Jury convicts reputed drug dealer from Monroe; potential sentence is decades in prison

A Monroe County jury deliberated a little more than an hour before reaching a guilty verdict on a reputed drug dealer who now faces potentially decades in prison.

Dimarco Eugene Smith, 39, of Monroe was convicted of conspiracy with intent to deliver 1,000 grams or more of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 17 by 38^th Circuit Court Judge Daniel S. White, who presided over the trial that lasted about 1½ days.

According to sentencing guidelines, Smith is facing a prison term range of between 18.75 and 62.5 years in prison. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Monroe County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Beaudry, who called seven witnesses. Smith was defended by Detroit attorney Antonio D. Tuddles.

The case was investigated by members of the Monroe Area Narcotics Team Investigation Services, known as MANTIS. Beaudry said it involved the sale of about 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, which is about 1,500 grams, with a street value of roughly $150,000.

Beaudry said the dope was intended to arrive in Monroe but never made it here. She said it was one of the larger drug busts in recent local history.

According to the investigation, the cocaine came from Arizona and was mailed to Monroe with Smith being the intended recipient. But it never made it to Smith. With assistance from the U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, prosecutors built their case and pursued the conspiracy charge against Smith because he never took possession of the cocaine.

Smith will be sentenced as a habitual offender since he was convicted in Monroe of at least three other felony drug distribution charges.