Charleston man sentenced to 108 months in prison

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A Mississippi County man was sentenced on felony drug charges Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

Christopher Booker, 34, of Charleston, was sentenced to 108 months on one felony count of distribution of five grams or more or cocaine base and to one felony count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base.

On May 7, Booker sold 8.6 grams of "crack" cocaine to a confidential informant for the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force from his residence in Charleston. Following the purchase, officers for the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and other law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at Booker's residence. Booker was present in the residence, and was placed under arrest.

Officers found 23.1 grams of "crack" cocaine and $537 in Booker's pants pocket, which included the $300 which the officers used to purchase the crack cocaine earlier that day. Officers also located two firearms and $2,100 in cash which was ordered forfeited as drug proceeds.

Also Wednesday, Jerome Ussery, 40, of Sikeston, pled guilty to one felony count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Ussery now faces a maximum punishment of 40 years imprisonment and a $2 million fine. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 28, 2008.

On June 28, 2007, a state search warrant was executed at Ussery's residence in Sikeston. After law enforcement officers entered his residence to execute the search warrant, they observed Ussery in the southwest bedroom of his residence.

During a search of the laundry room, law enforcement officers discovered 36 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine) concealed in a soda can with a removable screw-off bottom. Also discovered was a set of digital scales in the residence and a .32 caliber loaded handgun on the floor in the southwest bedroom.

On Tuesday a Scott County man was sentenced to prison on felony firearm charges.

Donald Milloway was sentenced to 30 months in prison on one felony count of making an unlawful firearm (destructive device) and ordered to pay restitution of $1,000 in U.S. District Court in an appearance before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber. Upon release from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for three years.

Previously with his plea, Milloway admitted that in early December, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were asked to provide assistance to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety in the investigation of fire damage to a shed located at the rear of 128 Norval St. in Sikeston.

The fire scene examination by BATFE agents, together with the investigators with the Missouri Division of Fire Safety revealed that the damage appeared to be caused by a destructive device commonly referred to as a "molotov cocktail" or incendiary bomb.

Other information obtained during the investigation led to Milloway as a suspect. During a search of his residence, officers seized beer bottle caps, homemade funnels and paper towels similar to the wicks used in the molotov cocktails discovered at the scene.

Milloway admitted that on Dec. 18 he had poured gasoline in to a beer bottle, put a paper wick inside the bottle and lit it.

Also Tuesday, Eric W. Northern, 28, of Morehouse pled guilty to unlawful possession of firearms.

In August 2005, a Scott County resident discovered that three of his firearms had been stolen from a shed at his residence. In early September, Eric W. Northern was in possession of the three firearms, described as three Mossberg 12 gauge shotguns. He gave two of the shotguns to a man in settlement of a debt and sold the third shotgun to another man. All three shotguns were recovered during the investigation.

Due to Northern's five previous felony burglary convictions, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and now faces a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for January 28.