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

DECEMBER 12, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

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 sentenced in federal court today for distributing crack cocaine.

Dwight A. Thomas, also known as Anthony Banks, 32, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Kays this afternoon to life in federal prison without parole.

On July 29, 2008, Thomas was found guilty of distributing crack cocaine and of being in possession of 50 grams or more of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute.

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.

This case was 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.

****************

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at