Three sentenced for drugs

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Federal Court news

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Two Southeast Missouri men and a Carbondale, Ill., man were sentenced to federal prison on separate drug-related charges Monday before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber.

Cory Rowe, 36, of New Madrid was sentenced to 51 months on two felony counts of distribution of cocaine base. Upon release from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.

Previously with his plea, Rowe admitted that on or about March 18, 2005, he distributed a substance containing cocaine base, or "crack," to a confidential informant (CI). Rowe gave the CI a total of 4.6 grams of cocaine base in exchange for $260. Then on March 22, Rowe distributed a substance containing cocaine base to the CI. After removing the cocaine base from a backpack, Rowe gave the CI 2.4 grams of cocaine base in exchange for $250.

Both sales occurred at Rowe's residence in New Madrid County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbie Crites-Leoni handled the prosecution for the government.

Barry Wayne Condict, 48, of Stoddard County was sentenced to 100 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 four years.

With his previous plea, Condict admitted that on Oct. 2, 2005, the Bernie Police received information that he had been trafficking in meth. Officers arrived at his residence and conducted a consensual search of his property and found 29.2 grams of actual meth packaged in numerous bags for distribution, as well as $1,213.40 which was forfeited with the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim J. Willis handled the prosecution for the Government.

Vincent Grays, 35, of Carbondale was sentenced to 120 months on one felony count of distribution of more than 50 grams of crack. Upon release from prison, he will placed on supervised release for a period of five years.

Previously with his plea, Grays admitted that on Jan. 21, 2006, he distributed a substance containing crack to a CI. After he handed the CI 51.6 grams of crack, the CI gave Grays $1,200. The sale occurred in the Goody's strip mall parking lot in Sikeston, located in New Madrid County and was captured on videotape. Crites-Leoni handled the prosecution for the Government.

Also sentenced one Monday to 63 months on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm was Dannie Isom Ricks, 29, of Caruthersville.

On Jan. 28, 2005, several state police officers were attempting to purchase controlled substances in Caruthersville. A CI working with the officers tried to make a purchase of a controlled substance from an individual. The individual took $20 from the CI and walked over to Ricks. The officer saw Ricks take a baggie out of his pocket that appeared to contain crack cocaine, give something to the individual and put the baggie back into his pocket. The individual then refused to deliver any controlled substance to the CI.

The officer at the scene called for backup and identified Ricks as carrying a quantity of suspected crack cocaine. The officers arrived and shouted at Ricks to stop, but he ran from the officers, followed closely by one of them.

Eventually, Ricks took off a coat he was wearing and tossed it to the ground. When he did, a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver fell out of the pocket on the ground. Ricks was captured a short while later and the pistol was recovered with one round in the chamber. Other ammunition was found in the coat. The pistol had previously been reported as stolen in Lebanon, Tenn.

Due to his previous felony convictions, Ricks is forbidden by law to possess firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith D. Sorrell handled the prosecution for the Government.

Dewayne Harris, 48, of Sikeston, entered a guilty plea to one felony count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. He now faces a maximum of 40 years imprisonment and a $2 million-fine, followed by a period of supervised release of at least four years. Sentencing has been set for 1 p.m. Oct. 23 in Cape Girardeau.

Previously with his plea, Harris admitted that on Feb. 9, 2006, a search warrant was executed at his residence on Kendall Street in Sikeston. As a result of the search, 9.5 grams of a substance containing crack was seized from Harris' kitchen. Along with the cocaine base were plastic bags, plastic bags with the corners cut out and razor blades. A search of Harris' person revealed 2.1 grams of cocaine bases that was packaged in 17 individually wrapped baggies in his shoe and a total of $889. Scott County Prosecuting