Jan.08, 2010, 12:00:11 AM PST, From: Ukiah Daily

The Mendocino County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that Covelo resident Nancie Erline Henthorne, 68, was convicted of selling methamphetamine while armed and money laundering.

Henthorne faces up to nine years in state prison, according to a Thursday District Attorney's Office press release.

A three-day trial ended Wednesday when the jury found Henthorne guilty of possessing methamphetamine while armed with a gun, and of acquiring and concealing more than $25,000 of drug sales proceeds.

Authorities found $29,010 in Henthorne's bank safe deposit box and another $2,690 in her home, which she said she got from drug sales, according to the release.

Henthorne admitted she sold methamphetamine for at least eight months prior to her arrest on Aug. 11 at her Covelo home.

Agents with the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force found more than 7.5 ounces of methamphetamine,, a loaded Derringer pistol, packing material for the drug and a scale. Henthorne said she sold the drug in amounts of half a gram or one gram to a few people she knew well, making more than 100 percent profit of what she paid for the ounces.

She told the jury she started selling drugs when her restaurant went out of business and she needed money to pay her bills, according to the release.

Henthorne's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 19 at 9 a.m. in Dept. A of the Mendocino County Courthouse in Ukiah.