In federal court 2/15/07

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

pleaded guilty

Name: Joseph D. Blattel

Age: 39

Residence: Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Charge: possession of child pornography

Summary: With his guilty plea, Blattel admitted that on March 16, after consenting to allow police to investigate his computers, police uncovered on one of his computers 10 or more still image files of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the images contained images of children under the age of 12. Blattel faces a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine followed by a period of supervised release for a maximum of the remainder of his life.

Name: Simon Junior Clark

Age: 30

Residence: Kennett, Mo.

Charge: three counts of distribution of cocaine base

Summary: On Oct. 28, 2005, Jan. 12, 2006 and April 7, 2006, an individual cooperating with law enforcement authorities purchased cocaine base from Clark in Kennett, Mo. Clark faces a maximum punishment of 30 years' imprisonment and a $2 million fine on each count.

Name: Ronnie Darnell Taylor

Age: 29

Residence: Kennett, Mo.

Charge: three counts of distribution of cocaine base

Summary: On April 14, 2005, Sept. 22, 2006, and Sept. 27, 2006, an individual cooperating with law enforcement authorities purchased cocaine base from Taylor in Kennett, Mo. Taylor faces a maximum punishment of 30 years' imprisonment and a $2 million fine on count three.

Name: Patrick V. Wallace

Age: 36

Residence: Kennett, Mo.

Charge: conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine

Summary: Wallace admitted that beginning in April 2004 he conspired with others to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. On Dec. 7, 2004, and April 15, 2005, Wallace sold more than 5 grams of crack cocaine in Dunklin County to a confidential informant for the FBI. Wallace faces a punishment of 20 years to life in prison and/or a $8 million fine on the conspiracy charge and a punishment of 10 years to life in prison and/or a $4 million fine on the two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine base.

Name: Cynthia R. Sims

Age: 36

Residence: Kennett, Mo.

Charge: felony distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine base

Summary: On April 7, 2005, Sims sold 6 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant for $500 which she then gave to Patrick V. Wallace, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and two counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of cocaine. Sims faces a punishment of five to 40 years' imprisonment and/or a $2 million fine.

Name: Leonard James Weaver

Age: 26

Residence: Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Charge: possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base

Summary: On Oct. 9, 2006, officers searched Weaver's residence after obtaining a search warrant and found several rocks of crack cocaine on the floor in several rooms, individually packaged rocks of crack cocaine along with a plastic bag containing 17 individually packaged bags of powder cocaine in the bathroom commode and nine individually packaged rocks of crack cocaine base on the hallway floor. Weaver admitted to possessing and owning the crack cocaine and powder cocaine found in his residence and that he was selling the crack cocaine to make money. He now faces a maximum punishment of 40 years' imprisonment and a $2 million fine.

SENTENCED

Name: Jennifer Mullins

Age: 33

Residence: Dexter, Mo.

Charge: distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base

Sentence: 60 months imprisonment

Summary: Mullins admitted that on or about Jan. 1, 2006, she distributed a substance containing crack cocaine to an undercover officer in exchange for $350. She indicated she and a confidential informant would go purchase the crack and meet with the undercover officer later. The subsequent sale was captured on video.