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 29, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JURY CONVICTS KC MAN FOR DISTRIBUTING

CRACK COCAINE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted by a federal jury today of distributing crack cocaine.

Dwight A. Thomas, also known as Anthony Banks, 32, of Kansas City, was found guilty of distributing crack cocaine on April 2, 2004, and of being in possession of 50 grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute on April 2, 2004.

Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Thomas sold 3.16 grams of crack cocaine – known as an “eightball” – to a confidential informant during a controlled drug buy at his residence on April 2, 2004. During the undercover transaction, the confidential informant observed additional crack cocaine at the residence, so arranged a second drug buy. After the confidential informant left Thomas’ residence, police officers obtained a search warrant. When officers executed the search warrant later that day, they found 55.61 grams of crack cocaine in the residence and arrested Thomas.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City deliberated 18 minutes before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge David G. Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, July 28, 2008.

Under federal statutes, Thomas could be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to life in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $5 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 Catherine Connelly and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Davids. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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