Op. Deception suspect to enter plea

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The alleged ringleader in the Providence Police drug scandal known as Operation Deception is expected  to enter a plea, after serving months in prison.

Albert Hamlin was arrested in March as part of an uncover sting into a drug-dealing investigation that allegedly involved four Providence police officers, including Hamlin's brother.

Eyewitness News legal analyst Lou Pulner says he is not surprised by news of a plea agreement, given the evidence against Hamlin.

"The State Police had thousands of intercepted wires, and the  guy was just burying himself all over the place," says Pulner.

The four officers charged in the case are accused of either buying drugs from Hamlin or protecting him from arrest.

Pulner believes prosecutors may be seeking Hamlin's cooperation, which could lead to additional arrests.

"Law enforcement wants to weed out bad cops," reasons Pulner.  "If these cops are bad, certainly there was an incentive for law enforcement to make a rather generous offer to Mr. Hamlin and for Mr. Hamlin to accept it."

Pulner says Albert Hamlin's sentencing could reveal whether he has agreed to testify against his suspected co-conspirators.

"If in fact Mr. Hamlin is cooperating with law enforcement, not only is he giving them information, he's also going to have to be willing to testify against the other co-defendants and that could make for some interesting copy."

Hamlin's lawyer expects the sentence to be no more than 20 years.

The plea could come as soon as Wednesday in Providence Superior Court.

It is unclear whether Hamlin will plead guilty or no-contest.