Five years of that will be served without parole.
Frederick, Md (KM) Sentence was handed down Thursday to a major cocaine distributor in Frederick County. In Circuit Court, Christopher Dorsey, 34, of Inwood, WV was given 80 years with all but 30 years suspended. During five years of that sentence, Dorsey will not be eligible for parole. After he’s released, Dorsey will be placed on five years of supervised probation.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith says his office had actually asked for 50 years with all but 30 years suspended, and the five years of supervised release. He noted that Deputy State’s Attorney Nanci Hamm, who prosecuted the case, said in court that Dorsey hadn’t work in a legitimate job since 2001, and even then it was only for one year. . “As Nanci Hamm said, he’s a large volume, careful, until now, successful drug dealer. The Court agreed with her and therefore adhered to our recommendation and giving him a very, very lengthy sentence,” says Smith.
Dorsey was convicted on June 1st, 2018 by a Frederick County jury on nine counts: two counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; two counts of distribution of cocaine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; two county of possession of cocaine; and one count of unlawful possession of cocaine in a large amount, more than 448 grams.
Dorsey was arrested last year following an investigation which began in December, 2016. It involved a lot of surveillance and the serving of multiple search and seizure warrants.
“These are the guys that are businessmen. These are not addicts that are dealing, that are trying to support a habit. These guys are in it. They’re in it for the long haul. They’re making lots of money,” says Smith. “And as you can see in this case, the defendant hadn’t worked since 2001 in a legit job. He’s been selling cocaine for a long time. Of course, with a 30-year sentence, he’s not going to be selling it any more since the first five are mandatory.”
The first five years of Dorsey’s sentence will be served without the possibility of parole.
By Kevin McManus