~Federal Court news
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Sikeston man was sentenced to prison on felony charges for unlawful possession of firearms.
Andrew Leal, 37, was sentenced to 180 months on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms in an appearance Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Charles A. Shaw, according to U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway.
On June 7, 2004, a state search warrant was served at Leal's residence on Greer Street in Sikeston. Leal arrived at his home during the search. Marijuana was found in the house, along with a 12-gauge shotgun and 20-gauge shotgun. Leal admitted the firearms were his. He was prosecuted in the state court system for the marijuana violation. Because of his previous felony convictions, Leal is forbidden by law to possess firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith D. Sorrell handled the prosecution for the Government.
Also sentenced on Wednesday in an appearance before U.S. District Judge Shaw was Mark Allen Lee, 45, of Charleston. Lee was sentenced to 200 months in prison on one felony count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Upon release from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for a period of eight years.
Previously with his plea, Lee admitted that on Dec. 16, 2004, he was stopped by a Mississippi County Sheriff's Deputy for traffic violations in East Prairie.
Lee gave the officers consent to search the vehicle. A medicine bottle containing methamphetamine was lying on the ground near a passenger, in addition a set of digital scales and various items of drug paraphernalia were found.
The methamphetamine weighed 20.4 grams and was 100 percent pure.
Lee later told officers that he had taken the methamphetamine to a residence in East Prairie to "do a little partying" and that while there he had provided methamphetamine to three other individuals.