NORRISTOWN >> A Philadelphia man learned on his birthday that he’s headed to state prison for conspiring with several others to peddle heroin, some branded “Certain Death,” in Montgomery and Berks counties.
Khaleaf Quinton “Leaf” Lindsay, of the 1100 block of West Colona Street, who turned 20 years old on Wednesday, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to one to five years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver heroin and cocaine and conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to deliver them in connection with his role in the drug operation that was dismantled by authorities last year.
Judge Garrett D. Page, who accepted a plea agreement in the matter, made Lindsay eligible for the state Department of Corrections’ Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive program, which allows eligible non-violent offenders to receive reductions of their minimum prison sentences if they successfully complete all required treatment and maintain good-conduct records in prison. Prisoners can be released upon completing the program only if officials are satisfied that the offenders pose no risks to public safety.
If Lindsay, who has no prior criminal record, successfully completes the RRRI program he could reduce his minimum prison stay to nine months, according to court records.
Lindsay was one of five men arrested last October when authorities from Montgomery and Berks counties crushed the drug operation with information provided by a Pottstown man whose son died from a heroin overdose. The father’s information helped lead authorities to the alleged ringleader of the drug operation, Tyrig Darnell “Foota” Coleman.
Coleman, 26, of the 2100 block of Buchert Road, Lower Pottsgrove, remains in jail while awaiting trial on corrupt organization and numerous drug-related charges.
Another man, Martez Eric “Moo” Cooper, 23, of the 300 block of North York Street, Pottstown, also is awaiting trial on corrupt organization and numerous drug- and conspiracy-related charges, according to court records.
The fourth man, Ryan Richard “JR” Conquest, 26, of the 200 block of East Montana Street, Philadelphia, previously was sentenced to 2 1/2 to five years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations and other drug-related charges. Conquest’s minimum sentence can be reduced to 22 1/2 months if he successfully completes the RRRI program.
The fifth man, Tyrek “B Hop” Waples, 20, of the 200 block of West Tabor Avenue, Philadelphia, previously was sentenced to nine to 23 months in the county jail, to be followed by three years’ probation, after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to deliver.
In court papers, authorities alleged Conquest, Waples and Lindsay were sub-dealers in Coleman’s organization.
When authorities announced the arrests at borough hall last October they displayed more than 1,000 packets of heroin and cocaine, with a street value of about $10,000, several handguns, ammunition and $5,419 cash. Some of the heroin packets were labeled “Certain Death” and “Fantasy.”
“This is so insidious,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said at the time. “This is the epidemic that we are facing in our communities all across Montgomery County, all across the state… lives being destroyed every day because of the greed of these drug dealers.”
The dealers worked out of motel rooms they rented in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove in Montgomery County and in Amity Township in Berks, according to court papers. The defendants engaged in mass-group texts to potential buyers revealing the types, stamps and locations where heroin and cocaine could be purchased, prosecutors alleged, adding the addicts would line up at the motels to purchase the drugs.
Lindsay was found possessing some of the keys to the motel rooms where heroin and cocaine were found during police searches, according to court papers.
The alleged dealers sold heroin and cocaine to about 66 addicts in the Pottstown region who were getting the text messages, according to authorities.
In April 2014, Pottstown police investigated the heroin overdose death of a 22-year-old man in the Rosedale section of the borough. The victim’s father contacted borough police in June 2015 explaining he had recently activated his dead son’s cell phone and discovered text messages that he believed came from drug dealers, according to court papers.
“The victim’s father provided information to law enforcement in an attempt to better his community and prevent future drug overdose deaths,” detectives wrote in the criminal complaint.
Investigators linked one of the text messages, discussing heroin available for purchase at a local motel room, to Coleman’s phone, which he allegedly used to communicate with drug customers.
The undercover investigation included law enforcement officers from Montgomery and Berks counties and the district attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team.
