Press Releases
RECIDIVIST DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DEALING CRACK COCAINE
October 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLARENCE WALLS, age 36, a resident of Hammond, LA, was sentenced today in federal court by U. S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle to ten (10) years (120 months) in prison with eight (8) years supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base (crack), announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten today. WALLS was sentenced to the statutory mandatory minimum of 120 months based on his prior felony drug conviction.
According to court documents, on June 27, 2001, WALLS pled guilty to two counts of distributing more than 5 grams of cocaine base and was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison. WALLS was released from federal prison ahead of schedule based on an amendment to the United States Sentencing Guidelines which lowered the advisory range of imprisonment for offenders guilty of drug violations involving cocaine base. The amendment was made retroactive and court documents show that WALLS was one of the earliest offenders in the Eastern District of Louisiana to receive a sentence reduction. WALLS was released from federal prison on March 13, 2008.
According to court documents in this case, on November 10, 2008 (eight months following the defendant’s release from federal prison), Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a court authorized search warrant on WALLS’ residence on Fred Clark Road in Hammond, Louisiana. During a search of the residence, agents discovered 16.1 net grams of cocaine base (crack), as well as two loaded handguns, a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic, and a Lorcin Model .25, and an extra loaded 31 round magazine.
On April 8, 2009, in the present case, WALLS pled guilty to a one count indictment charging possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base (crack).
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement officers with the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Department.
