The Selma times-Journal

A former member of the St. Phillips Boys won’t be sentenced Thursday in federal court for his hand in narcotics sales as previously scheduled.

Instead, the U.S. attorney’s office out of Mobile has requested that the sentencing of Christopher Ford, also known as C-Ford, be continued to allow him to testify during sentencing hearings against other co-defendants.

A new sentencing date hasn’t appeared in court records as of Friday.

Ford and about 12 other members of the St. Phillips Boys were indicted in July 2006 on federal charges of selling crack cocaine or marijuana.

The arrests resulted after months of investigation by Selma police officers and agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

An affidavit by one agent, Ronald Peterson, filed in July 2005 said he personally witnesses several sales of crack cocaine to individuals by Ford.

Here’s how the ring worked, according to the affidavit: The gang operated out of six houses on St. Phillips Street between LL Anderson and Minter streets in Selma.

In his affidavit Peterson said cars would come by, stop in front of one of the houses in the 1400 block of St. Phillips street, someone would come out of a house, and the exchange would be made.

Peterson and Selma police worked at least four confidential informants while watching the alleged sales occur. After the cars stopped, Selma police would pull over the alleged buyer and confiscate any drugs, then question the individual.

The indictment under which Ford pleaded guilty stated the gang had been in operation sin 1999.

Court records also show that Ford was responsible for helping make a case against Guerria Saintil, a Bahamian who lived in Miami, believed to have been a major supplier of the St. Phillips boys, and Saintil’s lover, 20-year-old Tammy Ward.

Saintil was sentenced last week to 360 months in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to selling narcotics. Ward, who has a child by Saintil, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, court records show.