Last update - 00:00 27/12/2006
Alleged Israeli drug dealer expected to get Miami plea bargain
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
A plea bargain is expected to be reached over the next week between U.S. federal prosecutors and Israeli alleged organized crime figure Zeev Rosenstein. Rosenstein's U.S. lawyers have been negotiating with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Israeli Justice Ministry for the past several weeks over a possible plea bargain.
Rosenstein is accused of operating a global Ecstasy trafficking ring.
Haaretz learned Tuesday that it was Rosenstein's attorneys who initiated the plea bargain offer. A prison sentence of approximately 10 years was being considered, but sources close to the case told Haaretz that a longer sentence, to be served in Israel, is currently on the table.
The sources said a decision is expected within a few days, before the U.S. prosecutors leave for a scheduled vacation and with time to spare to prepare the lists of witnesses to summon in the event that the January trial is held.
According to the sources, both sides are eager to reach a plea bargain: Rosenstein is aware that junior defendants in the case were given long sentences, while the prosecution fears a jury might be unable to comprehend the complex case and could give Rosenstein a relatively light sentence.