Pubdate: Tue, 05 Feb 2002
Source: Fayetteville Observer-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Fayetteville Observer-Times
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/foto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Greg Barnes, Staff writer

DRUG CASE COOPERATION NETS LIGHTER SENTENCES

WILMINGTON -- In the end, drug dealer Phillip Henry Barfield couldn't keep 
his relatives from turning against him in exchange for lighter sentences.

Barfield's wife, Charity Dawn Thompson Barfield; his brother, Spencer Lee 
Barfield; and a friend, Michael Franklin Crumbley, were sentenced Monday on 
drug charges in U.S. District Court in Wilmington.

Phillip Barfield, a native of Newton Grove, pleaded guilty last month
to selling more than $1 million worth of cocaine, marijuana and
methamphetamines between January 1990 and March 2001.

The guilty plea came shortly before he was to go on trial. He did not
get a plea bargain and faces a possible sentence of four life terms in
prison.

Phillip Barfield's wife, brother and friend cooperated with
investigators and would have testified against him.

On Monday, Judge James Fox sentenced Charity Barfield to 10 1/2 years
in prison followed by five years of supervised release for her role in
the drug operation. Prosecutors say the Barfields had a
methamphetamine lab in their back yard.

Plea For Leniency

Before sentencing, Chastity Barfield, who is 27, told Fox that she now
realizes how much her two children mean to her. Her lawyer said she
hasn't used drugs since her arrest. He portrayed Phillip Barfield as a
violent man who manipulated and abused his wife.

"I haven't got a whole lot of sympathy for her," Fox said. "I'm
sorry for her. Drugs are evil."

Fox also had little sympathy for Crumbley, who received a 14-year
prison term, and Spencer Barfield, who got a 7 1/2-year term.

Under federal law, all three will have to serve their entire
sentences.

Crumbley's lawyer, Samuel J. Randall IV, said Crumbley "has probably
one of the worst records I've seen."

Randall said Crumbley was a cocaine addict who sought buyers for
Phillip Barfield. At one time, Randall said, Crumbley was using a
quarter of an ounce of cocaine a day.

But Randall said Crumbley has turned his life around. He has a fiancee
and an infant child.

Crumbley said the birth of his child "changed my whole way of
thinking." He said he hasn't used drugs in two years.

Randall recommended that his client get 94 months in prison. Instead,
he got nearly double that amount.

Spencer Barfield's main involvement was hiding drugs and guns for his
brother shortly before the arrests, his lawyer argued. He acknowledged
that Spencer Barfield did use some of the cocaine.

Again Fox had little sympathy. He said Spencer Barfield, who is in
poor health, assisted his brother and helped further his drug operation.

Relatives watched as the three received their sentences. Many of them
cried.

"It's all Phillip's fault," one woman said during a break. "He's
just not a good person."

Phillip Barfield, who is 44, is scheduled to be sentenced on April
15.
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