FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY - February 17, 2011

BELVIDERE DRUG DEALER SENTENCED

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced GEORGE FRIERSON, 40, of Belvidere, North Carolina, to 168 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on December 18, 2008. On July 7, 2010, FRIERSON pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and a quantity of cocaine.

In May, 2007, during the course of an investigation into another case involving a robbery, miscellaneous materials indicative of illegal drug trading were discovered. During the course of the investigation, FRIERSON was interviewed and revealed that he distributed cocaine for several months. According to information reserved in the course of the investigation, it is estimated that FRIERSON distributed at least 1,800 grams of crack cocaine and 200 grams of powder cocaine.Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes 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.