Federal Judge Known for Stiff Drug Sentences Caught Buying Drugs for Prostitute

ATLANTA — A 67-year-old federal judge's wild relationship with a stripper started with a lap dance, prosecutors said, and quickly escalated into escapades of prostitution and gun-toting drug deals for cocaine and prescription pills.

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Camp, a Vietnam War veteran who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, built a reputation for handing out stiff sentences, including for drug convictions. He could face years behind bars on drug and gun charges. The judge's attorney has said he intends to plead not guilty.

The stripper, who previously had a felony drug trafficking conviction, had been secretly working with the FBI since the spring to build a case against the judge. In exchange, prosecutors pledged not to charge her.

Camp's relationship with the dancer, who was not identified in court documents, began earlier this year. A day after receiving his first dance, he returned to the Goldrush Showbar for more dances, and added sex and cocaine to his tab, authorities said.

Over the next few months, the two used cocaine and other drugs together, sometimes at the strip club, and the judge would pay $40 to $50 to join her getting high, according to a sworn statement.

Froelich and other defense lawyers debated whether Camp’s arrest could open the door to court challenges from defendants convicted under the judge.

Parker, the former federal prosecutor, said Camp’s arrest “provides the opportunity” for a convicted felon to bring back a case.

Motions might cite “that the court was impaired or the court was addicted,” Parker said.

Cases where the defendant pleaded guilty would have no chance, Parker said, and other cases might lack merit for consideration.

“You would have to have some evidence,” Parker said. “You can’t just attach newspaper clippings.”

Froelich said, a defendant “would have to show Judge Camp was in league with one of the witnesses or ruling for the government because the government had something against him.”

One of Camp’s defense attorneys, Bill Morrison, said he doubted that the charges against the judge could prove fertile ground for appeals. While prisoners and jail-house lawyers may well file appeals, even “ingenious” defense lawyers would have a hard time making a persuasive case, he said.