A Salt Lake City man accused of running a cocaine distribution ring in connection to his father's restaurant was sentenced to serve four years in federal prison after accepting a plea deal with prosecutors.
In addition to serving a four-year sentence, Michael John Nikols also agreed to pay the federal government $200,000 to remove forfeiture liens placed on the family's restaurant and several property lots.
The case was made public in December 2002 when police served a search warrant on Coachman's Dinner and Pancake House on the corner of 1300 South and State Street. The case was moved from state court to federal court because it involved more than 500 grams of cocaine.
Assistant U.S. District Attorney Chad Platt said police had suspected that Nikols was at the center of a cocaine dealing ring in which Nikols allegedly directed restaurant employees and their friends who actually did the dealing.
Platt said that in a phone call intercepted between Nikols and a drug dealer in Texas, a code word, "girl," referred to what police believe was a kilo of cocaine. Nikols was heard arranging to send someone to Texas to complete a deal in which the drugs would be sent back to Utah via Federal Express. Nikols was arrested arriving at a Federal Express station to pick up the package.
Before the hearing, Nikols' father, John Nikols, maintained that his son was innocent and accused federal prosecutors of "arm-twisting" his son into a plea deal while holding his restaurant and other properties hostage in exchange for money.
Michael Nikols argued with his two defense attorneys over accepting a plea deal, as his father in the audience tried to give advice in Greek. Other family members and a local Greek Orthodox priest also showed up for support.
After the 45-minute consultation during which his attorneys reminded him that he faced several decades in prison if found guilty at trial, Nikols agreed to take the deal.
Michael Nikols also agreed to forfeit $1,792 in cash taken from the restaurant. John Nikols contended the money was daily cash from his business and had no connection to the drugs. Michael Nikols also surrendered a 1997 Yukon and 1993 Jaguar.
In exchange, prosecutors recommended he be sentenced at the lowest end of the federal sentencing guidelines, facing a maximum of 40 years in prison. In court Platt noted Nikols deserved credit for taking responsibility for his actions.
Also in court, Nikols admitted to the allegations and wept while he explained how pained he was to bring shame to his friends and family.He also vowed never to put himself in this situation again.
U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell imposed an immediate sentence and also recommended that Nikols be placed in a facility close to his family.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com