Decatur resident Darrick Lawrence, 39, has been convicted in a cocaine distribution case, leading to a 16-year sentence in federal prison, while he awaits trial in Virginia for allegedly ordering a murder.
“Lawrence created a sophisticated drug operation and funneled drug proceeds through 18 different bank accounts using a shell company,” U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said in a news release. “This lengthy prison sentence removes a violent felon from our streets.”
According to the Richmond (Virginia) Times-Dispatch, Lawrence is accused of paying $4,000 to have a man killed last year in January. His attorney told the paper he "hotly" disputes the accusations.
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On February 7, 2017, DeKalb police officers and SWAT members executed a warrant to search Lawrence’s home in relation to the Virginia case. Investigators recovered a stolen .300 caliber rifle, a tactical 5.56mm pistol, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and cocaine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Lawrence already had a long criminal record, with convictions for violence and drug dealing. Now investigators determined that Lawrence had been trafficking kilos of cocaine between Atlanta and Virginia.
Lawrence then attempted to continue the drug trafficking operation while in custody by directing members of his drug operation to communicate with him with prepaid “flip phones,” Pak’s release said.
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