Former correctional officer sentenced for selling drugs

A former correctional officer was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing crack cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Phillip Strickland, 41, of Bailey, N.C., to 10 years in prison and five years supervised release following his term of confinement, according to a media release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

In November, Strickland, who previously worked as a correctional officer for the North Carolina Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base.

The investigation began on Oct. 26, 2005, when Nash County Sheriff’s Department arranged a controlled buy at the Ashe Street Recreation Center in Spring Hope, N.C.. According to th release, Strickland sold crack cocaine there.

The Nash County Sheriff’s narcotics unit then received information in February, 2006, that Strickland would be traveling in a Ford Expedition with drugs. Based on that information, agents stopped Strickland's Ford Expedition on Strickland Road, in Bailey.

Strickland, who was the driver, was searched, and a bag containing crack was found, the release said. A female passenger, who was a jailer in Nash County, was searched and had stuffed crack and powder cocaine down her pants. The release did not name the woman.

The woman pleaded guilty in state court to drug charges, the release said.

In an interview, Strickland admitted to purchasing several ounces of crack from two sources in the Nash County area since February, 2006.

The release said Strickland has sold more than 127 grams of cocaine from October, 2005 to March, 2007.

This case is part of an investigation, called Cold Wind, in which approximately 17 defendants have been prosecuted for drug and gun related violations.