In Federal Court 6/22/06

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

PLEADED GUILTY

Name: Jerry Boone Jr.

Age: 28

Residence: Pemiscot County

Charge: Manufacturing methamphetamine.

Sentence range: Up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Sentencing Sept. 25.

Details: Boone admitted to operating a meth lab in a shed near Steele, Mo., and showed officers the lab on Nov. 2.

Names: Melvin Jones and Tammy Jones

Ages: 38 and 41, respectively

Residence: Bollinger County

Charge: Manufacturing methamphetamine.

Sentence range: Up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing Sept. 25.

Details: Acting on a tip, the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force arrested the Jones in Cape Girardeau on Feb. 14. Melvin Jones had a small amount of meth in his coat pocket, and a "shopping list" of meth ingredients was in their vehicle. Both admitted to producing the drug at their home, and a search of the residence turned up pseudoephedrine and other chemicals associated with the manufacture of meth.

Name: William J. Short

Age: 42

Residence: Marion, Ill.

Charge: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Sentence range: Up to life in prison and a $4 million fine. Sentencing Sept. 25.

Details: During a traffic stop on Interstate 55 in New Madrid County Nov. 26, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper found in Short's vehicle eight ounces of "ice" meth, 400 plastic bags and a set of digital scales.

Name: Jason A. Compas

Age: 27

Residence: Scott County

Charge: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Sentence range: Up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Details: Compas admitted that on at least three occasions between May 1, 2005 and Sept. 14, he drove a person, who wanted to obtain meth for distribution in Southeast Missouri, to a supplier in Arkansas.

The following defendants appeared in federal court Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Charles A. Shaw.

SENTENCED

Name: Earnest J. Yandell

Age: 45

Residence: Ripley County

Charge: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Sentence: 144 months in prison.

Details: A search warrant of Yandell's home Nov. 4 revealed 157 grams of meth, a set of digital scales and $1,090 in cash.

PLEADED GUILTY

Name: Jimmy A. Jordan

Age: 33

Residence: Scott County

Charge: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Sentence range: Up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Sentencing Sept. 25.

Details: On July 15 a Southeast Missouri Task Force Officer arrested Jordan on a warrant following a short foot pursuit in a Sikeston-area trailer park. A metal lock box found along Jordan's flight contained meth in several plastic bags and a leather wrist bad stamped "Jimmy." The box was unlocked using keys found near Jordan when he was arrested.

Name: Roy "Herbie" Brown

Age: 36

Residence: Ripley County

Charge: Attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of firearms ammunition by a felon.

Sentence range: Up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing Sept. 11.

Details: Brown admitted to attempting to make meth at his home on Aug. 18. When Ripley County Sheriff's officers searched Brown's home, they found a meth lab, precursor chemicals for meth and firearms ammunition.