Marcus Allen, a 39-year-old Little Rock man who is also known as "House," was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison on several drug and gun charges.
Allen, described in a news release from U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer as "a multi-convicted firearm and drug felon" who is "a self-admitted member of the Bloods street gang," was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on charges of unlawful possession of firearms; possession with intent to distribute both crack and powder cocaine, and methamphetamine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
After a three-day trial, he was convicted by a federal jury Nov. 19.
Baker found that Allen qualified as both an armed career criminal and a career offender. Both designations significantly increase the sentencing range recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.
Thyer said the guidelines in Allen's case also reflected that the offense involved a semi-automatic gun capable of accepting a large-capacity magazine, and the fact that at least three guns were involved, including a stolen gun.
Baker sentenced Allen to 25 years on the firearm possession charge and 20 years on the drug charges, with those charges to be served concurrently, as well as five years on the last charge, to run consecutively to the others, for a total of 30 years.
Allen was ordered to serve six years of supervised release after his prison term ends. His conviction also resulted in the forfeiture of four guns and $3,443 in drug proceeds, all of which were seized by agents from the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from his home at 7815 Burnelle in Little Rock on March 6, 2014.
"Marcus Allen is a gang member and repeat offender whose main contribution to our community is a long history of drug trafficking, violence and illegal possession of firearms," Thyer said, adding, "Arkansas is a safer place with this individual in federal prison for the next 30 years."
Metro on 06/20/2015