For Immediate Release May 9, 2008                                           
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

 Andrews Pleads To Drug Offense

LOWELL – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office informed the public today a 24-year-old Texas man has pleaded to a drug offense and had his case ordered continued without a finding by a judge.  

Willie Andrews, 24, of Texas, appeared in Lowell District Court today and pleaded to a charge of possession of a Class D substance.  Judge Neil Walker ordered the case continued without a finding (CWOF) for one year with conditions.  The Commonwealth had requested a guilty finding instead of a CWOF. Conditions include that Andrews complete 100 hours of community service by speaking to student-athletes in Lowell about the dangers of narcotics, pay a $1,000 fine, and complete an NFL substance abuse program. If Andrews is released from the NFL, he must report to probation and submit to drug evaluations and random screens.

According to authorities, on February 5, Lowell Police responded to an anonymous caller who reported possible drug activity in a black motor vehicle and provided the license plate of the vehicle. Lowell police later observed the identified car driving from a Mobil Gas station on Middlesex Street and ultimately onto Duren Avenue in Lowell.

Police pulled the vehicle over and approached it. The vehicle’s window was open, and detectives smelled a strong odor coming from the vehicle which they believed to be marijuana. The defendant was directed to exit the vehicle.

Police found bags of marijuana both in the car and on his person. Police also found a total of $6,808 cash in the vehicle. At the time of arraignment, police had discovered no means to smoke the marijuana inside the vehicle such as rolling papers or pipes.

The total weight of the marijuana was estimated to be approximately one half pound with a street value of approximately $500.  

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Rich Mucci.

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