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

JULY 5, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHELDON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO METH CONSPIRACY

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Sheldon, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

George Phillips, 60, of Sheldon, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr this afternoon to the charge contained in a Dec. 20, 2006, federal indictment.

By pleading guilty, Phillips admitted that, from March 5, 2005, to June 14, 2005, he participated in a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Under federal statutes, Phillips could be subject to a sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $2,000,000.00. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robyn L. McKee. It was investigated by the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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