This case involves drugs, money laundering, torture, kidnapping, and murder-for-hire. The case is best explained when divided into two sections: the narcotics money laundering enterprise and the murder of Sara Tokars ("Sara").

At the trial, Jessie Ferguson ("Ferguson") testified that he and Julius Cline ("Cline") were drug dealers in Detroit, Michigan. In July of 1985, Ferguson moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he met Mason. Cline also moved to Atlanta, and he and Ferguson invested $75,000 in drug proceeds in the VIP Club. Mason was the manager of the club, and he was listed as an owner in order to obtain a liquor license because Cline and Ferguson were "in trouble" with the authorities in Detroit. Ferguson testified that Cline's principal source of cocaine was "Andrew." Cline transported the cocaine from Miami, Florida, to Atlanta. Andre Willis ("Willis") testified that he obtained cocaine from Cline until Cline was murdered on July 25, 1992. Willis distributed the cocaine in Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to Willis, Cline also obtained cocaine from Al Brown ("Brown"), who was part owner of the Diamonds and Pearls nightclub in Detroit. Willis testified that he and Cline received and sold approximately twenty kilograms of cocaine per week. According to Willis, Cline described his relationship with Mason as follows: "[Mason] was just a front for the nightclubs because [Ferguson] and himself had a criminal record, and they could not get any liquor license in their name, so James Mason would be the front for all the nightclubs." R62-2059. According to Willis, Cline owned several clubs, including the VIP, Traxx, the Parrot, and Zazu's, as well as the Park Place Beauty Salon.

Marvin Baynard ("Baynard") met with Tokars in late 1986 to discuss providing a legal defense to drug runner Dexter Askew ("Askew"). Askew had been charged with possession of cocaine that had been provided by Baynard. Baynard informed Tokars that he sold one-fourth to one-half a kilo of cocaine per week amounting to between $5,000 and $10,000. Tokars requested a $10,000 retainer fee and said he would help Baynard "legitimize" himself by incorporating Baynard's business. Tokars incorporated a business which Baynard used with Alex Yancey ("Yancey"), Baynard's associate in the cocaine business. Baynard sold drugs from 1986 to 1989 and obtained cocaine from Cline and Greg Johnson ("Johnson") beginning in 1987. Baynard recalled that Tokars often discussed offshore banks and had a blue book that explained how to set up an offshore bank for $15,000. Baynard did not invest his drug money but instead kept it as cash in his bedroom and, on Tokars's advice, kept the cocaine in another apartment under a different name. Baynard testified that he introduced Johnson to Tokars so that Tokars could launder some of Johnson's drug money.

Murray Silver ("Silver") first met Tokars when Tokars was an assistant district attorney. After leaving the district attorney's office, Tokars shared office space with Silver from approximately July 1986 to October 1989. Silver recalled a conversation with Tokars about a booklet Tokars authored entitled Tax Havens and Offshore Investment Opportunities. The booklet details Tokars's plan for laundering drug money. Tokars asked that Silver refer some of his clients to Tokars. Tokars said that he was not worried about the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") because he intended to leave no paper trail. Tokars told Silver that he had used this process to help a client who was going through a divorce hide $150,000 from his wife and the IRS by depositing it in his bank in the Bahamas. Silver recalled that Tokars lectured to law enforcement officials on the topic of money laundering. The Director of the Georgia Police Academy testified that Tokars taught courses in money laundering for the academy, as well as for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy.

In late December of 1988, Mason, Cline, and Ferguson accused Michael Jones ("Jones") of stealing money from Mason's home. Jones testified that he went to Mason's house where Cline closed and locked the door. Ferguson placed a 9-millimeter handgun on the table and asked Jones whether he knew where the money was. Ferguson then placed the handgun down Jones's throat and threatened to kill him. When Mason returned home, Jones recounted the meeting to him. About thirty days later, Mason asked Jones to meet him at the Park Place Salon. Mason then asked Jones to accompany him home. Ferguson arrived at Mason's home and instructed Mason to leave. Mason left, and Ferguson proceeded to physically torture Jones for two to three hours. Ferguson then put Jones in the bathroom, but Jones escaped. Ferguson testified that he and Cline would often keep large amounts of drug money at Mason's home. Mason told Ferguson that he thought that Jones had stolen the money. Mason hired a private investigator who observed Jones attempting to purchase fur coats and a new car. Ferguson testified that he instructed Mason to get Jones to the house.

Mason and Cline, together with Jim Killeen, Bill Fraser, and William Kohler, formed Zebra, Inc., and Zebra Management, Inc., to operate a club called Dominique's. Mason and Cline contributed $20,000 to the operation but were later removed from Zebra's due to Cline's reputation as a drug dealer. Mason and Cline then opened Traxx. Ferguson testified that he invested $15,000 in Traxx and that Cline invested $45,000.

Mark McDougall ("McDougall"), who had taken cocaine from Mason, testified that he and Zane Carroll ("Carroll") discussed with Tokars their proposed investment in the Parrot nightclub. McDougall and Carroll would own 51% of the club. Billy Carter ("Carter") would obtain the liquor license due to McDougall's felony conviction. Tokars and Carter discussed in McDougall's presence that Cline was the silent partner and money man for Mason. Tokars incorporated the Parrot Acquisition Corporation. The shareholder and management agreement reflected Tokars as the club's attorney and Carter and Mason as subscribing to 40,000 and 60,000 shares of stock, respectively. Ferguson testified that Cline invested $40,000 to $60,000 in the Parrot. When McDougall and Carroll were not pleased with the investment return, McDougall threatened Cline with a gun.

Linda Campbell ("Campbell"), who was employed at the Park Place Salon, was assaulted by Mason. She employed an attorney and filed suit against Mason, and her case was settled for $17,500, for which Mason's shares of stock in the Parrot were pledged as collateral. Campbell's attorney testified that Tokars represented Mason and that it was Tokars's idea to pledge the Parrot stock. Campbell employed new counsel who demanded that the stock be assigned to Campbell because Mason had defaulted on payment. Tokars claimed that he was no longer the secretary of the corporation, so a suit was filed against all of the officers and shareholders, including Tokars, Mason, Cline, Carter, and Brown.

After Zebra, Inc., was evicted from Dominique's for non-payment of rent, Mason approached Douglas McKendrick ("McKendrick") claiming that he had an endorsement contract with Deion Sanders ("Sanders"). Sanders testified that he met Mason through Willie Harris ("Harris"). Sanders signed an agreement with Harris, who signed as President of Atlanta Entertainment Management, Inc. In September of 1990, Tokars incorporated Atlanta Entertainment Management, Inc., listing Mason, Cline, and Harris as its directors. Tokars helped finalize the deal with Sanders and the management agreement with McKendrick. Carl Tatum, an employee of the club Deion's, testified that he discussed with Mason the fact that Cline was a cocaine dealer and that Mason knew Cline dealt cocaine.

In 1988, Harris began selling cocaine for Cline as a middle-man brokering transactions with other customers. In one day, Harris received between $250,000 and $500,000. Harris would place the cash, minus his percentage, in a safe at Cline's apartment. Harris once delivered cocaine to Mason at Cline's request. Harris later heard from Mason that the cocaine was intended for a woman in Mason's residential complex. In 1991, Harris was arrested on cocaine charges. Mason paid Tokars $5,000 to help Harris. Tokars filed affidavits at Harris's bond hearing stating that neither Mason nor Cline knew Harris to sell, distribute, possess, or consume illegal drugs. However, this was after Harris had delivered the cocaine to Mason and had conducted a substantial cocaine business on behalf of Cline. After obtaining bond, Harris met with Tokars, who advised him that he would be found guilty and receive a substantial sentence unless he could "set someone up." Tokars suggested setting up Cline, but Harris refused. Harris testified that Tokars then said that Harris was right that he could not set up Cline "because if you do Julius [Cline], it will role [sic] down and get James [Mason] because everybody knows James doesn't have any money, and he gets his money from Julius." R62-1912.

Harris and Mason decided to open a new club, and Mason claimed that he had secured $50,000 from Brown to open it. John Vara ("Vara") testified that through his corporation, JDV, he sold the leasehold rights to Diamonds and Pearls to Mason for $25,000. The closing was held at Tokars's office in November of 1991. Vara was introduced to Brown by Mason, who said that Brown was part of management. Mason and Tokars used Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., as the purchaser of the lease.

In the spring of 1992, Tokars introduced Eddie Lawrence ("Lawrence") to Mason at Diamonds and Pearls. Tokars also introduced Lawrence to Cline, Willis, and Harris. Tokars told Lawrence that Cline was a drug dealer and that Mason was a client for whom he laundered drug money. Lawrence testified that Tokars and Mason said that $500,000 was used to renovate Diamonds and Pearls.

In 1992, Cline began receiving cocaine from Brown. At the time, Cline was renovating Traxx, which was to be renamed the Phoenix. Willis testified that Cline was angry with Mason due to the loss of the Parrot. Cline asked Willis to invest $150,000 in the Phoenix. Willis was to obtain the money from cocaine sales. Cline told Willis that he "had a white friend that was an attorney and judge that was advising him on how to invest his money in the right way" and was helping him with the clubs. R63-2080.

On August 5, 1992, a car carrying 115 kilograms of cocaine was stopped in Amarillo, Texas. The Drug Enforcement Agency ("DEA") airlifted the car to Atlanta, and the driver agreed to cooperate. Following an intermediary's arrest, the cocaine was delivered to Brown, who was then arrested. A search of Brown's car revealed a business card identifying Brown and Mason's association with Peachtree Entertainment, weekly reports of Diamonds and Pearls, two digital beepers, and $49,700 in cash. DEA agents later executed two search warrants for Brown's residence and found a money counting machine, a bulletproof vest, digital beepers, and records. Tokars represented Brown at an August 11, 1992, detention hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Janis Gordon ("Gordon") expressed to Tokars that the government was interested in Brown's cooperation. Gordon noted that since Tokars had incorporated Diamonds and Pearls,1 he might have a potential conflict in representing Brown. Gordon said that if the government attempted to seize the nightclub, Tokars might be called as a witness.

Mason represented to the DEA and IRS agents that he was the 100% owner of Diamonds and Pearls and that Brown only served as the "doorman" and handy man for the club. Mason was then subpoenaed to produce all records of the club. When Tokars learned about the subpoena, he referred Mason to another attorney. Tokars later told AUSA Gordon that Brown had fired him.

The records of Diamonds and Pearls and Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., were also being sought in connection with separate civil litigation. James McCreary ("McCreary"), an attorney for Twilights, Inc., requested that Tokars provide Twilights with information about Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., and its operation of Diamonds and Pearls. Contrary to Mason's assertions to the DEA and the IRS, Tokars claimed that Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., did not exist, was defunct, and had no assets. Tokars said that although the liquor license was obtained in the name Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., the actual company was Diamonds, Inc., which Tokars claimed was owned by Mason. Twilights sued Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., and Mason and Cline for failing to pay the additional $50,000 required for the purchase of Zazu's. At the time of the default, Jeff Ganek, Twilights's attorney, advised his client to liquidate the nightclub, but when he discovered a liquor license advertisement by Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., for Diamonds and Pearls, he suggested that the company attempt to collect the $50,000.

Tokars told McCreary that he thought Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., had no assets but that he had just discovered some assets. Tokars informed McCreary that Cline had used Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., to operate another club, the Phoenix. Tokars suggested that if Twilights would dismiss Mason from the lawsuit, Tokars and Mason would help Twilights obtain a judgment against Atlanta House Clubs, Inc. Tokars told McCreary that following Cline's murder, members of his family were operating the Phoenix. As a result, Tokars suggested that Twilights might be able to satisfy its claim through Cline's estate. Tokars told McCreary that Cline's murder was drug-related. Tokars represented that Zazu's was Cline's venture and that Cline had been very upset with McCreary's clients, even to the point of wanting to murder one of them.

During a political fundraiser reception, Tokars stated that his wife Sara had recently been in his office working on his accounts receivable. Sarah Suttler ("Suttler"), the Tokars' neighbor, testified that Sara often discussed divorcing Tokars but was afraid she would not get custody of their two sons. In the fall of 1992, Suttler said Sara was elated and said "I can divorce Fred now because I have the goods on him, and he'll not get my boys ... I have found papers of income tax evasion." R69-3671. According to Suttler, Sara gave the information to a private detective and she felt protected by this.

In 1991, Lawrence employed Yancey in the construction business. Lawrence knew Yancey to be a cocaine dealer. Yancey asked Lawrence for $20,000, but Lawrence, who did not have $20,000, gave Yancey only $10,000 to purchase cocaine. Lawrence said that they could re-sell the cocaine and make the remainder of the $20,000. Lawrence advanced the money, but the plan failed. Yancey then decided to produce counterfeit money in order to repay Lawrence. The United States Secret Service ("Secret Service") began investigating their activities. Lawrence testified that he and Yancey would pass counterfeit money by going to nightclubs, buying drugs, and then reselling the drugs for legitimate money. Yancey and Lawrence eventually became aware of the Secret Service investigation.

Yancey introduced Lawrence to Tokars. Yancey and Lawrence informed Tokars of their counterfeiting activities. Tokars suggested that he could take the counterfeit money and distribute it in the Bahamas, but the two declined. Lawrence hired Tokars, but Yancey fled and was arrested in December of 1993. The Secret Service confronted Lawrence, but he denied his involvement in the scheme. Lawrence, accompanied by Tokars, agreed to go to the Secret Service office where Lawrence took a polygraph test. Tokars was told that Lawrence tested deceptive when asked about his involvement in passing counterfeit money. Lawrence testified that he and Tokars then began conducting a money laundering business. The two used Lawrence's construction business as a front and also incorporated several other businesses that were used to launder money. Lawrence solicited drug dealers by going to nightclubs. Tokars advanced approximately $70,000 to Lawrence for operating expenses. Tokars discussed with Lawrence how he used offshore banks to launder money.

In late July or early August of 1992, Tokars asked Lawrence if he would kill somebody. In mid-September, Tokars asked Lawrence to kill his wife Sara because she wanted to divorce him and take everything. In another discussion, Tokars told Lawrence that Sara wanted the house and his money. Lawrence advised Tokars, "Let her have it," saying that "he could always get that back." R65-2700. According to Lawrence, Tokars stated "that he worked too hard, he went to school at night, and she never did anything. All she ever did was spend his money, and that he wasn't going to give it to her. He would kill her first." Id. During a later discussion, Lawrence asked about Tokars's children. Lawrence recalled that Tokars said, "They will be alright. They will get over it. They are young. They will get over it." R65-2700-01. Lawrence testified that Tokars "just wanted it done" and said that "she was putting pressure on him and he wanted to kill her. That was what he wanted to do, he wanted her dead." R65-2701.

Tokars first indicated that the murder should occur in his office because he could cover it up due to his influence in Atlanta. Lawrence would not agree. Tokars then decided it should happen in their home so it would look like a burglary. Tokars offered to pay Lawrence $25,000 plus a portion of the life insurance proceeds. In August of 1989, Tokars had increased the life insurance proceeds on Sara from $250,000 to $1,750,000. Tokars continued to pressure Lawrence to kill Sara, going so far as to threaten to destroy Lawrence's business if he would not comply. Lawrence testified that Tokars said that he did not care who did it. Lawrence contacted Curtis Rower ("Rower") and offered him $5,000 to commit the murder. Rower agreed. On the Monday or Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving of 1992, Tokars informed Lawrence that Sara would be going to Florida and that he wanted her killed when she came back. Tokars was scheduled to be in Alabama meeting with a prisoner at that time, so he would have an alibi.

Sara's father testified that Sara and the two children drove to Florida and arrived on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and that Tokars flew into Tampa the same day. Tokars returned home on Saturday and requested that Lawrence meet him the next day. Lawrence met Tokars at his law office, and Tokars informed Lawrence that Sara had already left Florida and would arrive in Atlanta around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. Tokars checked into a Montgomery hotel and called his answering service to leave the number where he could be reached in case of an emergency. That same day, there were many phone calls involving telephones associated with Tokars, Lawrence, Sara's father, and the Montgomery hotel.

The record demonstrates that Lawrence picked up Rower around 7:00 p.m. Rower was equipped with a sawed-off shotgun. Lawrence left Rower at the Tokars's residence and instructed him to kill a white female about age forty. Lawrence drove to a neighboring subdivision to wait. About two hours later, Lawrence saw Sara's white 4-Runner vehicle driving off the road. Rower got out of Sara's vehicle and ran toward Lawrence. They then drove to Atlanta because Rower wanted to buy some drugs.

Rower testified that when Sara arrived home, he made her get back into her vehicle and leave to take him to Atlanta. Rower claims that they pulled over, that Lawrence approached, and that Lawrence grabbed the gun, which went off.

Stipulated testimony indicated that Sara died from a gunshot wound to the head delivered from a distance of approximately one foot or less. Sara's two small children were in the vehicle at the time of the murder.

Wilbert Humphries ("Humphries"), a money launderer, was in custody in Montgomery, Alabama, in November of 1992. He was surprised to receive a visit from Tokars on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. At the jail, Tokars asked Humphries to sign some papers. Humphries attempted to talk with Tokars about the case, but Tokars "talked to me very brief like he was in a hurry or something." R66-3035. This meeting lasted only about ten minutes.

On the Monday following the murder, a cousin of Sara's, Mary Rose Taylor ("Taylor"), contacted Sara's sister, Christine Ambrusko ("Ambrusko"), asking her to find the papers of Tokars that Taylor had asked Sara to copy. Taylor went to Ambrusko's house, found the documents, copied them, and delivered them to the police. These records reflected off-shore bank accounts in the Bahamas and a Class B licensed bank issued by Montserrat. Ambrusko testified that Sara requested that she keep the documents in a safe place and give them to the police if anything happened to Sara. According to Ambrusko, Sara wanted to divorce Tokars but was concerned that he would take the children. Ambrusko also said that Sara was "very scared and intimidated." R68-3556.

According to Sara's sister, Gretchen Ambrusko Schaeffer ("Schaeffer"), after the murder Tokars appeared "very anxious, and he was making loud noises, kind of moaning and saying, 'I'm so afraid' and 'I'm scared,' in a loud tone of voice, very nervous appearing." R67-3228. During a conversation with his mother and Schaeffer, Tokars said that he did not want to help the police because he did not want them to look into his business dealings.

On December 6, Tokars, in the presence of counsel, was interviewed by the police. During the interview, Tokars admitted that his clients were criminals, and he specifically mentioned Mason because of Cline's murder, the arrest of Brown, and the murder of Brown's brother. Tokars said that Mason and Cline were partners in the Parrot Club and that Mason owned Diamonds and Pearls. Tokars also admitted that he assisted Mason in incorporating the Parrot Club and that he represented Mason in a number of civil suits. Tokars further admitted that Sara had previously hired an attorney to seek a divorce. Later that evening, with Tokars's consent, police and federal agents searched Tokars's residence and seized Tokars's calendars for 1988, 1989, and 1990.

Lawrence was arrested on December 12 for writing bad checks. He was questioned about Sara's murder but denied involvement. Lawrence was released but then was charged for writing another bad check. While Lawrence was again in custody, a private investigator for Tokars questioned him about the murder. On December 20, the police again interviewed Tokars regarding why he never previously mentioned his connection with Lawrence. Tokars claimed that he had discussed their corporations and that all of his dealings with Lawrence were matters of public record. Tokars described Lawrence as a business partner, and he acknowledged that he met Lawrence in connection with the Secret Service's investigation of Yancey. Tokars mentioned that "Mason was an ongoing, regular client of mine." R69-3808.

The police arrested Lawrence and Rower on December 23, 1992. A police officer called Tokars at Sara's father's home to inform him of the arrest. Tokars simply said "okay." R67-3162. Sara's father, Dr. Ambrusko, recalled that Tokars had no reaction to the news. Following the call, Dr. Ambrusko asked Tokars to tell the family about Lawrence. In response, Tokars stated that he did not believe Lawrence was involved. Neal Wilcox, Sara's brother-in-law, testified that during a conversation with Tokars later in the evening, Tokars "kept repeating to me that he was worried about the police making a deal." R67-3216. Tokars claimed that the police "were using these guys to get to him, and he was worried about the police making a deal for their testimony against [him]." Id.

On Christmas Eve, Tokars failed to go on a family outing to Busch Gardens. As time passed without contact from Tokars, Dr. Ambrusko became worried. He went to look for Tokars and found him unconscious in his hotel room. The police found a suicide note. Tokars survived this suicide attempt.