By Staff
A Brewton man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for his activities involving the distribution of crack cocaine.
Christopher Fountain was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison Thursday after being found guilty on one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
Fountain was convicted by a jury at the conclusion of his trial April 29. Under current guidelines, Fountain will not be eligible for parole during his sentence. The federal criminal justice system has abolished parole in such cases.
According to court records, Special Agent Wade Barnes of the Drug Enforcement Administration testified at trial about a confession that Fountain made to him and the task force officers in October 2007.
Barnes also testified that Fountain told him he had obtained six ounces of crack cocaine from a Reco McNeal who was traveling from Brewton to Atlanta in order to obtain the crack cocaine.
Barnes further testified that Fountain told him after McNeal was arrested Fountain took over McNeal's supplier and started traveling to Atlanta to obtain the crack cocaine. Fountain told Barnes that he made eight trips to Atlanta in 2007 and brought back a total of six ounces of crack cocaine and cocaine on each trip.
Barnes testified Fountain told him the names of the various individuals who Fountain then distributed the crack cocaine and the cocaine to in Brewton.
Sgt. Wade Robinson of the Orange, Texas, Police Department also testified at the trial.
During his testimony, Robinson said he stopped a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 10 in Orange, Texas on February 19, 2007. After the traffic stop, the officer seized $26,860 in U.S. currency that was stuffed in a pillow case on the back seat of the vehicle. Robinson testified the money in the pillow case was stacked in $1,000 bundles. Robinson testified McNeal was in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
Another witness at the trial, Kevin Campbell, testified that he joined Fountain and McNeal and pooled their money to allow McNeal to purchase cocaine in Houston, Texas.
Flomaton Police Chief Michael Lambert testified at the sentencing hearing that Fountain was a major crack cocaine dealer in Flomaton also.
Lambert testified his department had received numerous complaints alleging Fountain was selling crack cocaine from an apartment complex in Flomaton. The complex was located across the street from a public park where little league baseball was played, Lambert said.
Lambert further testified there was also a public school a short distance from the location Fountain was known to use to sell crack cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Deborah J. Rhodes commended the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force, the City of Brewton, Police Department and the City of Flomaton Police Department for their dedicated efforts in investigating the case.
The prosecutor in the case, Assistant United States Attorney George F. May, stated the distribution of crack cocaine has a devastating impact upon a community.