SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that seven additional defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury today along with a Nixa, Mo., man and a Springfield, Mo., man who had previously been charged with distributing large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Springfield area.

            Carlous S. Horton, 35, of Nixa, Christopher Holmes, 25, Tony A. Cloke, 25, Antonio G. Davis, 28, Cleveland D. Larmore, 23, Demarius D. Marshall, 28, Mark A. Robinson, 25, and Ryan D. Roepke, 32, all of Springfield, and Kristopher W. Farmer, 24, of Lebanon, Mo., were charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s indictment replaces federal criminal complaints that were filed against Horton and Holmes on March 14, 2011.

            The federal indictment alleges that all nine defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine, from January 2010 to March 14, 2011.

            In addition to the conspiracy charge, Horton is charged with two counts of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and with being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that Horton, who has a prior felony conviction, was in possession of an FFG 9mm handgun, a Luger 9mm handgun, and an SCCY Industries 9mm handgun.

Holmes is also charged with one count of possessing cocaine and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Holmes, who has a prior felony conviction, was in possession of a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber handgun.

Today’s indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Horton and Holmes to forfeit to the government any property used to commit the alleged offenses and any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, including $3,080 that was seized from a Springfield residence by law enforcement officers. Horton would also be required to forfeit to the government a total of $88,883 that was seized by law enforcement officers from a Springfield residence and from bank accounts, as well as a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2007 Mercedes Benz S550 and a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

            According to affidavits filed in support of the original criminal complaints, Horton was the leader of a drug-trafficking organization that has been importing multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine from Chicago, Ill., and/or Dallas, Texas, on a monthly basis for the past two years. The affidavits allege that the shipments, averaging two kilograms per trip, were transported to Springfield by vehicles, commercial bus lines and commercial airlines. Once the cocaine arrives in Springfield, the affidavits say, the organization processed it and distributed it as either cocaine or crack cocaine. Holmes allegedly was Horton’s main distributor.

            Phillips 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.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

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