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Helping FBI Probe Prison Crime Earns Inmate His Freedom

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 22, 2008

Updated: 08/22/2008 06:51 pm

TAMPA - In 1989, Rene Garcia Myles was 22 years old and had nothing to look forward to but a life in federal prison for cocaine and weapons convictions.

Instead of giving up, Myles turned himself around, focusing his energies on helping the good guys – putting his own life in jeopardy while helping the FBI ferret out corruption and gang activity behind bars.

Today, Myles was rewarded. A federal judge reduced his life sentence to the 19 years he has served. As his family erupted in tearful celebration, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich said, "What is justice for you – the sentence I impose – is time served."

"You were law-abiding, even though you were in a prison," said the judge, who in 1989 imposed the life sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Adams had asked that Myles' sentence be reduced to between 27 and 33 years.

"Mr. Myles has been of substantial assistance to the FBI in several investigations at Coleman" federal prison, Adams said. "Our society is permeated with crime in all areas, including the prison system. … We believe that combating the crime committed by correctional officers is of utmost importance."

Among the help provided by Myles was information on "the most violent gangs within the prison, to include the leaders of the Texas syndicate, G-27, white supremacist and Latin Kings gangs," according to a motion filed by Adams. "During the course of this investigation, the largest marijuana organization" at Coleman, "consisting of 14 inmates and two corrupt" prison employees, "was dismantled. Additionally, 11 other inmate gang members were charged and convicted for conspiracy to introduce heroin" into the prison.

Myles' information helped lead to the arrest and conviction of three inmates and to the seizure of 2 grams of heroin and a pound of marijuana, worth $55,000 wholesale in the prison, Adams wrote.

With the information from Myles, the FBI initiated three public corruption investigations at the prison. He also recruited his family to help the investigation of one corrections officer, Adams wrote.

"He certainly has put himself at tremendous risk," said attorney Grady Irvin, who said he has known Myles for only two months and represented him only for the sentence reduction.

Kovachevich ordered Myles to serve three years of probation and directed that probation officials provide vocational assistance to help Myles get work.

Myles said that behind bars, he has "mostly been doing custodial maintenance, learning how to do floors, stuff like that."

Asked what kind of job he would be interested in pursuing, he said, "I'm exceptional at doing floors, stripping and waxing."

Irvin said his law firm would pay for a year of vocational school for Myles.

After the hearing, Myles' sister, Denise Myles, was beaming. "It's a great day!" she said. "It's a God blessed day!"

Although there were issues about whether Myles would have to return to Coleman to have his release processed or to retrieve his belongings, the judge ordered U.S. Marshals to do what was necessary for Myles to be freed today without having to return to Coleman.

Irvin said after the hearing that Myles had been an A student who skipped the fifth grade. But his mother developed problems and he was raised by his aunt and great aunt.

When he was in the sixth grade, his aunt and caregiver died of an infection. The next year, her mother, Myles' other caregiver, also died.

It was about this time that his life went downhill.

By the time he was sentenced to life in 1989, he had two prior felony convictions and had seven children by seven women.

When he was in prison, his mother died. His children became adults.

As life on the outside passed him by, Myles decided to join the good guys.

The judge today lauded his "persistent, continuing willingness … to do what needed to be done, not just once, not just twice, not just three times, but repeatedly beyond that, to learn things for the government and to allow them to proceed forward with a number of prosecutions."

As the hearing was ending, the judge wished Myles luck, saying, "Don't disappoint us."

Outside the courtroom, his aunt, Belinda Harris, said, "I'm just overwhelmed. I still have chills. He's coming home."

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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