A woman whose mother helped her son sell crack cocaine has been sentenced to about nine years in federal prison.

Nicole D. Hilliard, 34, is to serve 110 months in prison for possession with intent to deliver 50 grams or more of cocaine.

Hilliard was in drug treatment before being ordered to federal prison during a hearing last week in U.S. District Court in Spokane.

Her mother, Tyna A. Hilliard, 54, was sentenced in Spokane County Superior Court earlier this month after pleading guilty to involving a minor in an unlawful controlled substance transaction. She was credited for one day already served in jail and will be on probation for a year.

Hilliard has previous felony convictions for first-degree robbery and attempted first-degree robbery in connection with the shooting death of a man during a dice game in 2002.

Letters of support from friends said she completed drug rehabilitation and has been attending church. She's now in the Spokane County Jail awaiting transport to prison.

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