Life sentence for Md. cocaine dealer
A federal judge has sentenced a cocaine dealer to life in prison after he was convicted last year of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, money laundering and other charges.
U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte also ordered 45-year-old David Barren to forfeit $1.2 million in proceeds from the illegal activity, including a Pennsylvania property.
Barren, who is also known as “James Willie Jones” and “Vincent Hutchins,” is a resident of Upper Marlboro.
Prosecutors say Barren distributed more than 500 pounds of cocaine from May 2004 to 2005 and had couriers bring the drugs to his Maryland home.
They add that he used cars with special hiding places to conceal the drugs, and hid his assets by putting a home in his brother's name and at least once titling a vehicle in a courier's name.
-- Associated Press
By
Washington Post Editors
|
August 11, 2010; 4:57 PM ET
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Was life the maximum? Was it mandatory? A little background please.
Posted by: gbooksdc | August 11, 2010 6:20 PM | Report abuse
Is everybody getting life for selling large amounts of coke? Or only those selling Crack cocaine?
Posted by: dcjazzman | August 11, 2010 10:51 PM | Report abuse
Those selling the crack cocaine are getting the more severe sentences even though coke is crack cocaine.
Posted by: justmyopinion49 | August 12, 2010 11:36 AM | Report abuse
Life for selling coke? Life for sellign crack?
Did he murder anyone? Rape anyone? Then life is f'ing ridiculous.
Legalize it, Regulate it, Tax it
Posted by: Greent | August 12, 2010 12:14 PM | Report abuse
Is everybody getting life for selling large amounts of coke? Or only those selling Crack cocaine?
Posted by: dcjazzman
----------------------------------
What does it matter?
As a Black man, I for one wish President Obama had NOT signed bill eliminating harsher penalities for possession and distribution of crack cocaine.
Considering the damage that crack has done to the Black community, any Black person who objects to harsher penalties for selling crack is just plain foolish.
We should be demanding the death penalty for crack-dealing scum.
Posted by: ceefer66 | August 12, 2010 1:32 PM | Report abuse
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