IL - Man gets life in prison for trying to sell 50 gm of cocaine

[SewingDeb]

I was the one who said that street level dealers probably resort to that due to a lack of other option or resources. I never said they did not make any money.

I stand by my opinion that they can rarely afford the best attorneys, which is absolutely what I was alluding to.

I didn't think you meant they made no money...sorry. They may not be able to afford the very best attornies but from what I see around here, they do hire them and they get very light sentences if they serve any time at all.

You and I may have a different idea of what a street level dealer is and how much money they make, but that's ok.

They obviously make more money than they would in a legal job and that's the main reason they do it...that and because they can get their own supply (if they use) at a reduced cost.

 

[JBean]

Yes three strikes but he did not have to get life it could have been 28 years. That was the judges decision for life.

The sentence was federally mandated. The judges hands were tied, but I suppose the prosecutors could have charged him with something lesser. But the judge doesn't determine that.

>>It wasn't just the nearly 300 grams of crack cocaine attributed to Travis Davis, but the two prior drug convictions which made the life sentence mandatory under federal law.<<

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/090107/TRI_BE7VNFSL.064.php


additional info:

His attorney, Luke Taylor, argued for a lesser sentence, saying his client's offense level on the sentencing guideline range was overrepresented because the 300 grams of crack attributed to him was done over a 13-month period. However, without federal prosecutors agreeing to go below the mandatory life sentence, there was little maneuvering to be had for Davis.

 

[SewingDeb]

Interesting article on the history of drugs before and after they became illegal.

One part in particular stands out to me:

In the United States, regular users of opiates at the end of the century numbered somewhere between 200,000 and 1 million, out of a population of 76 million, leading to a general recognition that excessive opiate use was peculiarly American.

The majority of these users were white, middle- or upper-class women, with an average age of forty.

For them, opiates served the same function that alcohol, Valium, and other tranquilizers serve for housewives today.

Although opium use was not socially respectable, it received less opprobrium than the use of alcohol, which was especially frowned upon for women.

http://www.brugerforeningen.dk/bfny...4E31D?OpenDocument&K=Guest&#37;20Writers&S=UK

 

[j2mirish]

'Some' would be me. I am using the comparison because another poster pointed out that this pusher could have sold drugs that killed someone. ANYONE convicted of a DUI could have killed someone EACH time they drove drunk.
I am also using the comparison because an average joe collecting 2 DUI's in 2 months would likely been given a harsher sentence. Therefore, it is easy to believe money can buy freedom.

Selling drugs is illegal. Selling alcohol is not.

explain that to my sister,and her sobbing 11 and 9 year old, who's husband was killed by a drunk driver-- his second offense-

 

[mysteriew]

Several have called for the legalization of drugs. As far as for the druggies, that isn't a bad deal. Many would just stay high, needing more and more of the drug, spending all of their money running from dr to dr so they could get more of the drug, getting the money to pay for it by prostitution/robbery etc until they finally OD'D. Now for the druggies, maybe that wouldn't be a bad deal. Not much different from now- except they wouldn't be threatened with jail. But it would be their choice to live like that.

The difference for society would be that there would be more experimentation, presumably more addicts. As drug use increases, crime seems to increase- and I don't mean just the dealer fights. I am talking about the druggies looking for money and committing more and more robberies, more assaults and murders for the purpose of theft.

And think of the personal effect. Instead of our kids experimenting with alcohol, they would be more likely to experiment with drugs (remember it isn't illegal anymore.) Thus more are likely to become addicts. You watch your children unable to hold jobs, committing crimes (maybe even stealing from you to support the habit), losing weight, unable to concentrate. But they are adults and it's legal so you cannot stop them, you just have to watch. Many here will say "not my kid" but talk to the many parents these days that this very thing has happened to. Many didn't think their kids would either- and it's illegal. You may say "but they will have to go to the Dr" but perscription drugs are abused also. Many abused drugs once started as perscription drugs- think of Oxycotin.

Now watching your kids is bad enough. But think of your grandchildren being raised by these adults. The adults at least had choices. Your grandchildren won't. Think of them watching Mom and Dad shooting up. Think of them going hungry because there wasn't any money left for food after Mom/Dad bought drugs.

Personally, I would rather continue to fight drug usage than make it legal. Personally, even the thought of legalizing meth makes me shudder.

 

[OneLostGrl]

I was the one who said that street level dealers probably resort to that due to a lack of other option or resources. I never said they did not make any money.

I stand by my opinion that they can rarely afford the best attorneys, which is absolutely what I was alluding to.

Some here at WS know my history with drugs from other threads, for those who don't, I'll be brief then get on with my point. While I was addicted to prescription drugs, I also sold them, shared with "friends", etc. I ended up getting arrested for sale of narcotics and a controlled substance. I got a 15 year suspended sentence, 120 hours community service and 5 years probation. That was 6 years ago.

Although, I'm not proud of what I did, I am who I am and I did what I did, I paid my dues and I am now clean. But- I was a "street level dealer" and I am here to agree with you, most of us can't afford the best lawyers. Most of us end up with public defenders.

ETA: I see a lot of misconseption as to what the motive is behind "street level dealing". Trust me, it isn't a get rich quick scheme. Most of the time they do it simply because they don't know how to do anything else!!!

 

[angelmom]

Some here at WS know my history with drugs from other threads, for those who don't, I'll be brief then get on with my point. While I was addicted to prescription drugs, I also sold them, shared with "friends", etc. I ended up getting arrested for sale of narcotics and a controlled substance. I got a 15 year suspended sentence, 120 hours community service and 5 years probation. That was 6 years ago.

Although, I'm not proud of what I did, I am who I am and I did what I did, I paid my dues and I am now clean. But- I was a "street level dealer" and I am here to agree with you, most of us can't afford the best lawyers. Most of us end up with public defenders.

ETA: I see a lot of misconseption as to what the motive is behind "street level dealing". Trust me, it isn't a get rich quick scheme. Most of the time they do it simply because they don't know how to do anything else!!!

But OneLostGirl, that is exactly the point!!! You got help, you got clean, and you turned your life around. (And we are so glad you did!) This guy has had several chances and sold a lot more drugs than it sounds like you had, and he still doesn't get it. He keeps going back. He's like the kid who gets a spanking and turns around and says, "That didn't hurt."

At what point do we, as a society, say, "Okay, you've had a second and third chance, and probably lots more times when we didn't catch you. You're done."

Because if he hasn't contributed to someone's death already, it's coming. And when that day comes, when a child is killed by some coked up monster, we at WS will be the first ones to SCREAM about why that f-ing drug dealer wasn't locked up after the first three times he was caught with over 50 grams of coke.

I feel sorry for the teacher who has to explain THAT.

 

[OneLostGrl]

But OneLostGirl, that is exactly the point!!! You got help, you got clean, and you turned your life around. (And we are so glad you did!) This guy has had several chances and sold a lot more drugs than it sounds like you had, and he still doesn't get it. He keeps going back. He's like the kid who gets a spanking and turns around and says, "That didn't hurt."

At what point do we, as a society, say, "Okay, you've had a second and third chance, and probably lots more times when we didn't catch you. You're done."

Because if he hasn't contributed to someone's death already, it's coming. And when that day comes, when a child is killed by some coked up monster, we at WS will be the first ones to SCREAM about why that f-ing drug dealer wasn't locked up after the first three times he was caught with over 50 grams of coke.

I feel sorry for the teacher who has to explain THAT.

You make great points and I agree with many of them- to a point. I just have a hard time with society, not to mention a court of law, throwing away a drug dealer quicker and for a much longer time period than they do a child molester. I'm not saying don't lock 'em up- they deserve to be locked up, hell I deserved to be locked up! I simply think some things need to be re-evaluated within our legal system. Sentencing laws, for instance.