Samuel Lee Smith, 40, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is headed to federal prison for over a decade after being sentenced to 130 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Forrest County man stood before Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett in Gulfport yesterday, where he learned the price of flooding his community with high-purity crystal meth.
Between January and February 2017, Smith sold a total of 135.76 grams of nearly pure methamphetamine—commonly known as “ice”—to an undercover informant in three separate transactions. The deals, orchestrated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), painted a clear picture of a dealer operating without regard for federal law or public safety.
At the time of the drug sales, Smith was already on state parole and had three prior felony convictions. His criminal history didn’t stop him from trafficking in one of the most destructive drugs ravaging rural Mississippi. The court factored his record heavily into the sentencing, ensuring he’d serve a decade and more behind bars.
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and ATF Special Agent in Charge Dana Nichols confirmed the sentence, emphasizing that trafficking in high-grade meth carries steep consequences. Smith was also hit with a $5,000 fine and will face five years of supervised release upon his eventual return to society—if he chooses to comply.
The ATF led the investigation, using undercover tactics to dismantle Smith’s operation from the shadows. No tips, no luck—just old-school investigative grind that put a repeat offender where he belongs. Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams handled the prosecution, securing a conviction that reflects the severity of the crime.
This case sends a message: Mississippi’s federal courts won’t tolerate the spread of methamphetamine, especially by those who’ve already been given second and third chances. Samuel Lee Smith made his choices. Now he’ll serve every month of his 130-month sentence.
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Related Federal Cases
- Alicia Bucy, Peaches Herrick Sentenced in Meth Conspiracy · Mississippi
- Hattiesburg Man Gets 20 Years for Meth Trafficking · Mississippi
- Derrick Lewis ‘Rat Boy’ Gets 110 Months for Meth Trafficking · Mississippi
- Santiago Salinas Gets 151 Months for Meth Trafficking · Arkansas
- Springdale Man Kongmanivong Gets 15 Years for Meth Trafficking · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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