Tennis star denies conspiracy link

Press, 28 August 1982, Page 8

Tennis star denies conspiracy link

NZPA New York The top-ranked tennis star, Vitas Gerulaitis, implicated in a cocaine-buying scheme during testimony in a federal drug trial, “is absolutely not involved in any narcotics conspiracy,” said his lawyer. Gerulaitis, the No. 5 tennis player in the world, could still be called to testify in the trial at the United States District Court in Manhattan, Attorney Mr David Briebart acknowledged yesterday. “It is absolutely a shame that someone would take advantage of a man’s name,” Mr Briebart added. A witness at the trial identified Gerulaitis as a participant in a plan to buy

cocaine. The prosecutor, assistant United States Attorney, Mr Michael Feldberg, was unsure if Gerulaitis would take the stand before the Government rests its case this week. The witness, Mr Richard Purvis, aged 21, of Newport Beach, California, testified a friend of Gerulaitis told him that the tennis star offered to contribute $NZ26,800 toward the purchase of cocaine during the Volvo Masters tournament last January. . Mr Purvis had pleaded guilty in the scheme, and is now a witness for the prosecution against Tony Goble, of Miami, Florida, who is charged with two counts of

conspiracy to buy narcotics. - Mr Purvis said that he came to New York last Janur ary 14 principally to buy 48. bottles of pharmaceuticalcocaine at ?Aust3ooo . arjl ounce. He was accompanied) by a friend, Mr Matthey Spurr, who had also pleaded) guilty. The men were unawarethat undercover agents of th< Federal Drug EnforcementAdministration were th& dealers in the transaction. ?. Mr Purvis testified that heS and Mr Spurr had raised' $NZ140,700 of the $NZ192,96(E needed for the purchase* Goble told Mr Purvis that h& and Gerulaitis could make* up the difference, Mr Purvis, testified. ' J '