Vikings’ Igwebuike Acquitted of Drug Charges

Donald Igwebuike, Minnesota Viking kicker, Monday was acquitted by a Tampa, Fla., federal jury of a scheme to import $1-million worth of heroin from his native Nigeria. Igwebuike, the first NFL player charged in a heroin-related case, was facing up to 120 years in a federal prison and $6 million in fines if convicted of conspiracy and drug importation.

“It’s been rough--I went through hell,” Igwebuike said. “Finally, I got a chance to tell my own side of the story. I’m glad the truth finally came out . . . and I’m glad they listened.”

Jurors who deliberated 5 1/2 hours over two days refused comment after the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Foster said prosecutors “put on the best case we could.”

Defense attorney Frank Winkles criticized the government’s case for relying on the testimony of convicted heroin smugglers and secretly recorded phone conversations that contained oblique references in which the player was alleged to have been talking about drugs.