Pearl man sentenced to 60 years for selling meth | Crime

A Pearl man was sentenced, through a plea agreement, to a 60-year sentence for selling methamphetamine, the district attorney's office announced today.

David Michael Reed was arrested in June 2010 after a confidential informant purchased methamphetamine at Reed’s Pearl residence several times in May and June of 2010.

According to a press release from District Attorney Michael Guest, on June 7, 2010, Reed asked the informant to use some of the methamphetamine after the informant purchased it. The confidential informant sent a distress signal to law enforcement officers and moments later law enforcement officials entered the residence and placed Reed under arrest.

Once Reed was in custody, officers reportedly found $600 in Reed’s pocket and a 9mm handgun, assorted drug paraphernalia and “various types of controlled substances” in Reed’s house.

“Methamphetamine is one of the fastest growing drugs in our society and is so addictive that it is destroying families ever day.  Reed made thousands of dollars by putting this poison on our streets, and now he will have to face the consequences of his actions,” District Attorney Guest stated, according to the press release.

Reed was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Rankin County in 2000. The last ten years of Reed’s 60-year sentence will be suspended.

Guest added, “We can never turn our backs or lessen our commitment to the war on drugs because drugs are often the precursor to other types of crimes.  Today, we have removed a major methamphetamine dealer from our streets, and keeping illegal drugs out of our community continues to be one of our top priorities.”

District Attorney Michael Guest was sworn into office in January 2008 and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, which encompasses Madison and Rankin Counties. For more information about the District Attorney’s office, visit www.daguest.com.