Quantcast

Man sentenced to life in prison gets new hearing - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Man sentenced to life in prison gets new hearing

Posted: Updated:

A man sentenced to a mandatory life prison term on a crack cocaine charge after the alleged ringleader of the conspiracy received 45 years has a new sentencing hearing.

An appeals court overturned Marcus Royston's sentence because it came after a change in the law that increased the quantities of crack cocaine needed to trigger statutory minimum sentences.

Royston and Ferris Lee were among eight people accused of distributing the drug in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. A jury convicted Lee on 13 counts, including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. Royston was found guilty on two charges.

Lee received 45 years because a quirk in federal sentencing laws required prosecutors to choose between competing charges.

Royston's hearing is Wednesday, when his attorneys plan to recommend a 20-year sentence.

  • Local News

  • Residents should be on alert, as the Minnkota Chapter of the American Red Cross in Fargo has been notified that a person representing themselves as a Red Cross worker has contacted homes in the region
    The Minnkota Chapter of the American Red Cross in Fargo has been notified that a person representing themselves as a Red Cross worker has contacted homes in the region requesting credit card donations for the relief efforts in Moore, Oklahoma.
  •  
    Thanks to you, a semi-load of pet supplies and nearly five thousand dollars cash are on
    their way to Oklahoma.





     
     
    Thanks to you, a semi-load of pet supplies and nearly five thousand dollars cash are on
    their way to Oklahoma.





     
  • Just before noon, the North Dakota State Patrol responded to a semi that crashed through the guardrails on Interstate-94 and rolled in a ravine. Valley News Live photojournalist Nick Carlson is on scene
    Just before noon, the North Dakota State Patrol responded to a semi that crashed through the guardrails on Interstate-94 and rolled in a ravine. Valley News Live photojournalist Nick Carlson is on scene
Powered by WorldNow
Powered by WorldNowAll content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and Valley News Live. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.