By Troy Graham, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Dec. 20–Leonard “Pooh” Paulk had a long run through the Camden drug underworld, prosecutors said, beginning nearly 20 years ago when he was a teenage street dealer and ending last year with his conviction as one of the city’s largest narcotics wholesalers.
Because of that record, the 37-year-old faced a mandatory life term when sentenced in U.S. District Court in Camden yesterday.
Judge Freda Wolfson called that “drastic” but had harsh words for Paulk as well.
“This cycle of drugs and violence has got to stop,” she said. “And if it stops because you have to go to jail and never get out, then that’s the way it is.”
Paulk took his punishment calmly. He shuffled into court smiling broadly and waving to three rows of family and friends in the back of the room. His stepson, Dajuan Wagner, who played three NBA seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sat in front.
Given the chance to speak, Paulk eagerly thanked his supporters and repeatedly professed his love for his family.
“I apologize for putting you through this, but something good is going to come out of this,” he said. “Keep your heads up.”
Paulk is married to Wagner’s mother, Lisa. Wagner, an all-American out of Camden High School, left the courtroom about halfway through the hearing and did not return.
Paulk’s sister, Tomicka Wilson, spoke in her brother’s defense, describing him as a good father and husband.
“You don’t know the good of him,” she said. “When he was arrested, his children’s lives changed. No one has looked at that.”
But prosecutors described Paulk as a drug kingpin and wholesaler of heroin, crack and powder cocaine for an open-air drug organization led by Darnell “Big Lips” Tuten. At times, the organization made more than $100,000 a week, and Paulk bet more than $1.6 million at casinos in three years.
The government said Paulk and Tuten, 32, had ruled with a ruthless style of intimidation and violence. Defense attorneys said Paulk armed himself only to protect his wife and stepson from kidnapping attempts.
Paulk and Tuten were indicted with 11 others, and prosecutors won convictions or guilty pleas from all but one, who was convicted of a separate drug conspiracy. Paulk, convicted in November 2004, was the first to be sentenced.
Paulk’s attorney, Peter Goldberger, told Wolfson that he would offer little argument since federal law mandated a life sentence.
“The idea of a sentence from which there is no hope for release in a drug case is an abomination,” he said. “It is my hope that that law will be repealed and made retroactive.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Smith acknowledged that asking for a life sentence was “never easy,” but he reflected on Paulk’s long criminal history.
“This individual led people by fear and directed a massive amount of drugs through this city,” he said. “Mr. Paulk deserves life in jail.”
Contact staff writer Troy Graham at 856-779-3893 or [email protected].
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