Oct. 30, 2006

OPERATION LITTLE BIG MAN
SENDS ANOTHER SOUTHEAST KANSAS MAN
TO FEDERAL PRISON

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Parsons man was sentenced Monday to more than 10 years in federal prison for his role in operating a southeast Kansas drug ring.

Chavoris Neal, 33, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia.

“Undercover agents encountered Mr. Neal at least twice in late 2003 when he took part in the sale of crack cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. “One of these transactions took place at a roadside park on U.S. highway 69 near Baxter Springs. The other took place at the Meadowbrook Mall in Pittsburg.”

Neal pleaded guilty in August to one count of distributing crack cocaine. In his plea he admitted that on Nov. 6, 2003, he assisted in the sale of about a third of an ounce of crack cocaine for $650 during the drug deal that took place at the park on the highway. Neal accompanied co-defendant Howard Collins and another individual to the meeting and handled the crack cocaine during the transaction with a buyer.

On Dec. 7, 2004, Neal acted as a lookout during a drug transaction at the Meadow brook Mall. In that incident, an undercover agent paid Collins about $400 for 5.47 grams of crack cocaine. Collins later told investigators that Neal directed him to conduct the transaction and that he had sold crack cocaine on Neal’s behalf on at least five separate occasions. Collins was sentenced in July to 84 months in federal prison.

Another factor in Neal’s sentencing was the fact he had two prior felony drug convictions.

Melgren commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Parsons Police Department, the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and other members of the task force that took part in Operation Little Big Man, an Organized Crime Drug Task Force that targeted drug trafficking networks operating in southeast Kansas. He also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask, who prosecuted the case.

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