Issue date: 8/29/01 Section: State/Local

HOUSTON (AP) — A trial on drug trafficking charges is under way for John Forte, a music producer who has performed as a backup singer for Michael Jackson, Carly Simon, Whitney Houston and Eric Clapton.

Forte, 26, is accused of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute. Simon is expected to testify as a character witness. Simon posted $250,000 bail for Forte after his arrest at Newark (N.J.) International Airport on cocaine charges in July of last year.

Forte has also performed with Herbie Hancock, co-produced the Fugees’ hit record The Score in 1996 and sung on a solo album released by Fugees singer Wyclef Jean. He sang backup during Simon’s last tour.

Prosecutors allege Forte hired two young women to pick up two packets of cocaine in Harlingen and deliver them to New York City. The two were arrested at Hobby Airport as they attempted to make a connecting flight to New York.

Defense attorney Tony Serra said Forte never knew the packets contained cocaine. An acquaintance who hired him to locate female couriers told him the packets contained money and there was nothing illegal about the deal, Serra said.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacy de la Torre told jurors that Forte was to be paid $10,000 for every load of cocaine the two women delivered to New York.

After the couriers’ arrest, they agreed to cooperate with the Drug Enforcement Administration, she said, and, using a tapped phone, the women called Forte several times in New York.

‘‘It’s quite clear from the tape recordings that Mr. Forte was tracking his dope,’’ de la Torre said. Serra said there is no way Forte would jeopardize a ‘‘fantastic future in music’’ by engaging in illegal activity. The trial is in U.S. District Judge Sim Lake’s courtroom.

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