Nearly 22-Year Sentence for "Career Offender" in North Charleston Heroin Bust

A North Charleston man has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison after police found 1,000 doses of heroin in a secret compartment in his car.

, Naarl Joseph Richard, 38, was sentenced Wednesday to 262 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin. He faces another six years of supervised release following his time in prison, according to U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles.

Prosecutors told the court Richard drove to New Jersey in May 2009 to meet briefly with an individual before driving back to North Charleston. Local police pulled Richard over. He reportedly appeared nervous and lied about his identity.

After extensively searching the car, officers found a trap door triggered by a hydraulic lift. The 1,000 doses of heroin was inside the compartment, along with a Haitian passport belonging to Richard.

Richard was convicted in October, but GPS tracking evidence used in the trial was ruled illegal prior to sentencing and he was granted a new trial.

The case was investigated by the North Charleston Police Department Narcotics Unit and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.