Sikeston man faces prison time

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Sikeston man has pled guilty to felony drug trafficking charge.

Bart Smith, 28, entered a plea of guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to distribute the controlled substance cocaine, U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced Friday following Smith's appearance before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel in St. Louis.

Smith now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine followed by a period of at least three years of supervised release. Sentencing has been set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 2, 2007, in St. Louis.

With his plea, Smith admitted that between Aug. 26, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2005, he, James O. Baker and others agreed together to distribute and actually distributed substances containing cocaine hydrochloride, commonly known as cocaine powder, and cocaine base, also referred to as "crack," to an undercover officer at Smith's residence and an alternate location pursuant to the agreement.

On Aug. 26, 2005, Smith communicated with an undercover officer regarding the sale of one half ounce of crack cocaine and one half ounce of cocaine powder. Smith made separate phone calls to both the undercover officer and Baker, confirming the price for the drugs would be $1,000.

Smith arranged for the undercover officer and Baker to meet at Smith's residence, which adjoined the Regal Health Club located at 508 North West Street in Sikeston, for the purpose of the controlled substance transaction.

While in Smith's residence and in his presence, Baker weighed and delivered the drugs to the undercover officer. Later analysis of the purported crack and powder at a Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory revealed the substances as 13.3 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and 12.5 grams of cocaine base.

On Aug. 31, 2005, Smith arranged another drug transaction between the undercover officer and Baker. During this transaction, Baker provided the officer with 10.5 grams of cocaine hydrochloride and 14.5 grams of cocaine base in Smith's presence.

Hanaway commended the DEA, the SEMO Drug Task Force and the Sikeston Department of Public Safety for their combined efforts to prosecute this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbie Crites-Leoni handled the prosecution for the government.