Press Releases
MAN DEALING CRACK SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON
April 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIONEL CLAY, age 45, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced earlier this week by U. S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to ten (10) years (120 months) imprisonment for possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute it, announced U. S Attorney Jim Letten.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Vance imposed eight (8) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. During the eight-year term the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
According to court documents, a confidential source informed New Orleans Police Officers that CLAYwas storing crack cocaine in his trailer located off Chef Menteur Highway and that CLAY would ride his bicycle up and down Chef Menteur Highway selling crack to various pedestrians. Based upon further investigation, officers obtained a search warrant. During the execution of the warrant, officers located approximately 95 individually wrapped pieces of crack cocaine hidden inside an oven mitt.
In this case, the Government filed a Bill of Information noticing that CLAY had previously pleaded guilty to possessing crack in Orleans Parish and had received a five-year sentence at that time. Because of this prior felony offense, Judge Vance imposed a mandatory 10-year sentence. After sentencing, CLAY was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service to begin his term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and officers of the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin G. Boitmann.
