Former Richmond lacrosse player sentenced in drug case

A former University of Richmond men's lacrosse player was sentenced Monday to at least nine months in county jail for the distribution of marijuana, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Timothy Brooks, 19, was a member of Richmond’s inaugural recruiting class for its men’s lacrosse team. But a shoulder injury ended his playing career early, forcing him to leave the team, according to the Inquirer article.

Brooks dropped out of Richmond after one semester and, upon returning home, became a key player in the “Main Line Takeover Project,” which was an operation intended to take control of the marijuana trade in high schools and colleges in and around Brooks’ native Montgomery County, according to a Collegian article last April.

Brooks was arrested and charged in April 2014. He will serve between nine and 23 months in Montgomery County jail, as well as five years’ probation, the Inquirer reported. He may also be eligible for work release after three months.

Neil Scott, 25, was the ringleader of the operation and received five to 15 years in state prison for his role, the Inquirer reported. Last April, authorities seized eight pounds of marijuana, 23 grams of cocaine, two AR-15 rifles and more than $11,000 in cash through multiple search warrants, according to Nicholson’s article.

Since being arrested in April, Brooks has been involved with Alcoholics Anonymous to help others find sobriety, the Inquirer reported. The article stated that Judge Steven T. O’Neill “applauded Brooks’ recovery,” but O’Neill said he sentenced him based on “the version of you that was actively selling weed to high school kids."

Contact Sports Editor Charlie Broaddus at charlie.broaddus@richmond.edu