Federal court

The following information was released by the office of federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway for defendants appearing in federal court before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel.

pleaded guilty

Name: Derrick J. Harrell

Age: 41

Residence: Kennett, Mo.

Charge: Unlawful possession of a firearm.

Summary: Harrell admitted that on Feb. 3, 2005, he was in possession of a .25-caliber pistol found by state police when stopped for a traffic violation. Due to previous felony conviction Harrell is prohibited by law to possess firearms.

SENTENCED

Name: Jerome N. Cole

Age: 28

Residence: Doniphan, Mo.

Charge: Unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Sentence: 60 months in prison.

Summary: On Sept. 24, 2004, Ripley County sheriff's deputies searched Cole and a car pursuant to an arrest for a Ripley County warrant. The search found several rounds of Remington .22-caliber ammunition and a Ruger .22-caliber rifle. Cole is prohibited by law from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions.

Name: Kelvin Harrell

Age: 29

Residence: Kennett, Mo.

Charge: Two counts of distributing cocaine base.

Sentence: 57 months in prison.

Summary: On Jan. 31 and Feb. 2 Harrell sold crack cocaine to an undercover agent working for the Bootheel Drug Task Force.

Name: Dominique M. Betts

Age: 21

Residence: New Madrid, Mo.

Charge: Unlawful possession of a firearm.

Sentence: 120 months in prison.

Summary: Betts admitted to owning a .380-caliber pistol New Madrid city police found on a city sidewalk Nov. 20, 2005, after responding to a report of shots being fired in the area. Due to prior felony convictions, Betts is prohibited by law from possessing firearms.

-- From staff reports