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.