A man who sold cocaine in Florence, Kentucky, will spend the next 18 years in prison.

Richard Crawford, 54, was convicted by a jury in August of distribution and possession of cocaine. This was his fourth conviction for selling the drug.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning sentenced him. His prior convictions factored into the sentence, officials said.

Crawford rented an apartment in Florence, but records show he previously lived in Green Township and Mount Airy.

In June 2017, investigators said he sold an ounce of cocaine to a confidential informant in Florence.

Two days later, law enforcement searched his apartment and found nearly a pound of cocaine and crack cocaine as well as cash from the sale to the informant and drug paraphernalia.

Investigators seized over $2,300 and Crawford's 2003 BMW.

Since his arrest, Crawford has been held at the Campbell County Detention Center.

"Crawford qualified as a 'career offender' under the United States sentencing guidelines, subjecting him to an increased sentence," prosecutors said.

Crawford will have to serve more than 15 years of his sentence before he is eligible to be released. After he is out of prison, he will be on probation for another six years.

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