CRACK COCAINE WILL COST LAWRENCE MAN
AT LEAST 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Lawrence man is facing at least 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to taking part in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

Carl Ray Roubison, 48, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. He entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia.

In his plea, Roubison admitted that from March 2004 through April 2006 he took part in a drug trafficking conspiracy with Don Marcus Gibler, Aharlock Fixico, Branden Scott Walker, Ryan Ezell Fowler, Lonnie Ray Teichmann, John Burke Holt, Ryan Lavel Green, James William Beltch, Katheryn Alexander and others.

Roubison admitted that:

– He took part in the sale of crack cocaine to an undercover agent on April 17, 2004, in the parking lot at a convenience store at 23rd and Harper in Lawrence. He took $100 from the undercover agent and handed the agent 1.38 grams of crack.
– He was present when police served a search warrant July 2, 2004, at 1401 E. 21st Terrace, Apartment No. 4, in Lawrence. Police seized 34 individually packaged rocks of crack cocaine weighing a combined 15.59 grams. The apartment was located within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school.
– When Roubison was living in a rural part of Douglas County, Kan., he allowed Gibler and other conspirators to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine at his residence.
– On several occasions he drove Gibler to Kansas City to purchase crack cocaine to be sold in the Lawrence area.
Sentencing is set for March 12, 2007. The penalty for the conspiracy charge to which Roubison pleaded guilty is not less than 10 years and not more than life in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million.
Among the other defendants:
– James William Beltch is set for sentencing Feb.12, 2007, after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of crack cocaine.
– Ryan Lavel Green is set for sentencing Jan. 8, 2007, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.
– Lonnie Ray Teichmann is set for a change of plea hearing Jan. 22, 2007.
– Don Marcus Gibler is awaiting trial.
--Ryan Ezell Fowler is awaiting trial.
– Katheryn Alexander is awaiting trial.
– Aharlock Fixico is awaiting trial.
– Branden Scott Walker is awaiting trial.
– John Burke Holt is awaiting trial.

Melgren commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the city-county Drug Enforcement Unit, comprising officers from the Lawrence Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask, who is prosecuting.

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