NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

APRIL 17, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC WOMAN INDICTED FOR METH, ILLEGAL FIREARMS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms.

Desiree N. Gharst, 26, of Kansas City, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Gharst on April 4, 2007.

Count One of the federal indictment alleges that Gharst possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 3, 2007.

Count Two of the federal indictment alleges that Gharst was in possession of an SKS assault rifle and a Davis Industries .22-caliber Derringer in furtherance of the drug-trafficking crime alleged in Count One, on April 3, 2007.

Count Three of the federal indictment alleges that Gharst, having been convicted of a felony crime, was in possession of an SKS assault rifle and a Davis Industries .22-caliber Derringer on April 3, 2007. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

Wood cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Connelly. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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