Drug dealer gets four years for cocaine possession

CANTON — A convicted drug dealer was sentenced to four years in state prison for having 12 ounces of cocaine when St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force members raided his home in early May.

Rafael Santos, 26, of 214 Randall Road, Lisbon, also was sentenced Friday in St. Lawrence County Court by Judge Jerome J. Richards as a repeat felony offender to three years' post-release supervision. Mr. Santos pleaded guilty in November to felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

"I like to apologize to my family and kids," Mr. Santos said in court.

He was convicted in April 2004 in Bronx County of felony second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to three years to life in state prison. He was released from prison in February 2007, according to state Department of Correctional Services records.

His codefendant, Ainsley N. "Matthew" Edwards, 25, of 55 Sweeney Road, Potsdam, pleaded guilty last month to felony second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He will serve four years in state prison after he is sentenced Feb. 8.

Mr. Edwards admitted selling 3 ounces of cocaine to a female confidential informant for $5,100 at his restaurant, Leonie's Jamaican Cuisine on Miner Street. The restaurant has since closed.

The drug task force in all seized 17 ounces of cocaine.