and one sufficient but not greater than necessary … is 216 months (18 years)," the prosecutors said in a memorandum filed in court hours before last week's postponed sentencing hearing.

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