Convicted drug maker headed to federal pen|[2/8/05]
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 8, 2005
A Vicksburg man convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine was sentenced Monday to more than five years in federal prison.
Gregory Shane Hearn, 32, 895 Grange Hall Road, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Bramlette to four years’ probation after a 63-month confinement and payment of $1,600.
Hearn pleaded guilty Oct. 27 to manufacturing the drug at what authorities called one of the largest crystal methamphetamine operations in Warren County.
Bramlette’s sentence was the shortest recommended by federal sentencing guidelines in the case but not the shortest allowed by law. The minimum is five years and the maximum is 40.
“I will take a look at the guidelines and if they are reasonable I will follow them,” Bramlette said, adding that other judges may not follow the guidelines. The guidelines had been mandated by Congress, but rejected in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this term.
Hearn was indicted in June by a federal grand jury on four charges: possession with intent to distribute between 50 and 500 grams of methamphetamine, manufacturing between 50 and 500 grams of methamphetamine and two charges of having a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. The non-manufacturing charges were dropped in the plea deal.
The sentencing guidelines take into account many factors, including the amount of the substance involved and the convict’s criminal history.
Hearn has been in federal custody since he was arrested June 19. About 10 people who identified themselves as family or friends of Hearn attended Monday’s hearing. Bramlette noted that Hearn was fortunate to have such support and said he would recommend that Hearn serve his prison sentence in the federal prison at Yazoo City.
Bramlette heard Hearn apologize for his actions and read a letter from him before he announced his sentence.
“If I’d known what I was getting into, I’d have chosen a different route,” Hearn told Bramlette.
Questioned by Bramlette about how he began using methamphetamine, Hearn said he was offered the drug at work.
“If you get tired it would boost your energy,” Hearn said. “That’s basically what we was using it for. It made you feel better and work harder.”
Hearn said he knew what he had done was against the law but that he did not know how harsh federal penalties were in such cases.
Bramlette replied that such federal sentences have not been adequately publicized.
“I believe him when he says he had no idea,” Bramlette said, adding that the media often does not follow through on covering criminal cases from arrest through sentencing.
“There is no parole,” Bramlette said of federal sentences in contrast with those handed down by state courts. “You serve what you get.”
Separately, a Vicksburg man was sentenced by Bramlette to nearly 11 years in prison on a drug-related charge.
Shawn Bradley, 29, 916 Farmer St., was sentenced to 10 years, eight months in prison followed by five years’ post-release supervision and payment of at least $1,500. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, U.S. District Court records show.
The time is to be served consecutively with a March 2000 conviction in state court for possession of cocaine. In that case, Bradley received a six-year sentence including time on house arrest, but was sent to the state penitentiary after violating terms of his house arrest.
Both cases originated as investigations by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.