A Mississippi man, Marshall Grace, 47, has been handed a hefty sentence for methamphetamine trafficking following his previous conviction on conspiracy and possession charges. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey dealt Grace a combined sentence that will see him serve over a decade behind bars. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Grace will face 120 months for the conspiracy charge (Count One) and 78 months for possession with intent to distribute (Count Two), both sentences to run concurrently.
The details surrounding Grace's case reveal his significant role in supplying meth to local dealers in the Hollygrove neighborhood of Orleans Parish. This went on from around July 2019 until July 2020. His illegal enterprise came to an abrupt end after a routine traffic stop by Louisiana State Troopers, in St. Tammany Parish, discovered half a kilogram of methamphetamine stashed in his car's trunk. In addition, law enforcement recovered two of Grace's cell phones at the scene, which, upon investigation contained incriminating evidence of drug trafficking communications, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
For Grace, the consequences of his actions extend beyond prison. Following his release, he will be under supervised release for an additional five and four years for Counts One and Two, respectively, revealing the long-term oversight the justice system intends to maintain. Moreover, Grace will be obligated to pay a special assessment fee totaling $200, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
