Livan Hernandez faces scrutiny after PR drug trial

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)Federal justice officials will meet with Major League Baseballrepresentatives after the name of Washington Nationals pitcherLivan Hernandez surfaced in the trial of a convicted drugdealer.Prosecutors presented evidence at the trial ending Tuesday thatPuerto Rican drug dealer Angel Ayala Vazquez had a Porsche, aLamborghini and a warehouse containing a recording studio, a barbershop and a car repair shop registered in Hernandez's name.U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez and Javier Pena, specialagent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Caribbeandivision, said Wednesday they will meet with MLB officials in twoweeks at baseball's request.MLB officials had made the request during the trial, theysaid.Federal prosecutor Jacqueline Novas, who investigated the case,said it is possible that federal officials will further investigateAyala's connections to celebrities, including Hernandez.''We are going to look closely at those individuals,'' she said,declining further comment.Hernandez told The Associated Press that he wouldn't comment onthe matter. He said all questions should go through the Nationals'public relations staff.''The Nationals are aware of and are monitoring the situation asit pertains to the Angel Manuel Ayala trial in Puerto Rico,tera gold,'' teamspokesman John Dever said.Hernandez defected from Cuba in 1995, and went on to help theFlorida Marlins win the World Series two years later.Evidence presented during the trial showed that Ayala allegedlypaid Puerto Rican reggaeton singers, including Daddy Yankee andWisin y Yandel, along with merengue singer Elvis Crespo, in cash toperform at Christmas parties at a public housing complex.Ayala, better known as ''Angelo Millones,'' was once consideredthe island's top drug dealer. He was found guilty of conspiracy todistribute cocaine, heroin and pills at public housing projects inthe community of Bayamon. Also convicted was his brother, Luis CruzVazquez.Sentencing was set for Aug. 8.---AP Sports Writers Howard Fendrich in Washington, D.C., and HowieRumberg in New York contributed to this report.