Suspended lawyer Garcia pleads guilty to drug charge

Suspended Twin Cities lawyer and former Minneapolis City Hall aide Al Garcia pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Garcia entered the plea before U.S. Chief Judge Michael Davis in a half-hour session on the day that he was to have begun a trial on two drug charges. The other charge, conspiracy to distribute meth and cocaine, will be dropped.

Davis has broad discretion in how he sentences Garcia. If the judge sentences him to anything more than five years, Garcia can appeal. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wilton said he will wait to read the pre-sentence report on Garcia before he decides what sentence he will seek.

Regardless of how much time he might serve, Garcia must serve a four-year probation period during which he can be returned to prison by Davis for any violation. Garcia's lawyer, Peter Wold, said he would seek a shorter sentence because this was Garcia's first drug offense. "He's certainly taken responsibility; that's what Al wanted to do," Wold said.

No friends or family showed up to see Garcia in court. He has been in jail since before Thanksgiving. He was arrested in November in Iowa on an unspecified probation violation.

On Monday, he wore orange jail attire from shirt to tennis shoes. His brown hair is growing out gray. When he walked into the U.S. District courtroom in Minneapolis with two U.S. marshals, Garcia smiled at his lawyer and continued to smile throughout the session.

His primary job was to answer questions from Davis regarding the waiver of his rights through the plea deal. He also responded to Wilton's inquiries about what happened last February when he and his former legal assistant Misty Iverson went to a home in Coon Rapids in Anoka County.

When Garcia went to the house, the county charges said, he saw four clear plastic bags with meth but told the informant he couldn't take them and left. The next day, Garcia and Iverson's arrival at the house was recorded. The meth was initially in a pink poodle purse. Garcia signaled for Iverson to pick up the meth, which she then put inside her pants, the complaint said.

The Anoka County charges were dropped, and both Garcia and Iverson were indicted on federal charges.

In court on Monday, when questioning Garcia about the events at the Coon Rapids house, Wilton asked, "You knew there were controlled substances in that bag?"

Garcia said, "Not at that time."

Wilton asked whether Iverson tucked it into her pants.

Finally, Wilton said, "You believe you are guilty of this crime?"

Garcia said, "aiding and abetting, yes."

Iverson already has pleaded guilty. Her lawyer, Ryan Pacyga, said he will make it clear at Iverson's sentencing "who played what role" in the deal and that any attempt by Garcia to shift the blame to Iverson is "disingenuous."

Garcia also faces two felony charges in Hennepin County: one count of criminal-sexual conduct involving a potential client and one of tampering with a witness in that case.

Wilton said the federal plea did not affect the state charges.