Peddling Crack Cocaine From Apartment Sends Topeka Man To Federal Prison

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for maintaining an apartment where he sold crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Charles L. Whetstone, 59, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a premises in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his plea, he admitted that in April 2011 the Topeka Police Department made controlled buys of cocaine from Whetstone at an apartment at 611 S.W. Fillmore in Topeka. Whetstone lived elsewhere, but told buyers that when a gold Toyota was parked in front of the apartment he was open for business.

After serving a search warrant at the apartment and seizing drugs, police assumed the role of cocaine salesman at the address. Eleven more persons came to the residence and were arrested after they bought simulated drugs from an undercover officer. The apartment was located within 1,000 feet of Cair Paravel private school at 635 S.W. Tyler in Topeka.

Grissom commended the narcotics divisions of the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot for their work on the case.