Atlanta Man Sentenced For Cocaine Trafficking

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh announced thatChristopher Shaun Lamar, 35, of Atlantawassentenced today to 293 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.  Sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Richard Smoak, who presided over Lamar’s jury trial in November 2012.

At Lamar’s trial, Panama City Police officers testified that they seized 360 grams of cocaine and 70 grams of crack cocaine from a rental vehicle during a traffic stop in January 2006.  Officers learned that a local cocaine distribution group had been receiving kilogram quantities of cocaine from Atlanta.  Four members of this organization were convicted of federal drug trafficking offenses at trial and by plea in 2006 and 2007.  Also during trial, cooperating defendants testified that Lamar supplied the group with about 25 kilograms of cocaine in late 2005 and early 2006.  The group picked up the drugs in Atlanta for sale in north Florida.

Lamar argued at trial and at sentencing that he met the witnesses only briefly at strip clubs, that he was a rap musician, and that he only sold marijuana – not cocaine.  However, the witnesses had hundreds of telephone contacts with a cellular telephone attributed to Lamar and were able to give detailed directions to Lamar’s residence near Atlanta.  The witnesses gave similar descriptions of Lamar’s criminal activities despite having been arrested months apart, and being housed separately before being interviewed.

Lamar was indicted in November 2007, but was not apprehended until May 8, 2012, when the DeKalb County Police Department arrested him with a half-pound of marijuana, scales, and a loaded pistol.  That case arising from that arrest remains pending.  Lamar received an enhanced sentence because of his prior felony drug conviction, which stemmed from his arrest on December 16, 2004, with an ounce of cocaine and a loaded revolver.

U.S. Attorney Marsh praised the joint efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Panama City Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Simpson prosecuted this case.