PALATKA (Florida) DAILY NEWS

August 17, 2006

Three more say crack available at camp; Ex-workers’ accounts differ about Evanses’ involvement

By Wes Wolfe

JACKSONVILLE - Three additional former workers at the Evans Labor Camp in East Palatka testified Wednesday that they were able to purchase crack cocaine on credit at the camp, with the cost deducted from their weekly pay.

Ronald Evans Sr. and his wife Jequita, who ran the camp, are on trial in U.S. District Court for facilitating a continuing criminal enterprise and if convicted could face life in prison.

Former employees Ricky Felton, John Washington and Robert Jackson said they were able to purchase crack rocks at $10 apiece at the pump house at the camp from Eugene Sheppard and Irvin Sutton, who they referred to as “Eugene” and “Soul Man.” All three also said the cost of the rocks, beer and cigarettes purchased at the pump house was taken out of their weekly pay.

Felton and Jackson said workers could only buy the products on credit and could not use cash. On cross-examination, William Kent, attorney for Evans Sr., told Felton he said to the grand jury cash was used for crack, but Felton said he did not remember making the statement. Felton is being held at Bradford County Jail on pending drug charges in Hillsborough County.

The workers differed on the availability of crack from the Evanses, though. Felton and Washington said they never received crack with their pay, but Jackson said he frequently received crack for doing chores at the North Carolina labor camp and detailing the East Palatka camp’s and Evans family’s vehicles. The crack rocks, he said, were usually placed in his pay envelope, but there were exceptions. Jackson said Ronald Evans Jr., who pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, paid him with crack at the North Carolina camp after obtaining it from inside a house on the property. Evans Jr. also took crack from a shed at Evans Sr.’s house, Jackson said. Evans Jr. was believed by the three former workers to have supplied Sutton with crack to sell at the pump house.

There was some disagreement among the men as to who ran the pay line. Each said Mrs. Evans and Evans Jr., but in varying degrees. Felton said both ran the pay line, Washington said it was Evans Jr. most of the time and Jackson said Mrs. Evans ran the line usually but Evans Jr. did it sometimes, as well. During Kent’s cross-examination, he revealed Jackson said to the grand jury that Evans Jr. ran the line.

Unlike the testimony of former worker Wilbur Cain, all three said Evans Sr. was seldom seen and they had no knowledge of him being involved in cocaine sales or distribution at the camp. Washington said Evans Sr. would only show up at the camp if there was a problem and he “was pretty good to everybody.” Felton said he rarely saw any of the Evanses.

“(The camp) ran the way it was ran and they were hardly there,” Felton said.

A controversy arose at the end of the court day when Kent pointed out Jackson is represented by an attorney and is looking to sue Evans Sr.

“Mr. Evans has a lot of money, doesn’t he?” Kent asked.

Jackson replied, “He should.”

When Kent asked if Jackson “would like a little of that for (him)self,” and Jackson said, “Shouldn’t I?”

After the jury was sent out of the room, the attorney from Florida Rural Legal Services, Lisa Butler, said Jackson settled with Evans Sr. out of court and released him of any responsibility of any labor law violations against Jackson. The jury was instructed to disregard questions and testimony about a potential future suit.

The trial, which will be entering its fourth day, was to resume at 9 a.m. today, with the prosecution calling two more former labor camp workers and two employees of Tater Farms, which obtained workers from the Evanses. The trial, in its fourth day, is expected to last three weeks.