After more than nine months in a high-security Argentine prison and one month of house arrest, UNC physics professor Paul Frampton was sentenced Nov. 19 to four years and eight months of house arrest for drug smuggling charges.
Frampton was arrested at a Buenos Aires airport Jan. 23 for attempting to smuggle 2 kilograms of cocaine out of the country in a bag he checked.
In an earlier statement, Frampton said someone he trusted gave him the bag and he didn’t know it contained drugs.
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UNC physics professor Paul Frampton has been sentenced to more than four years of house arrest in Argentina.
- Jan. 23: Frampton was arrested at a Buenos Aires airport and sent to Villa Devoto Prison.
- Feb. 17: Bruce Carney informs Frampton his salary will be frozen and that he will be placed on personal leave.
- Oct. 31: Authorities release Frampton from Villa Devoto Prison and place him on house arrest following health concerns
- Nov. 21: Frampton is sentenced to four years and eight months of house arrest.
According to his website — helppaulframpton.org — Frampton’s supporters believe his almost five-year sentence will likely translate to two years and four months of actual time served. The website suggests he could be released by May 2014.
Frampton had already been released from the Villa Devoto prison and placed on house arrest late last month because prison conditions aggravated his respiratory condition.
