Drug sales bring prison—again
MADISON — A Janesville man sentenced to life in prison 10 years ago for dealing crack cocaine was sentenced Friday in federal court to 24 years and four months in prison after he had re-entered the drug trade.
Christopher C. Bell, 35, received a life sentence in 1998 after being convicted of running a large-scale crack sales operation in Beloit.
Bell was later re-sentenced to 12 years and eight months in prison after Congress retroactively reduced the penalties for crack convictions.
Bell was released last year to a Janesville half-way house where he began talking to another resident about getting back into the drug business, said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhardt. By February, Bell had been released from Rock Valley Community Programs, but still was on probation when he began buying and selling crack and powdered cocaine, Reinhardt said.
Selling cocaine to a government informant alerted local, state and federal authorities that Bell had resumed drug trafficking. During a Feb. 12 traffic stop in Beloit, police noticed two plastic baggies tossed from Bell’s car before it was pulled over. Police collected eight grams of crack scattered across a half-block where Bell was stopped, according to court documents.
Bell pleaded not guilty and went to trial, where jurors found him guilty in September on one count of distributing cocaine.
At sentencing on Friday, Bell maintained his innocence and his attorney, Robert Ruth, argued against the government’s calculation that Bell sold a combined 22 ounces of powder and crack cocaine.
However, District Judge Barbara Crabb said she could use Bell’s own statements to police to determine he had sold the amount alleged by the government.
Crabb, who had presided at Bell’s 1998 trial, said she was disappointed that Bell was back selling drugs so soon after being released from prison.
She gave him the minimum prison term under the advisory sentencing guidelines, which factored in Bell’s prior conviction, re-offending while on probation, using a minor, his son, to toss cocaine from a car, and giving false statements at trial.
Nov 23, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.
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Justaguy - we have over 2.2 million american citizens in jail, at roughly 30K per year per inamate. We lead the world in per capita incarceration rates by a wide lead, almost double the second place contender - Russia.
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Our policies ensure that being a drug dealer is a very profitable enterprise and the relentless arrests and jail terms make it tough for offenders to get a real job once they get out. This war on drugs is a waste of resources.
Nov 23, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.
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I agree the whole thing is stupid. However we should all be happy that he's only going to be ring leader of is servin' slop in the prison breadline. Have fun....Stupid!
Nov 22, 2009 at 1:07 p.m.
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thekid, actually, the Gazette is wrong here: there has been no change in the sentencing LAW -- only in the guidelines of the US Sentencing Commission. That took place in 2007, after he had served about 120 months of the 240 he was finally given, close to the maximum of 121 months (for first-time offenders).
http://www.ussc.gov/PRESS/rel0407.htm
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The life sentence itself was reduced by the court after a prosecution motion in 1998, which probably reflects his assistance in other cases. He would not be given a life sentence under the same circumstances today.
Nov 22, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
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his sentence was reduced cuz congress changed the sentencing laws AFTER he was sentenced to life. they use to sentence for CRACK at a 5 times the lenght they would sentence someone for selling COKE. total racism so congress changed the sentencing rules BACK to equal those of coke...which is why his sentenced was reduced from life to 12+ years. if this adult wanted to sell drugs to other adults who choose to consume them he shoulda just opened a bar...
Nov 22, 2009 at 12:15 p.m.
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Yes, those who are incarcerated tend to continue business while incarcerated. Waste of time? Hmmmm, does anyone know of anyone who does the dark alley?
Nov 22, 2009 at 12:02 p.m.
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Also some former residents at RVCF said he was actually running it while locked up there. And this is could most likely be true. People have been known to continue their business while incarcerated. Just my input and opinion.
Nov 22, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.
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Imprisoning the guy is a waste of money. What the solution is, however, I have no idea. This is not a waste of money to put him back in prison. This will stop his business in our streets and keep the tax payers from having to pay for his customers in treatment, which would amount to much more of a cost then it would to lock him up. This loser got life the first time then gets it reduced,gets out and then gets less of a sentence when he repeats. He should have been given life without parole.......... Him and his brother charles have run this drug game at least 20 years in janesville and they are originally from beloit and have dealt in our streets for long enough. And I know first hand on this one as to a family member involved with them in 1990s.
Nov 22, 2009 at 11:39 a.m.
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Everyone makes mistakes
Nov 22, 2009 at 10:43 a.m.
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This guy had a 2nd chance and what did he do? stupid moron. Then you have people saying let's stop this war on drugs and not putting him in jail bcuz it costs money, yeah maybe we should just let them run free ... this guy is a waste of good air. I really get a kick out of some of the blogs drug heads put on here.
Nov 22, 2009 at 10:33 a.m.
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I agree. Imprisoning the guy is a waste of money. What the solution is, however, I have no idea.
Nov 22, 2009 at 10:09 a.m.
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Let's stop this crazy war on drugs already!
Nov 22, 2009 at 3:35 a.m.
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So what do you suggest prounion?
Nov 22, 2009 at 1:35 a.m.
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Now we are back to spending 30 grand a year to keep him locked up again. Do we really think all his customers stoped using because he went back inside?
Nov 21, 2009 at 11:47 p.m.
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brwe, the life sentence was voided. His sentence, after resentencing, was 12 years 8 months, as the article explains. (According to the BDN, his sentence was reduced for cooperating in other investigations. It's not clear whether the Gazette or Daily News versions are correct. In PACER, the last sentence number given is 240 months, with 5 years of supervised release.)
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/...
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In other words, this has nothing to do with whether life sentences work or not. It wasn't a life sentence. There is no federal parole anymore, so if it had remained a life sentence, he would have stayed in.
Nov 21, 2009 at 9:21 p.m.
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Let out of a life sentence,reoffends same offense?This is 'MAN" IS A MORON.
Nov 21, 2009 at 8:28 p.m.
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Perfect example of why life sentences are an inadequate substitute for the death penalty. Some moronic judge/legislator is too likely to let them out early.
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