FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 17, 2011
PARKERSBURG MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON ON FEDERAL CRACK COCAINE DISTRIBUTION CHARGE
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Lawrence Garner, 36, of Parkersburg, was sentenced yesterday to 42 months in prison by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston for aiding and abetting the distribution of crack cocaine. Garner admitted that on January 23, 2010, he distributed 5.53 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant working under the direction of the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crime Task Force. An investigation revealed that Garner was bringing ounce-level quantities of powder cocaine from Marietta, Ohio to Parkersburg, West Virginia to distribute. Following two controlled drug buys, agents executed a search warrant at a Marietta hotel where the defendant was staying at the time and subsequently seized additional quantities of drugs and cash. Garner had previously been convicted of three felonies for trafficking crack cocaine out of Lancaster, Ohio.
In addition to the prison sentence, Garner was ordered to serve six years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Parkersburg Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance by the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory, Ohio Major Crimes Task Force/ Washington County Drug Task Force, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification.
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