FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - January 7, 2010

WILSON MAN RECEIVES FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE

FOR DRUG DISTRIBUTION

NEW BERN - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court on January 5, 2010, Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced CHRISTIAN TOBIAH MURRAY, 27, of Wilson, North Carolina, to 180 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on June 24, 2009. On September 9, 2009, MURRAY pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and 50 grams or more of cocaine.

From April 22, 2009, to June 5, 2009, law enforcement performed five controlled purchases with MURRAY. On June 29, 2009, MURRAY was arrested pursuant to a federal arrest warrant resulting from the drug transactions.

Further investigation revealed that MURRAY made transactions for co-defendant Torell Hall and that Hall would pay him between $150 and $200 per transaction.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Wilson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer E. Wells represented the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.