THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607240424
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 30 lines
A jury sentenced a 22-year-old man Tuesday to 75 years in prison for selling 1.25 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Nelson Dollar Smith of 4940 Paine Lane in Virginia Beach also was fined $800,000 by the jury.
It was the second time in the last three months that a Virginia Beach jury has delivered a stiff prison sentence and large fine to a defendant for selling crack cocaine. Prosecutor David Laird handled both cases.
In June, Eugene Smalls was sentenced to 90 years in prison and fined $1 million.
Smith was charged with selling .50 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer on Oct. 25, 1994. He also was charged with arranging the sale of .75 grams of crack cocaine a day later. Both sales were made at a 7-Eleven parking lot within 1,000 feet of Bayside High School.
Smith was sentenced to 25 years and fined $250,000 for the Oct. 25 transaction; he received 30 years and was fined $300,000 for the Oct. 26 transaction.
He was sentenced to five years and fined $100,000 for making the sales within 1,000 feet of a school and was sentenced 15 years and $150,000 for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
Smith's only prior conviction was for marijuana possession.
KEYWORDS: DRUG ARREST SENTENCING CRACK COCAINE by CNB