Salina Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Gun And Drug Charge

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Salina man today pleaded guilty today to a federal gun and drug charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Stephen M. Smith, Jr., 45, Salina, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his plea, he admitted that he possessed a .40 caliber handgun when he was arrested Sept. 6, 2013, at his residence in Salina. Police, who were called to the residence by a Kansas State Parole officer, seized a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and the gun.

Sentencing is set for June 9. Both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of five years in federal prison. Grissom commended the Kansas Department of Corrections, the Salina Police Department, the I-135/I-70 Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Warner for their work on the case.