Caruthersville man sentenced to over 24 years on federal charges

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — A Caruthersvvile man was sentenced to prison on cocaine and firearms charges.

Marcus T. Taylor, 36, was sentenced Tuesday to 292 months in federal prison on narcotics and firearms charges, according to the United States Attorney’s Office. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

According to court documents, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) obtained a federal search warrant for Taylor’s residence in Caruthersville in August 2015 after he sold cocaine to a confidential informant on several occasions. During the execution of the search warrant, agents discovered a compartment under the floor of Taylor’s bedroom closet which concealed four handguns, assorted ammunition, a bag containing over 300 grams of powder cocaine, and over $140,000 in United States currency. Taylor was prohibited from possessing firearms at the time because of prior felony convictions, including three previous convictions for drug-trafficking crimes.

During a guilty plea hearing last year, Taylor pled guilty to several counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. Taylor also agreed to forfeiture of cash seized during the search warrant totaling $144,922.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Caruthersville Police Department, and the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.