Community Corner

Brothers Sentenced in Hollywood-Based Cocaine Ring

The two men will serve six to 10 years in federal prison.

Two brothers who headed a drug trafficking ring that used chartered jets to ship cocaine and cash between Los Angeles and Baltimore were sentenced Tuesday to multiple years behind bars.

Ricky "DP" James Brascom, 29, of Woodland Hills, and Jerome "Bro- Bro" Mondale Brascom, 31, of Colorado Springs, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The younger Brascom was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real, who sentenced the elder brother to six years, prosecutors said.

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The brothers were among 14 defendants indicted in 2010 on drug trafficking and money laundering charges stemming from a seven-month investigation that federal officials dubbed "Operation Snow Bird."

Prosecutors said the probe focused on a Hollywood-based smuggling ring that used the moniker Behind da Scenes Entertainment and had ties to the hip- hop worlds on both coasts.

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The ring purchased large quantities of cocaine, arranged for it to be flown from the Los Angeles area to Baltimore, oversaw distribution of the cocaine and flew suitcases of cash back to Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The seven-count federal indictment included charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to launder money and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment also sought the forfeiture of items related to the drug conspiracy, including cash and weapons.

— City News Service


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