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EDGEWOOD DRUG DEALERS GET LONG PRISON SENTENCES

On July 31^st Jason Easter of Edgewood, Maryland received an 18-year prison sentence for his participation as the leader of a large-scale drug organization operating in the Edgewood area of Harford County. The prison sentence was imposed after Easter pled guilty to various drug charges stemming from a wiretap investigation conducted by the Harford County Narcotics Task Force. During the investigation members of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force monitored and recorder the telephone lines of Jason Easter and learned that various midlevel drug dealers obtained quantities of cocaine from Jason Easter large enough for redistribution to lower echelon drug dealers. The investigation culminated in the arrest of Easter on March 3, 2003 shortly after he arrived in the Edgewood area with 21 ounces of cocaine. The investigation also resulted in the arrest and indictment of several members of Easter's drug organization.

Alfatine Franklin of Edgewood, Maryland, identified as a member of Easter's organization, also pled guilty on July 31^st to drug and weapon offenses. Franklin received a 5 years sentence without the possibility of parole. Cases are still pending against the other members of the organization. The investigation was lead by Cpl. Timothy Leard and Detective Matthew Glassman of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force and the case was prosecuted by Assistant States Attorney Yolanda L. Curtin.