August 2, 2007 - United States Attorney Patrick L. Meehan today announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment* against Edward Kaplan and Leonard Mason charging them with conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; six counts of distribution of, and possession with the intent to distribute, cocaine, and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine near schools, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 860, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. These offenses arise from the defendants’ participation in a conspiracy to distribute multiple kilograms of cocaine obtained from sources of supply in New York to multiple cocaine distributors in Philadelphia, the city of Chester, and Delaware.
DEFENDANT |
|
AGE [Date of Birth] |
Edward Kaplan |
Philadelphia PA |
1971 |
Leonard Mason |
Claymont, DE |
1967 |
If convicted on all counts, Edward Kaplan faces an aggregate sentence of life imprisonment, a 10 year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, a mandatory minimum 10 year term of supervised release up to lifetime supervised release, a $14 million fine, and a $500 special assessment.
If convicted on all counts, Leonard Mason faces an aggregate sentence of life imprisonment, a 20 year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, a mandatory minimum 10 year term of supervised release up to lifetime supervised release, a $12 million fine, and a $400 special assessment.
An information was also filed on August 1, 2007 charging Donald Johnson with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Count One); five counts of distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Counts Two and Six through Nine); one count of use, carrying, and possession of a firearm in relation to a controlled substance offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count Five); and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (Counts Three and Four).
If convicted on all counts, Donald Johnson faces an aggregate sentence of life imprisonment, a 30 year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, a mandatory minimum 10 year term of supervised release up to lifetime supervised release, a $28,275,000 fine, and a $900 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and Federal
Bureau of Investigation and has been assigned to Assistant United States
Attorney Joel D. Goldstein and Special Assistant United States Attorney Katayoun
Copeland.
UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE |
Contact: |
*An Indictment or Information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Benjamin Franklin Photo by B. Krist for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation