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 20, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CRACK COCAINE CONSPIRACY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bradley J. Schlozman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

Artie J. Tatum, 33, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple this afternoon to the charge contained in an April 19, 2006, federal indictment.

By pleading guilty today, Tatum admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine from Aug. 31 to Sept. 22, 2005.

Co-defendant Corey J. Helms, 26, also of Kansas City, pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2007, to being in possession of 25 grams or less of cocaine between Aug. 31 and Sept. 22, 2005.

Under federal statutes, Tatum could be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $4 million. 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 Jane Pansing Brown. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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