Memphis, TN - William David Maness, age 39, of Ripley, Tenn., was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and 25th District Attorney General Mike Dunavant.
According to the facts alleged in the indictment and revealed during the sentencing hearing, on Feb. 25, 2013, Maness possessed and distributed under 50 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover source who was working for the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department. This is Maness’s fourth methamphetamine-related conviction.
“Illegal drug trafficking, and the violence that often accompanies it, is a plague upon our communities. My office will vigorously pursue any and all involved in these illegal activities" said US Attorney Stanton.
“Methamphetamine has had a devastating impact on rural communities in Tennessee," said District Attorney General Dunavant. “This defendant, in particular, has been distributing methamphetamine in Lauderdale County for the last eight years. This prison sentence will prevent Maness from further destroying our community and sends a message to other meth dealers."
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Samuel H. Mays ordered Maness to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
This case was investigated by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the 25th District Attorney General’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Stringfellow represented the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
