Franks Tells Judge He Sold Cocaine to Eagles

Former Philadelphia Eagle Dennis Franks pleaded guilty Thursday to selling cocaine he bought from associates of a huge cocaine ring, and authorities said many of his former teammates were involved.

Franks, 34, admitted to a federal judge he sold cocaine between April 1981 and June 1983, after he left his post as captain of the Eagles’ special teams.

Franks purchased one-ounce quantities of cocaine once a week or every two weeks from a Philadelphia record promoter and then resold it to members of the Eagles, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Noble said.

Noble declined to identify the players or even say how many were implicated. He did say none were currently with the Eagles and the investigation was continuing.

Franks, a center, left the Eagles in 1979 after spending three years with the team.

At the time of the sales, Franks was working for Cambridge Diet Co. of Philadelphia. Noble said it was there Eagle players went to purchase cocaine from Franks.

Authorities said Franks was cooperating with the FBI and had agreed to be a witness in the widening case against members of the ring.

No trial date was set, but Franks faced 19 years in prison and $55,000 in fines, Noble said.

Franks had purchased the cocaine from Nicholas Martinelli, 37, who runs Watch Out Productions, Noble said. Martinelli was awaiting trial.

Franks and Martinelli were two of 15 people indicted by a federal grand jury last month for obtaining cocaine from an organization headed by Dr. Lawrence Lavin, a former Philadelphia dentist.