Pubdate: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 Source: Times Herald, The (Norristown, PA) Copyright: 2005 The Times Herald Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1672 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2689 Author: Margaret Gibbons Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) DRUG DEALER TAKES CRACK AT SENTENCE REDUCTION COURTHOUSE - Ernest Scott III, the son and namesake of the former Norristown councilman, will get another legal crack at having his sentence reduced for the drug and fraud crimes he committed in connection with the Scott family's illicit "businesses." Montgomery County Judge Richard J. Hodgson, acting at the direction of the state Superior Court, Monday resentenced Scott, 28, formerly of the 800 block of George St., Norristown, to the same 6- to 10-year sentence he is now serving at the Albion state prison in Erie County. The state Superior Court, responding to an appeal filed by Scott, had vacated the original sentence Hodgson had issued Scott in May 2003, asking Hodgson to "clarify" that sentence. While the judge simply re-read the original sentence into the record Monday, the resentencing is sufficient to reinstitute all of the appeal processes Scott would have available following a normal sentencing. Scott, claiming the sentence is too hefty for the crimes to which he pleaded guilty, repeatedly has appealed the sentence, seeking a reduction that would enable him to be free after serving only five years. Hodgson has rejected those appeals. Scott and his older brother, 31-year-old Sean J. Scott, formerly of the 500 block of Buchert Road, Gilbertsville, in March 2003 pleaded guilty to charges of drug dealing, conspiracy, fraud, corruption and related charges. While designating the pair's father as the alleged kingpin in the illicit family "businesses" involving drug-trafficking and fraud, prosecutors said the two brothers served in positions comparable to vice presidents. Wire taps and electronic room bugs used by authorities for the drug trafficking part of the operation showed that the two brothers were concerned about profits, putting away money and saving so that later they could buy expensive clothes and cars, according to authorities. The two Scott brothers were not street-corner dealers. Instead, they sold to street dealers, according to authorities. During their electronic eavesdropping, law enforcement officials said they heard conversations involving more than 178 pounds of marijuana while undercover buys and search warrants produced another 34 pounds of marijuana. Authorities estimated that the Scott drug ring moved about 50 pounds of marijuana a month. The fraud allegations involve Scott family members selling hundreds of falsified motor vehicle documents from the elder Scott's East Oak Street business, Scott Tags and Notary. These charges included sending clients to get falsified insurance cards in order to obtain car registrations. Scott's business offices also served as the communications hub for the drug trafficking operation, according to authorities. The year-long investigation, which began in the spring of 2001, primarily focussed on drug-trafficking in the borough but, as a result of the electronic eavesdropping, expanded to include the fraudulent car registration business. A total of 10 suspects, including five Scott family members, were arrested as the result of the investigation although charges subsequently were dropped against the former councilman's mother. The elder Scott was sentenced to 6 1/2 to 20 years in prison while Sean Scott, who had a prior drug arrest, was sentenced to seven to 10 years in prison. The other defendants in the case also pleaded guilty, receiving sentences ranging from five-year probationary sentences to prison stints of nine to 23 months, followed by lengthy probations. - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman