United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PORTLAND, ME. - Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that Tony Sumrall, 29, of Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced this afternoon in U.S. District Court to 15 years and 8 months in prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release for his role in trafficking crack cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby imposed the sentence following Sumrall’s guilty plea entered in September 2010.

Sumrall pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly referred to as crack cocaine. Sumrall was arrested in July 2010 after a traffic stop by the Maine State Police revealed that Sumrall had distributable quantities of crack cocaine hidden in his clothing. Prior to this traffic stop, Sumrall had on two separate occasions sold crack cocaine to an undercover informant working with the DEA.

On account of his criminal history, which included two prior convictions for a felony crime of violence, Sumrall was determined to be a “career offender.” Such offenders are subject to increased prison terms under the federal sentencing guidelines. U.S. District Court Judge Hornby exercised his discretion to impose a sentence for Sumrall that was consistent with the federal sentencing guidelines for Sumrall’s offense and criminal history.

United States Attorney Delahanty noted that the success of the case was due to the cooperative efforts of DEA and the Maine State Police.