At a news conference announcing the indictment, officials were reluctant to estimate the number of Bloods operating in the city.

To protect the rights of the accused, he said, he will not have news conferences announcing indictments.

Theirs were the first pleas entered since the Government announced the indictment last week of 46 commodity brokers and traders.

Their news conferences tend to sound dramatic - announcing arrests or multi-count indictments.

And Alabama authorities announced the indictment of the book chain on 32 felony counts of selling child pornography.

Defense lawyers asserted that prosecutors often seek an unfair initial advantage by holding news conferences at the time they announce indictments.

Manhattan prosecutors announced indictments in the attempted swindle of $28 million from the people of a Pacific island.

On June 21, Mr. Ashcroft announced the indictment of 14 men in the case, which is still pending.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced indictments on Tuesday against 16 people in the scheme.

Mayer, Brown told prosecutors that the firm would not accept a deal; the Justice Department announced the indictment on March 14.