The prosecution rested its case Thursday in the federal drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy case against Kevin Redstrom.
The first witness, Lonnie Merren, stated that he and Redstrom were stuck in the middle of a power struggle between the moneyman Mario Armas and admitted drug dealer Jimmy Collins.
While Merren testified that he and Redstrom knew, or at least suspected, where Collins got his money, they were attempting to get out.
“I never even really considered that I was going to be involved in (drug smuggling), Mr. Redstrom wasn’t neither. We were doing everything we could not to be involved in this business — but here we are,” he said, gesturing at the courtroom.
Redstrom is accused of being part of a drug and money-laundering ring headed by Armas, who was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in December for his role in the conspiracy.
Merren, who cooperated with authorities during their investigation of Armas, received a 55-month prison term.
Redstrom originally pleaded guilty but received permission to withdraw his plea after the others were sentenced.
The jury will reconvene today at 9:30 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Rome as the defense begins its case.
Merren said that he never reported the criminal aspects of the case out of fear of reprisal from Armas — especially after Armas and two other individuals kidnapped Redstrom in Hiram.
Merren shed tears as he told the courtroom that he was terrified when one of the kidnappers confiscated his cell phone and followed him into a bathroom on the ride to Hiram.
After Armas spoke to Collins, who assured him that his money would be recovered, Redstrom was released and Armas told Merren what he had planned.
“Mr. Armas said that (Redstrom) better be glad he got ahold of Mr. Collins, or else he was going to blow his brains out all over my pretty hair,” said Merren. “Then he would have cut off his fingers and pulled out all his teeth.”
Then Armas and the kidnappers went to eat Chinese food on money “borrowed” from Redstrom, said Merren.
Collins was not charged in the case but is serving a prison sentence in a federal prison for marijuana distribution.
The second witness was FBI Agent Charles Reed, who was one of the agents in charge of investigating the case and coordinated Collins after he became a cooperating informant.
Much of the testimony surrounded the search of Armas’ residence and office, as well as dates and the amounts of transactions involved in the conspiracy.
The defense cross-referenced Collins’ earlier testimony with a timeline created earlier for the Armas case and stated that the dates and amounts of the drug transactions were inconsistent.
“Mr. Collins has never been exact on dates,” said Reed.
Reed stated that he and another agent went to meet with Redstrom.
Redstrom had relocated to Texas in early 2005 because of the threats he had received from Armas and was apprehensive that Reed and his partner worked for Armas and met them in a public place.
At that point, Reed said, Redstrom admitted that he was suspicious that Collins was involved in the transport of drugs.
According to Reed, Redstrom said that he assisted Collins in unloading large duffle bags and some boxes that were “not too big and not too heavy” on two separate occasions, but he said he was not sure what was inside them.
The defense asked Reed if he had ever caught Collins in a lie. Reed responded that the one time was when Collins was busted selling nearly 200 pounds of marijuana to a DEA agent in Tennessee in 2006.
“That was the only one and a pretty big one,” said Reed.
Judge Robert L. Vining Jr. denied defense motions Thursday afternoon to dismiss both charges against Redstrom.
Click here for more on the history of the case, including a timeline, links to news reports and copies of court documents.
