NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

BRADLEY J. SCHLOZMAN

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

FEBRUARY 7, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NITRO UPDATE

CAMERON MAN INDICTED FOR METH, ILLEGAL FIREARM

            KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bradley J. Schlozman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Cameron, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm. Today’s indictment is the result of an investigation by the NITRO Task Force.

             Kenneth J. Pratt, 24, of Cameron, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City.

             Count One of the federal indictment alleges that Pratt was in possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on Jan. 25, 2007.

             Count Two of the federal indictment alleges that Pratt, having been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Bersa .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Jan. 25, 2007. Under federal law, Schlozman explained, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by NITRO, the Northwest Missouri Team Response Operation. NITRO is a joint law enforcement effort by federal, state and local agencies in the 16-county region.

            Schlozman 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