Dad of accused drug dealer speaks-out

CENTRAL FALLS, RI (WPRI) - The father of an "Operation Deception" defendant is speaking out, calling the charges leveled against his son "foolish."

Paul Price, the father of 34 year-old Khalid Mason gave the Target 12 Investigators a tour of his son's squalid apartment Thursday. He said it's hard to believe a man accused of running a lucrative drug operation would be living in such poverty.

"It's pretty obvious he's no kingpin of anything," Price said. "He's three or four months behind on his rent."

Price pointed to a stack of bills as evidence. He said their money situation has prevented them from finding Mason an attorney.

The tiny Central Falls apartment on Hunt Street was strewn with clothing, trash and furniture. Price said the State Police "ransacked" the apartment looking for drugs.

According to a search warrant obtained by Target 12, state police found eight cell phones, Viagra and Cialis pills among other items, but no cocaine. Investigators said they did find the narcotic at a Salmon Street apartment in Providence connected to Mason.

State Police Captain David Neill declined to comment on what the connection was but said generally speaking, large scale drug dealers use stash houses.

"Stash houses are basically a location other than where the target us living where they will store or conceal narcotics to avoid being detected by law enforcement," Neill said.

On Wednesday, Target 12 met face-to-face with Mason for 30 minutes at the Adult Correctional Institution. Cameras, even pen and paper were banned by prison officials.

• Watch Tim White's interview with Khalid Mason

During that meeting Mason claimed he implicated many of the officers now facing charges or on desk duty in the wake of "Operation Deception." He claimed he brought the names up as part of a 2007 hearing before Federal Court Judge William Smith.

Target 12 confirmed three Frank's hearings took place in July and August 2007 through public court records. But a transcript of the hearing was not immediately available.

Price backed up his son's claim.

"The same dirty cops that was involved before, are now in jail," Price said. They didn't want to hear us then, but now they have to hear us."

Providence Police Commander Paul Kennedy disputed the claim. He said those names were never brought to the attention of the Providence Police.

In a sometimes emotional interview, Price spoke of his son's battles with law enforcement and claimed Mason was a fall guy.

"It will all come out, just like it did before, we tried to tell him before no one would listen," Price said. "He was set free and now we're right here again."

Mason was cleared of federal drug charges in 2007. Judge Smith blasted the Providence Police Narcotics unit for "shoddy work."

Providence Police Detective Joseph Colanduono, Sergeant Stephen Gonsalves and Patrolman Robert Hamlin were all charged last week in "Operation Deception." Colanduono and Hamlin pleaded not guilty, Gonsalves has yet to be arraigned.

• Operation Deception Timeline

In addition, Providence Police Colonel Dean Esserman said he placed three narcotics officers and a patrol officer on administrative duty after their names came up as part of the investigation. They have not been charged but an internal review is on-going.

twhite@wpri.com