Jury finds Cape father, son guilty on drug charges

A jury in federal court returned guilty verdicts Tuesday night for two Cape Girardeau men, father and son, on multiple charges involving cocaine base.

Freddie M. Wren, 57, and Carl H. Wilson, 40, both were found guilty of aiding and abetting the distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base on Aug. 13, 2002. Wren was also convicted of distributing more than five grams of cocaine base on Aug. 27, 2002, and possessing cocaine base with intent to distribute on May 16, 2003.

In addition, Wilson was found guilty of possessing cocaine base on May 16, 2003. The two appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles Shaw on Monday and Tuesday.

Wren now faces a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a $4 million fine with the court imposing a period of supervised release of at least eight years. Wilson faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine with a court-imposed supervised release of at least four years. Sentencing has been set for June 13 in Cape Girardeau.

Evidence at trial revealed that an undercover officer purchased 7.6 grams of cocaine base from Wren and Wilson on Aug. 13, 2002, and 9.8 grams from Wren on Aug. 27, 2002. A search warrant was executed on May 16, 2003, at Wren's home at 421 S. Pacific St. Wren was found to be in possession of a large quantity of cocaine base (enough for distribution) while Wilson was found to be in possession of a personal supply of the drug.