LAWRENCE – Two Lynn men arrested during a major drug bust last year, in which an estimated $500,000 worth of brick cocaine was seized, were convicted and sentenced each to 15 years in state prison.Francklin J. Coplin, 30, of 20 Neptune Blvd., and Francisco Carmona, 41, of 604 Essex St., went on trial last week in Lawrence Superior Court on drug trafficking charges.A jury convicted them as charged on Wednesday afternoon after deliberating for about six hours over a 2-day span.They were immediately sentenced to the mandatory punishment under the law for the crime – 15 years in state prison by Judge Leila R. Kern.Assistant District Attorney Kim M. Faitella presented evidence during the 6-day trial that last Sept. 24, police acting on information went to 121 Henry Ave. to arrest Emmanuel Hernandez, 25, on firearm charges.Police set up surveillance and observed Hernandez get into the back seat of a white Jeep Cherokee.Police stopped the vehicle just before 4 p.m. on Washington Street. As they approached, they observed the front seat passenger, later identified as Carmona, pushing something under the seat.A blue bag containing four kilos of brick cocaine was found in the bag and an additional bag containing another kilo of brick cocaine was located in the back seat.Coplin was the driver of the vehicle and Hernandez was a passenger in the back.Lynn Police Detective Michael Ferraro went one step more and went back to Coplin’s apartment the next day and reviewed a surveillance tape where he observed Coplin carrying the same blue bag found in the car from his apartment before his arrest.Police then searched his apartment and found another kilo of cocaine and cash.The landlord told authorities that Coplin had been living there for the last nine months.The estimated street value of all the cocaine seized was $500,000.Carmona maintained he was innocent and was only in the car because Coplin was giving him a ride, while Coplin denied that the drugs were his.Hernandez was not indicted in connection with the case.Faitella praised Ferraro, who headed the investigation, saying he did a “great investigation,” along with Sgt. Ted Cusack and State Trooper James Bruce.Carmona and Coplin will have to serve the entire 15 years in prison before being eligible for parole. They have served 323 days awaiting trial.