Lawrence Blue made his living off the death and destruction of others.

44-year-old Bryan crack cocaine dealer was sentenced to 45 years in prison Tuesday by District Judge Travis Bryan.

Lawrence Edward Blue was convicted last Thursday of felony drug possession with intent to deliver in a drug free zone by a Brazos County jury in the 272nd District Court.

Jurors took less than an hour to return the guilty verdict after hearing from law enforcement officers who had investigated the drug operation and other witnesses.

Because the defendant was selling within 1,000 feet of a school zone, he originally faced a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

But a previous aggravated assault conviction caused the charge to be upgraded to a first-degree felony, meaning Blue could have received life in prison.

Prosecutors Jarvis Parsons and Jason Goss asked Bryan for a 50 to 60-year prison term, while Blue's attorney, Rick Davis, argued for 10 to 12 years.

Police said Blue was arrested in February after authorities found 45 rocks of cocaine, two firearms and almost $15,000 in cash hidden in different places on his property.

The drugs -- worth $20 a rock-- were found inside a bag placed in the knot of a tree, according to testimony.

A search warrant on his home was secured after Blue sold his products to three undercover Bryan officers.

Six others were arrested for felony drug possession on the same day as the defendant, the result of investigations narcotics officers said they'd been working on for months.

"We would like to thank the Bryan Police Department for their hard work in taking down one of the biggest crack cocaine dealers [locally,]" Parsons said. "Lawrence Blue made his living off the death and destruction of others.