BY TIMOTHY LAROCHE
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CLAREMONT — A Newport man accused of leading a drug enterprise to sell crack cocaine pleaded guilty Wednesday in exchange for a lesser sentence.
Antwan Brown, 27, of Newport, pleaded guilty in Sullivan County Superior Court to leading a drug enterprise and selling crack cocaine. Three other drug counts were dropped following an agreement between Brown and prosecuting County Attorney Marc Hathaway.
As part of the agreement, the steepest potential sentence — 25 to 30 years for leading a drug enterprise — was reduced to 4.5 to 12 years. Sentencing is scheduled in March.
Brown was arrested in October following a month-long investigation by the Newport Police Department and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force into an alleged drug ring providing crack cocaine throughout the Newport area.
A confidential informant made a series of drug purchases from several people also arrested in connection with the case. Police recorded nearly $60,000 in drug transactions during the investigation.
“A relatively consistent theme of the transactions is that they took place at [Brown’s residence at] 269 Unity St.,” Hathaway said. “It was learned that Antwan Brown was the primary operator.”
Another Newport resident named in the case, Crystal Porter, 37, was sentenced to three to seven years in state prison on two counts of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. She also received a suspended sentence of up to seven years on another count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
Investigations into Porter’s phone record revealed that she had been receiving instructions regarding cocaine sales from Brown, according to court records.
“Crystal Porter was essentially a cutout to separate Brown from the drug transactions,” Hathaway said.
Another dealer named in the case, Frank Magistro, 42, was sentenced last month to two to six years for a violation of probation and two to seven years for distribution of crack cocaine. He also received a suspended sentence of up to seven years for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
According to indictments, Magistro sold crack cocaine to a person cooperating with the drug task force at the T-Bird on Sunapee Street on Sept. 5, and at Brown’s residence on Sept. 8, Sept. 12, Sept. 15, Sept. 19 and Sept. 22.
Prosecutors say several more area residents named in the investigation await sentencing.
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