Pubdate: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 Source: United Press International Copyright: 1999 United Press International JURY CLEARS TWO LAWYERS TAMPA, Fla., April 13 (UPI) - After five days of deliberations a federal jury as acquitted two lawyers of conspiring to get a convicted drug dealer a sentence reduction. Paul Lazarus of Miami and Howard Freidin of Fort Myers were found not guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges. The two lawyers were accused along with two Drug Enforcement Agency operatives of misleading federal prosecutors about the ``substantial assistance'' provided in drug cases by Daniel Hostetter, a convicted cocaine dealer who is serving a 16-year sentence. Prosecutors said the four men misled them about the help Hostetter provided in hopes of recieving a lesser sentence. The drug dealer allegedly paid $40,000 to the four men. The two DEA operatives, Leonardo Velazquez amd Michael Woods, pleaded guilty to the charges and are awaiting sentencing. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry