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If you’ve lived in Louisiana for any length of time, you probably are familiar with the name of international drug runner Barry Seal. Tom Cruise played the part of Seal in the 2017 movie “American made.” And Dennis Hopper played the same role in the 1991 film, “Doublecrossed.” Seal was a larger-than-life character who flew plane loads of cocaine for the infamous medallion drug cartel out of Columbia headed up by notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar. His drug running days ended abruptly when he was killed in a hail of bullets right here in Baton Rouge back in 1986.
Seal was back in the news last week as Governor John Bel Edwards turned down the clemency request of a thug who plotted the murder of Seal. The whole sordid mess will go down in history as a tainted case of drugs, federal informants, killings, and a questionable judicial decision that probably led to the death of Seal.
The hitman who plotted Seal’s assassination, Bernardo Antonio Vazquez, had been sentenced to life in prison with no parole. The killer has served 36 years in the penitentiary but was hoping the governor would grant his clemency request. For good reason, the governor said no. Vazquez had orchestrated the killing of a valuable witness against the drug cartel, who was helping to bring down a number of international drug dealers.
It used to mean that the death sentence meant death, and the life imprisonment actually meant life with no chance of parole. If you took a life, you either gave your life or accepted the fact that you would never get out of jail. But the old rules no longer reply, at least in many jurisdictions. Not so in the Bayou State. Despite numerous accolades that Vazquez had found religion and had seen the light, his clemency request was denied.
Before appearing in a Louisiana Federal Court, Seal was initially facing 10 years in a federal penitentiary. Many observers felt this was a sweetheart deal, considering the fact that Seal was paid $500,000 a trip from Columbia to Louisiana, and made over 50 such journeys. But then a long list of federal agencies lined up to tell the judge how helpful ole Barry had been, and urged that he should be only put on probation. That’s exactly what the Florida judge did. And under then in place Federal Rule of criminal procedure 35, other courts in the federal system were bound by the probation sentence. Or so Seal and his lawyers thought.
Lawyers for Seal in Louisiana expected federal judge Frank Polozola to honor the Florida agreement and turn Seal loose on probation. The judge had other ideas. “No one is going to tell me how to run my court,” Polozola told Seal and his attorneys. The judge imposed the requirement that Seal spend a part of his probation at the Salvation Army Community Treatment Center on US Highway 61 in Baton Rouge.
Seal’s Louisiana attorney, prominent criminal defense lawyer Louis Unglesby, strongly protested that such a sentence by the judge could be a death knell. Unglesby persuasively argued that Seal was high on the hit list of the drug cartel, and that it would be easy to assassinate him in such a public venue. But the judge held firm, and Seal had no choice but to spend his nights in the open and easily accessible Salvation Army asylum.
Unglesby was right on the money with his prediction. Three weeks later, as Seal got out of his car at the shelter, a 45-caliber machine gun open fire riddling his body with bullet after bullet. Seal never had a chance, either in the courtroom or in the line of an assassin’s fire power.
The orchestrator of Seal’s killing now says he has reformed, and should be turned loose back on the public. Governor Edwards reaffirmed the adage that life imprisonment without parole means just that. If Vazquez is such a model prisoner, then perhaps he should receive some special privileges or benefits while he serves his sentence. But that should be about it.
Meanwhile, I think I’ll go watch Tom Cruise again. Barry Seal would be pleased at how he was portrayed in the movie.

Peace and Justice
Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownusa.com. You can also listen to his regular podcast at www.datelinelouisiana.com.

Three Vermilion Parish football players and one softball player signed with the colleges of their choice on Wednesday.
Vermilion Catholic’s Travin “Tiki” Moore signed as a preferred walk-on with the University of Louisiana football team, while North Vermilion’s Kiaron Rudd signed a letter of intent with Louisiana Christian and Erath’s Dylan Duhon signed a letter of intent with the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Erath softball player Bailey Smith signed with Baton Rouge Community College.

Travin Moore

Moore plans to major in biology and hopes to contribute in any way he can for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was a standout on offense, defense and special teams for the Eagles, who advanced to the Division IV select school championship game this past season.
Moore said that assistant coach Mike Giuliani said he felt Moore would be a good fit for the Cajuns athletically and academically. He plans to major in biology.
“It’s real close to home,” Moore added. “It’s been a school I’ve looked toward since I was a kid.”
Moore’s father, Travin, was a defensive back at UL Monroe in the early 2000s.
“Even though he played at ULM, he’s going to support me at UL, until we play ULM,” the younger Moore said with a chuckle.
The elder Moore said he’s proud his son has the opportunity to play in Lafayette. He said he enjoyed his time in Monroe and the coaches cared for and took care of him during his career there, so that’s why he’s stayed true to the school.
“Basically what I’m looking for out of my son’s career is just him having fun, and finding himself and making his own pathway,” he said. “Not really following in my footsteps, but creating his own footsteps.”
VC head football coach Broc Prejean said that the Cajuns will evaluate Moore once he steps foot on campus to see where he’d make the best contribution to the team.
“I think they’re going to get him in camp and evaluate his skill set from there,” Prejean said. “I don’t think they’ve pinned him for (a particular position) yet. They just know they want him on campus.
“I think he can wear a lot of hats for those guys. Coach Giuliani did a good job of recruiting him throughout the year, so I feel it’s a really good spot for him because I can tell they really want him on campus.”
“The one thing I took out of the whole process is, the recruiter, Mike Giuliani, really showed that he cared for him, and I felt like he was in good hands with Giuliani, because he was so passionate about getting Tiki there,” the elder Moore said. “There’s no doubt, the only reason he chose them was because of Giuliani’s passion and commitment.”
His son said he’s looking forward to getting on campus. Moore rushed for 804 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 151 yards and three TDs, scoring 138 total points after also contributing TDs on defense and special teams.
“I just want to go work, have fun and see the field, no matter where I’m at,” Moore said of what position he’ll play.
Prejean said the school does a good job of getting players in and giving them opportunities to play.
“I think they do a good job of starting early,” he said. “They run four teams, they give everybody a chance to put some plays on film and then they’re honest about their evaluation. I don’t think they necessarily care who it is, they just want to put their best players out (on the field).”
Besides being a good athlete, Moore shows strong leadership, the coach said.
“I think that’s one of the biggest things he has going for him — who he is in the classroom, who he is in the hallways, who he is in the weight room,” Prejean said. “He’s just a tremendous young man, and I think he makes any program better just by being a part of it.”

Kiaron Rudd

Rudd also stood out on offense, defense and special teams for the Patriots. He led North Vermilion with 840 yards and 11 TDs on the ground, and had six catches for 109 yards and a TD, scoring 72 total points.
But he expects to play cornerback at LCU, formerly known as Louisiana College. He plans to major in business management.
“I was pushing toward the defensive side in college, but as the season progressed I realized I could basically play anywhere,” Rudd said.
Rudd said coaches for the Wildcats had come to some workouts before last season at NV, and had been watching him even before he started playing on both offense and defense.
“I had a really good season, and they offered me (a spot on the team),” he said, adding that he’d looked at several other schools. “Besides having the best offer, they also made it clear to me that if I go over there and handle my business, I have high odds of playing as a freshman.”
Playing early was one thing he wanted to have the chance to do, he said.
Rudd said he was proud to have been part of North Vermilion’s success this past season.
“No one really thought we had a chance of making it to the playoffs, so making it to the playoffs was a big step for us,” he said. “And then when we made it to the third round, we were the first team ever in our school’s history (to get that far in the football playoffs), so it felt good to be on that history-making team.”
“I’m very proud of the hard work that he has put in to get himself to this point,” NVHS head coach Brett Blakey said. “Now he has a wonderful opportunity in front of him and I’m very excited to see what he will do with it.”

Dylan Duhon

Duhon also was very excited about his opportunity at Arkansas-Monticello. A punter and placekicker who earned all-district honors at both spots, he’ll try out at both positions for the Boll Weevils.
“I’m ecstatic about it,” he said. “I honestly can’t wait. It’s a whole new atmosphere, a bunch of new experiences. I’m pumped for it. I’m working my butt off right now trying to prepare for all that.”
Duhon said the school sent him in a message out of the blue in October, and he visited the school for a game in November and had an official visit in January, with the school offering him a scholarship. He enjoyed the campus and the small-town atmosphere.
“It’s a really beautiful campus,” he said. “It’s one of the best colleges for nursing degrees in the whole state of Arkansas, which is going to be my major, so it worked out really good for me.
“I had a great time talking to coach (Hud) Jackson. He’s a fantastic person. When I got over there, he made me feel like someone wanted me. That’s the main thing that pushed me over there.”
Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc said Duhon has been a leader of the team on and off the field.
“As a coach, it’s satisfying to watch a kid set goals, put in the effort to achieve them and receive the desired outcome at the end,” LeBlanc said. “I’m proud of him and his commitment to excellence over the years, and I know that his greatest accomplishments are still ahead of him. I can’t wait to watch him represent Big Blue Nation and his family at the next level.”
Duhon said he was grateful for the supportive coaching staff at Erath that’s backed him up his entire career.
“It’s freaking awesome,” he said. “I had the whole town of Erath basically cheering me on.”
Before he gets to his college career, though Duhon will finish up the soccer season. He’s the goalkeeper for the boys’ team that will open the playoffs today at Cecilia.
“My class is the first class in Erath soccer history to win a district championship,” Duhon said. “I feel we can do something great the rest of this year for sure in soccer.”

Bailey Smith

Smith, a pitcher and utility player, signed Wednesday with Baton Rouge Community College, which is coached by Mark Suire.
Suire is an Abbeville native who coached softball at Abbeville High, Delcambre and Catholic of New Iberia and who also coached at St. Edmund.

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services for Dorothy Lee Robinson were held on February 4, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at the Greater Pleasant Green Baptist Church. Minster Roddrell Stewart officiated the service. The interment is in Saint Paul Cemetery in Abbeville, LA.
Dorothy Lee Robinson entered into eternal rest on January 25, 2023, at home in Abbeville, LA. She was a long-time resident of Abbeville, a devoted Wife, Mother, and Grandmother.
She leaves to cherish her memories, her three children; Alvora Forrest (Duane), Percy Robinson Jr. (Ada), and Cherry Robinson (Bailey) all of Newport News, VA; two adopted children Kendra Maze of Opelousas, LA and Lisa Maze of Port Arthur, TX; three children she reared Belton Maze (Jemere) of Natchitoches, LA, Kiayesha Joseph of Dallas, TX, and Deret Maze (Virginia) of Abbeville, LA; ten grandchildren; Sundi Jones
(Chris), Percy Moore (Marissa), Lavanda Moore (Shanetta), Jerry Forrest (Janna), A’tydra Robinson, Christopher Robinson, Fredrick Robinson (Brittaney), Jakil Robinson, Aquaneisha Vaughn, and Damion Vaughn; five grandchildren she raised Aleah Maze, Bry-ana Maze, Cailyn Maze, Evelyn Maze, and Serenity Maze; twenty-one great-grandchildren; three brothers; Murphy Washington (Wanda), of Kaplan, LA; Lennis
Washington, of Port Barre, LA; and Doneal Maze, of Abbeville, LA; four sisters; Beulah Ann Walker, Sandrus Harrison (Calvin), Connie Minnick (Alfred Sr.), and Tammy Maze; five sisters-in-law; Maria Maze, Nita Ann Maze, all of Abbeville LA; Helen Robinson, Alice Francois (Frank), and Joyce Forrest, all of Baton Rouge LA; one brother-in-law Clarence Robinson Sr. (Ellemena), of Baton Rouge, LA; five God-children; Shaquette Maze, Eve Maze, Kimberly Mitchell, Cecily Green, and Roddrell Stewart; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Percy L. Robinson, Sr.; her parents, Cuba Maze and Eva Nola Washington; her three sisters Ida Hebert, Alzena Hardy, and Alveretta Maze; five brothers; David Maze, Thomas Maze, Larry Maze, Terry Lee Maze, and Charles Maze.
Kinchen Funeral Home – 218 N. St. Valerie Street – Abbeville, LA (337) 898-9595 is in charge of final arrangements. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Michael Couvillon, on Jan. 19, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate two separate daytime kick-in residential burglaries that had occurred in two areas of Vermilion Parish.
The Vermilion Parish Criminal Investigations Division continued the investigation and quickly learned that the two incidents were committed by the same subject(s).
Through further investigation detectives were able to identify Rashawn Sterling of Lafayette, as a suspect.
Detectives were able to obtain arrest warrants for Sterling.
With the assistance of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sterling was located in the Maurice area in Lafayette Parish. LPSO attempted a traffic stop on Sterling, but Sterling fled from the stop at a high rate of speed. Due to the level of danger Sterling’s flight was causing, the pursuit of Sterling was called off in the interest of public safety.
Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for Sterling’s residence and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office’s S.W.A.T. team assisted the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office in the execution of that search warrant.
During that search warrant, Sterling was located and successfully taken into custody without further incident. Multiple pieces of jewelry believed to belong to victim(s) were also located in the residence.
Sterling was arrested on charges stemming from the earlier vehicle pursuit as well as his active warrants.
Sterling was then released to the custody of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and was transferred to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center for booking on charges of Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling (2 counts).
Sterling’s total bond for the burglaries was set at $40,000.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are possible.
Sheriff Couvillon said he would like to thank the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office for their assistance for this matter and others.