THREE SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT

Two Southeast Missouri men received prison sentences in federal court for illegal firearm possession, and a Pemiscot County man was sentenced on crack cocaine charges, the U.S. attorney's office said.

U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber found the two guilty as convicted felons, who are prohibited from possessing firearms.

Douglas R. Van Slooten, 43, of Carter County, was sentenced to 30 months in prison without parole, and David T. Payne, 35, of Stoddard County, received two years in prison.

Van Slooten's residence had been searched by law enforcement last year. A .22-caliber semiautomatic rifle, loaded with 15 rounds, was found in Van Slooten's bedroom, the U.S. Attorney's office said. He had previously been convicted of breaking and entering, uttering and publishing and possession of a controlled substance.

Several firearms and ammunition were found at Payne's residence when officers visited it last May. Payne was convicted of theft in 1990.

The Pemiscot County man, Dewayne Woods, 26, was sentenced by Webber Tuesday to 168 months in prison on three felony counts of distribution of cocaine base.

On March 19 and April 9, Woods sold crack cocaine to an undercover officer in Caruthersville. Woods also acknowledged that he was responsible for distributing an additional 50 to 150 grams of crack cocaine.

The U.S. attorney's office said Woods was among a group of people who distributed crack cocaine on a regular basis in Caruthersville. Four of them were previously convicted.