Four Butler County residents were sentenced on Thursday for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

All four were arrested as the result of undercover operations carried out by the Second Judicial Drug Task Force. The sentences, handed down by Circuit Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell, ranged from 20 years to 30 years for each count.

District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer said she hopes the sentences will help get the attention not only of the offenders that were sentenced, but also those who might be considering selling drugs.

“We see a lot of the same people brought up on charges related to selling drugs time and time again,” she said. “The sentences handed down by Judge Lovell on Thursday were substantial. I hope that these sentences get the attention of the offenders as well as those out there that might be considering getting involved in the drug business. Operating in that business is not without cost, and we’re serious about getting drug dealers off the streets.”

Tesmer also praised the work of the Second Judicial Drug Task Force in making arrests.

Lovell handed down the following sentences:

• Christopher Albritton was sentenced to 20 years in the penitentiary to be served on a split sentence basis for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He will serve 27 months and the balance of his sentence will be suspended. In addition to the 27 months, Albritton was ordered to serve five years for selling controlled substance within a three-mile radius of a public housing authority and another five years for selling controlled substance with a three-mile radius of a school.
• Steven Lavon Cobb was sentenced to 30 years in the penitentiary for two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance with the sentences to be served concurrently.  In addition, he was ordered to serve five years for selling controlled substance within a three-mile radius of a public housing authority and another five years for selling controlled substance with a three-mile radius of a school.
• Billy Herman Powell was sentenced to 20 years in the penitentiary to be served on a split sentence basis for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. He will serve 31 months and the balance of his sentence will be suspended. In addition to the 31 months, Powell was ordered to serve five years for selling controlled substance within a three-mile radius of a public housing authority and another five years for selling controlled substance with a three-mile radius of a school.
• Kim Maxwell Thompson was sentenced to 30 years in the penitentiary for two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance with the sentences to be served consecutively. She was also ordered to serve five years for selling controlled substance within a three-mile radius of a public housing authority and another five years for selling controlled substance with a three-mile radius of a school.

Each defendant was also ordered to pay various court costs and fines.