BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- When FBI agents and Newport police officers stopped the pickup and arrested Donnie Ray Poteete one March day last year, the Latonia man had no idea the buddy with him had ratted on him.
Details of the elaborate ruse came out Monday, the first day of Mr. Poteete's trial in federal court on a charge of attempting to rob a Fifth Third Bank branch in Newport. Mr. Poteete's friend, Rick Schweinzger, was wearing recording devices when the two talked about which banks would be best, FBI Special Agent David Carrell testified.
It was allegedly the second time Mr. Poteete had planned to rob a bank, officials testified. But the Star Bank he chose in Newport was locked -- the branch was drive-up only.
Mr. Schweinzger, code name "Rembrandt," volunteered to be what is known as a federal cooperating witness and help with drug cases being worked on by the Safe Streets Task Force. This was a joint effort of FBI agents and local police officers.
Mr. Schweinzger told them he knew of Mr. Poteete's plan to rob a bank, Agent Carrell testified. In exchange, authorities agreed to mention Mr. Schweinzger's cooperation when talking to prosecutors handling several charges against him for allegedly writing bad checks.
Mr. Poteete's attorney, Gary Sergent, pointed out that the gun taken from the truck that day, a BB gun, was not loaded and did not have Mr. Poteete's fingerprints on it.
The trial continues today.
