BY TIMOTHY LAROCHE
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NEWPORT — A Newport man who pleaded guilty to leading a drug enterprise was handed out time in New Hampshire State Prison this week.
Antwan Brown, 27, was sentenced in Sullivan County Superior Court to four and a half to 12 years in prison for leading a drug enterprise. Last month, Brown pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for a plea deal.
Under state laws, charges for leading a criminal enterprise carry steep sentences — 25 to 30 years in prison — if the defendant brings the charge to trial. By accepting the plea deal, Brown’s sentence was reduced.
As part of Brown’s sentence, he is ordered to participate in a drug treatment program. He also faces $620 in fines now and $620 in fines, suspended for 12 years.
Prosecutors agreed to drop several sale-of-crack-cocaine charges. Brown’s 166 days of pretrial confinement at the Sullivan County House of Corrections were also counted towards time served. Since Brown’s October arrest, he was unable to post $100,000 bail. Judge Brian Tucker revoked his bail following the February plea hearing.
His arrest followed 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.,” County Attorney Marc Hathaway said during Brown’s plea hearing. “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 in January 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.
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