Drug Dealer Given 10 Years Under New Penalty Law
The first drug dealer in Southern California convicted under a new federal law increasing the penalties for using juveniles to sell drugs was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Jose Delamora, 21, of Torrance is not eligible for parole under other provisions of the new law.
“The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 has provided law enforcement officials with new tools in fighting the war against drugs,” U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner said after the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi in Los Angeles.
“Specifically, we now have available to us mandatory minimum sentences for distribution of as little as five grams of ‘crack’ (rock cocaine),” Bonner said. “The sentences obtained in cases such as this one will send a clear, and very direct, message to street dealers.”
Delamora was convicted of selling 10 grams of crack Dec. 3, 1986, to a Los Angeles police officer posing as a student at Narbonne High School in Harbor City. The jury also convicted him of selling lesser amounts of crack to the same officer on five other occasions.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
