BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Defense attorneys in the drug trial of Warren County real estate developer Randall Neuhausser and his former wife spent Tuesday trying to discredit one of the government's chief witnesses.
With the end of defense testimony, closing arguments are expected to begin today in the trial of Mr. Neuhausser, 44, and ex-wife Sheila Neuhausser, 33. The couple is accused of running one of the largest drug rings to operate in Greater Cincinnati.
They are in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati facing charges of conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana. The ring is accused of moving 720 kilos of cocaine and 3 tons of marijuana into the area since 1993.
A Drug Enforcement Administration agent testified Tuesday the network generated about $460,000 a month.
Their attorneys called witnesses to the stand to call into question the credibility of Doug Burgess.
Mr. Burgess, 35, of Fairfield testified last week for the government that he made three car trips from California to Warren County carrying more than 300 pounds of marijuana under Mr. Neuhausser's orders. Mr. Burgess pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Like three others indicted with him and the Neuhaussers, he pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the couple in exchange for a more lenient sentence.
Mr. Burgess also testified that Mr. Neuhausser gave him the money to buy a 1994 Ford Taurus that was stopped for speeding last year on Interstate 80 outside Lincoln, Neb., carrying 123.5 pounds of marijuana.
Under questioning by defense attorney Merlyn Shiverdecker, Lebanon attorney Mark Simendinger testified Tuesday he helped Mr. Burgess prepare a document stating the car belonged to Mr. Burgess. It also asked the federal government to release the car, arguing that he left it with Scott Myers after gambling with him in Las Vegas. He stated he did not consent to illegal use of his car.
Mr. Myers is one of the four to plead guilty in the case.
Wayne Hughes, a Goshen engineer and a former husband of Mrs. Neuhausser, testified Mr. Burgess told him he did not like Mrs. Neuhausser and would tell officials anything they wanted to hear to get her into, and himself out of, trouble.
"Did Mr. Burgess or did he not suggest to you that he would say what he needed to say to get Sheila," asked defense attorney Philip Pitzer.
"He did say that," Mr. Hughes replied.
Jillora Summers, president and general counsel for First National Bank in Lebanon, testified for the defense that Mr. Neuhausser had taken out three commercial loans of more than $700,000 for his real estate business.
