SHAMOKIN - A New York man who law enforcement officials said moved to Shamokin to deal drugs was arrested Thursday after allegedly selling crack cocaine to a confidential informant.
Leonard Franks, 32, is accused of selling one gram of crack cocaine for $100. The deal was facilitated from his apartment at 209 E. Sunbury St. after 10:20 a.m., police said. He was later taken into custody on Independence Street.
A search of Franks' home turned up an additional 15 grams of crack cocaine parceled in half-gram amounts, according to a criminal complaint. The drug was discovered inside a false bottom of a diversion safe designed to appear as a can of Barbasol shaving cream.
District Attorney Ann Targonski said Franks has lived in Shamokin about one month. She estimated the street value of the crack cocaine seized from his home at $2,100.
Franks, formerly of Bronx, is charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano with three counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, two counts of possession of cocaine, and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana. Four of the counts are felonies. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and jailed at the Snyder County Prison, Selinsgrove, in lieu of $40,000 bail.
The informant told police Franks consistently sold both heroin and crack cocaine, the complaint states. Franks said he stopped selling heroin after learning of the recent arrests at a Shamokin day care, according to Primerano, adding that a copy of The News-Item detailing the allegations was seized from Franks' home. Also seized were five grams of marijuana, $162 cash, three boxes of sandwich bags allegedly intended to package narcotics and unidentified paperwork confirming his residency.
Primerano said Franks claimed to have once been a member of the Bloods street gang.
The arrest was made in cooperation with the state Attorney General's Office. Police from Coal Township and Ralpho Township assisted, along with Northumberland County Adult Probation. Additional charges are pending.