Press Releases
HOUSTON CRACK TRAFFICKER GETS TWENTY YEARS IN FEDERAL COURT
February 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAMENION SIMS, age 36, a resident of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan to twenty (20) years (240 months) imprisonment for trafficking approximately 450 grams of crack cocaine, announced U. S Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Berrigan imposed ten (10) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment. During the ten year term, the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.
On August 22, 2007, SIMS previously entered a guilty plea before Judge Berrigan to the charge of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of crack cocaine. According to court documents, on February 21, 2006, SIMS was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate 12 in Hammond, Louisiana. A subsequent search of SIMS’ vehicle revealed a package in the vehicle’s passenger side seat pocket that contained 450 grams of crack cocaine. SIMS was arrested and later told agents that the crack cocaine belonged to him and that he was traveling to Louisiana to sell it. Afterwards, agents searched SIMS’ apartment in Houston. There, agents recovered cooking items, cocaine residue, and packaging material consistent with the packaging of the crack cocaine seized from SIMS’ vehicle.
SIMS’ 20-year sentence was the statutory minimum he could receive following the Government’s filing of a bill of information indicating that he had a prior drug felony conviction. This sentence exceeded the guideline range that would have been calculated without the enhancement. In exchange for SIMS’ plea, the Government agreed not to seek any further enhancement, which would have resulted in a mandatory life sentence. After sentencing, SIMS was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service to begin his term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the officers of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin G. Boitmann.
