His father spent time in federal prison. Other family members have spent time behind bars, too.

A brother, a half brother and a cousin were murdered.

He dropped out of school.

He racked up a criminal record while fathering six children.

On Thursday, 28-year-old Damien Howard was sentenced to life in prison for dealing the same drug his father dealt: crack cocaine.

Howard, a member of a family well-known in the criminal justice system, said nothing before Judge John Jarvey handed down the sentence in U.S. District Court in Davenport. He was arrested after dealing the drug to undercover agents from an apartment on Heatherton Drive in Davenport.

Cliff Cronk, who also prosecuted Howard's father, Archie Howard, said he believes Howard will benefit greatly from the structure offered by prison.

Al Willett, Howard's attorney, asked that he be placed in a prison as close to home as possible that can meet Howard's educational needs.

"Mr. Howard's family members are no strangers to the criminal justice system," Willett wrote in a request for a lesser sentence that was ruled moot because of the mandatory sentence dictated by Congress. The sentence was mandatory because of Howard's previous convictions.

"Mr. Howard's family are also no strangers to the effects of violence," Willett added.

His brother, Dane, was murdered at the age of 18. His cousin, Vincelina Howard, was an innocent victim of a drive-by shooting. His half brother, Hano Bailey, was gunned down in front of the International House of Pancakes. All of the murders were in Davenport.

His father was sent to federal prison in 1995. So was a half brother. Another brother is in an Iowa state prison.

"It is interesting to note that the defendant looked up to his father as a role model," Willett wrote.

Howard is a father himself. He has five children with one woman. The children are ages 4-12. One of the children has cerebral palsy. He has one child with a second woman.

He owes more than $13,000 in unpaid child support.

Howard's first contact with the justice system was when he was 13 years old on a charge of robbery and criminal mischief, Willett wrote. He has struggled with alcohol and drugs, at times consuming a case of beer and smoking marijuana daily. He's been diagnosed with mental disorders. He has limited reading ability. He's worked sporadically.

A few people attended the hearing Thursday. Howard waved at them before being taken from the courtroom.