Ex-Official Convicted of Drug Trafficking

SANTA ANA — Former Coachella City Manager Jose Becerra Uribe shook his head in disagreement Wednesday as a jury found him guilty of trying to swap world-famous paintings--said to have belonged to Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton--for 110 pounds of cocaine.

The U.S. District Court jury deliberated just a few hours before finding Uribe, 49, guilty on two counts of drug trafficking and one count of jumping bail.

Uribe faces life in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Alicemarie Stotler on Jan. 16.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Thomas D. Warren attributed the government victory to the “overwhelming” evidence against Uribe. Jurors agreed.

“The evidence was just too much,” said juror Kenneth Campbell, 78.

Kenneth Reed, Uribe’s attorney, said his client was disappointed by the verdict and would appeal.

“He’s shocked,” Reed said.

Friends and family members of Uribe who had attended the court hearing declined comment.

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 renowned 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.

Documents show that some of the Renoirs were bought, charged to Newton’s account and shipped to his Las Vegas home. But Newton, who has been mired in bankruptcy since 1992, has not publicly acknowledged whether the paintings are his.

Uribe’s attorney had argued that his client was entrapped by drug dealers who became government informants.

During the trial, Uribe testified that he thought he was exchanging the paintings for money--not cocaine. Reed maintained that Uribe was stunned to find the cocaine when he opened a suitcase given him in exchange for the artwork.