In federal court: Arkansas man pleads guilty to drug charges

The U.S. attorney's office released the following information Tuesday for defendants who appeared before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.

Pleaded guilty

Name: Randy E. Caruthers

Age: 39

Residence: Blytheville, Ark.

Charges: Conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in a separate case.

Summary: Caruthers pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base from June 16, 2010, through May 3, 2011, in Dunklin County, Mo., and elsewhere. During this time, Caruthers supplied more than 70 ounces of powder cocaine and 43 ounces of cocaine base to David Parker that was distributed to Hinton Gilmer Jr. and others in Southeast Missouri. Caruthers also admitted that in a separate conspiracy from May 23 through June 2, 2011, he conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in Dunklin County and elsewhere. He obtained several kilograms of cocaine he stored at a Kennett, Mo., residence and then delivered eight kilograms of the cocaine to three co-defendants. On June 2, 2011, Caruthers sent $412,900 in cash to his supplier in Arkansas, but the shipment was intercepted by authorities in Osceola, Ark. The maximum punishment for Caruthers is life imprisonment and a $20 million fine. Sentencing is set for Sept. 24.