CBS NEWSApril 22, 2014, 8:49 AM
Two former students of a prestigious prep school outside Philadelphia were hauled away in handcuffs Monday, accused of masterminding an elaborate drug ring that catered to affluent students in Philadelphia's suburbs known as the "The Main Line."
Neil Scott, 25, and Timothy Brooks, 18, graduates of Haverford School, where tuition costs nearly $35,000 a year, used their privileged connections to recruit dealers as well as customers, investigators said. According to court documents, investigators learned about "The Main Line takeover project" through text messages where the two prep school graduates discussed plans to take over marijuana sales in the Philadelphia suburbs. Police began investigating in January after receiving anonymous tips, reports CBS News correspondent Vinita Nair.
"Scott and Brooks employed students from five local high schools and three colleges as what they call sub-dealers to distribute cocaine, marijuana, hash oil, ecstasy," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.
Eleven people, including two juveniles, were charged, but it's the alleged suppliers who are at the center of the investigation.
Authorities say the men ran the operation like a business, demanding dealers move at least a pound of marijuana a week. The four-month investigation revealed that Scott would have large shipments of the drug delivered from California to his apartment.
Investigators seized a stash of marijuana, cocaine, more than $11,000 in cash and three weapons including a loaded AR-15 rifle.
"This was not a game. These people were in business," Ferman said. "They were in business to make money, and they were going to do whatever they needed to do to make sure that no one threatened their business."
Brooks' attorney Greg Pagano claimed his client was taken advantage of after dropping out of college.
"He was at home, he was idle and suffering from some depression," Pagano said.
As for Scott, his lawyer Tom Egan said his client is well aware of legal ramifications.
"The main concern for him is how the mandatory minimums are going to operate if he's indeed guilty of the offenses," Egan said.
Scott is being held on $1 million bail, and Brooks was released Monday after posting $250,000 bail. Both are due back in court next month.
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