NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

BETH PHILLIPS

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov../index.html

APRIL 21, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS

FOR METH, ILLEGAL FIREARM

            KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm.

            Thomas G. Hedges, 42, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith this morning to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

            On Dec. 1, 2009, Hedges pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

            According to the plea agreement, Hedges was stopped by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper on Jan. 6, 2009, because his vehicle was traveling off the main portion of the roadway and onto the right shoulder. He had also crossed over the center dividing line and was weaving from the right lane into the left lane. Hedges eyes were glassy and his speech was extremely slurred. Hedges falsely claimed that he was helping police officers and was en route to conduct an undercover narcotics buy.

            Hedges, whose driving privileges had been suspended, was arrested on several outstanding warrants from Lee’s Summit and from Florida, as well as possession of the marijuana that the trooper observed in his vehicle. Hedges also had methamphetamine and Xanax in his pockets. A loaded Springfield Armory .40-caliber pistol was located in the center console of the vehicle and more drugs and drug paraphernalia were found elsewhere in the vehicle.

            This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Davids. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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