The New York Daily News
Jan. 15, 1989

Gang Land Column
By Jerry Capeci

Spring is here, hopes Nicky Barnes

Jailed heroin kingpin Leroy (Nicky) Barnes, the former Mr. Untouchable of the drug world, has been telling pals he's had word he'll finally be getting out from under his life sentence without parole.

After six years of cooperating with Manhattan U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani, Barnes has been saying he thinks a presidential commutation of his sentence soon will be coming his way.

Initially, the former Harlem drug lord expected to be released "after Election Day." That was for his testimony against John Gotti's friend Mark Reiter, who was sentenced to two life sentences without parole plus 60 years.

Soon after that he was told, "after Christmas," sources said.

His next deadline comes Friday, when President Reagan, who has commuted only 14 sentences in eight years, leaves office.

Giuliani, who steps down at the end of the month, declined to comment. But with Reagan and Giuliani going, and George Bush owing no favors, Barnes may be starting to sweat.