Quote:
Grand Rapids, Michigan – July 23, 2004 – United States Attorney Margaret M. Chiara announced that, following a three-day trial, a jury for the Western District of Michigan convicted Melvin Fudge of Grand Rapids, Michigan, on both counts of a federal Indictment alleging that he possessed cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to distribute it, and that he did so within 1,000 feet of Congress Elementary School. On March 5, 2004, Grand Rapids police officers obtained a search warrant for 921 East Fulton, based on complaints from citizens about unusual activity at the address and police surveillance that indicated that the address was being used as a drug house. When police executed the search warrant, Melvin Fudge, the only resident of the building, attempted to flee and was arrested. Immediately before the arrest, a citizen had seen a white sock land on the sidewalk near the address, and reported it to police. When police seized the sock, they found plastic baggies containing 36 grams of crack cocaine and 33 grams of powder cocaine inside it. Search of the apartment also resulted in the seizure of numerous items of drug-trafficking paraphernalia.
Mr. Fudge is being detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled to occur before Chief United States District Judge Robert Holmes Bell on October 28, 2004. Mr. Fudge faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment for committing a drug-trafficking offense near a school.
The case was investigated by officers of the Grand Rapids Police Department, and by United States Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer Michael Mesman. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hagen Frank.
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Sorry, I don't have a link with the results of this guy's trial, but I can tell you that today did get sentenced to life in prison. No idea if he can get paroled or not.
I live about 3 miles from this guy's house, and while I can say I am glad he got caught and arrested, I'm not so sure I agree with life in prison. I mean, LIFE. Why not just execute him? Is this a fair sentence? Sure, it was near a school, but I think this is too much.
I'd be interested to hear other's opinions.