DUTCHTOWN MAN SENTENCED FOR MAKING METH

A Dutchtown man was among three who were appeared Monday in federal court, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

William Ray Geiser, 45, would have been sentenced to 60 months in prison, but in a special hearing on Monday he was given an extra 10 months for possession of a firearm, said U.S. Assistant Attorney Teresa Bright-Pearson.

Geiser will also be fined $10,000, the attorney said.

Geiser had admitted to making between 40 and 70 grams of methamphetamine at his residence last May, when local and federal law enforcement officials searched his home. They discovered products of methamphetamine in the early stages of production,

Law enforcement officials seized a tank of anhydrous ammonia, a quart of Liquid Fire, 864 packets of pseudoephedrine, ether, rock salt and several other items typically used to make the drug.

Bobby Jackman, 36, of Advance was sentenced to 151 months on a felony count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

During May of 1997 he conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. Jackman received from various sources in California large quantities of methamphetamine which were distributed in Missouri.

In another case, Rufus Merlin Sumlin Jr., 48, of Sikeston pleaded guilty to a felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges resulted in an Aug. 3 Sikeston Department of Public Safety search of Sumlin's residence for firearms and cocaine. His sentencing has been set for March 27.