Oklahoma Drug Dealer Receives 10-Year Suspended Sentence

By Cecilia Green

Published on October 31, 2005

George Earl Lewis, 74, was arrested in January for selling crack cocaine and was charged on two counts of distributing a controlled substance.

The Oklahoma resident, who had never committed a crime in his life, pleaded guilty to the charges. He claimed that he needed the money to pay for his wife's medical bills and to purchase her cancer medication.

Lewis was allegedly one of the top four drug dealers in Chickasha, Oklahoma. For this reason, the prosecution wanted Lewis sentenced to two 20-year counts, one for each charge, to be served concurrently.

The defense stated that with Lewis's wife now in hospice care and the cost of medical bills and expenses paid, there would be no need for Lewis to continue selling drugs. Therefore, he would no longer be a threat to the community.

After reviewing the case, the District Court Judge handed down a 10-year suspended sentence. Lewis will not serve jail time unless he continues to participate in criminal activity.

Comment on this article →