Vernice Charles Christian, 37, of Fort Smith was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 12 1/2 years in prison for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III also sentenced Christian to three years of supervised release after the prison term, according to sentencing minutes filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.
During the course of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Fort Smith Police Department, on Oct. 31 a confidential source bought 2.8 grams of methamphetamine from Christian, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge.
Then on Nov. 7, a confidential source made a controlled purchase of 0.5 ounce of methamphetamine from Christian in Fort Smith, according to the release.
Christian was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 17. After a jury trial on April 18, he was found guilty on both counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
At sentencing, Christian was determined to be a career offender for having at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense, according to the release.