Montgomery County DA: Drug ring targeted local schools; 8 arrested

LOWER MERION, Pa. (WPVI) -- Eight people have been arrested following an investigation into a drug ring that allegedly targeted local high schools and colleges.

The ringleaders were Haverford School graduates Neil Scott, 25, and Timothy Brooks, 18, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Brooks and Scott are former members of the lacrosse team and served as coaches for local youth teams.

The two named their network "The Main Line Takeover Project," investigators said.

"Their intention, as the name suggests, was the two of them would take over drug distribution - in particular, marijuana distribution - in schools and colleges on the Main Line," Ferman said.

Ferman said Scott would receive bulk shipments from a California supplier which would be shipped to his Haverford apartment, which allegedly served as his base of operations. He also allegedly used his parents' home in Paoli and Brooks' home in Villanova.

Ferman said local students would be drafted into the drug distribution operation as sub-dealers to allegedly distribute cocaine, marijuana, hash oil and ecstasy.

"The high school sub-dealers were encouraged to develop their business so they could sell at least one pound of marijuana each week," Ferman said.

Brooks - who Ferman said acted as the supervisor of the student dealers - instructed them to make sure there was 'never a drought,' Ferman said.

Multiple search warrants were executed in nine locations earlier this year, Ferman said, which included the homes of Brooks and Scott.

She said investigators found approximately eight pounds of marijuana, three pounds of hash oil, 23 grams of cocaine, 11 grams of ecstasy, $11,000 in cash, a loaded AR-15 assault rifle, a loaded 9mm pistol, and a loaded .22 AR-15 style rifle along with ammunition for all of those guns.

Officials say the drug trafficking operation focused on distributing drugs to students at:

-Lower Merion High School

-The Haverford School

-Harriton High School

-Conestoga High School

-Radnor High School

-Haverford College

-Lafayette College

-Gettysburg College

The police say this is an ongoing investigation with the possibility of more arrests. Scott is being held on $1 million cash bail. Brooks is held on 10 percent of $250,000 bail.

Both are facing serious jail time if convicted.