Drug trafficker given 18 years

A repeat drug trafficker will spend 18 years in federal prison after he was caught dealing drugs while awaiting trial on an earlier drug arrest.

The defendant, local resident Daniel Dennis, 24, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga for one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was ordered to serve 225 months in prison and then to be placed on 10 years supervised release once he completes his jail time. Federal sentencing guidelines do not provide for early release through parole meaning Dennis will be 42 when he is released.

His sentence comes after he was arrested as part of a drug operation here. Lawmen say Dennis was re-arrested on other drug charges while awaiting trial on his original charges. He was also reportedly picked up in another county on similar charges during that time. The re-offending during the short period of time prompted federal prosecutors to adopt the case and take it to federal court where drug sentences generally run longer than in state court.

While not the most extensive ever, the sentence is still one of the longest sentences handed down to a local resident concerning drug offenses, especially considering the lack of possible early release.

The longest drug sentence ever handed down here is being served by Michael Eugene Wilkerson who was given 57 years for repeat cocaine trafficking convictions back in 2004. His sentence is by far the longest given to a local person. Wilkerson will first become eligible for parole in 2025.

Other lengthy drug sentences of note in the past few years include 25 years handed to Emmanuel Knowles in 2004; 22 years given to Matt Jones in 2004; and 20 years in federal prison for Lenny Murray who was caught with a meth lab in Westwood in 2000.