TWO SENTENCED FOR COCAINE POSSESSION, DISTRIBUTION

A Cape Girardeau couple received 15- and five-year prison sentences for distribution of $250,000 of cocaine, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The sentences culminated one of the largest cocaine busts in the region, said Kevin Glaser, director of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.

Christopher S. Nunley, 29, received 15 years for one felony count of conspiracy to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine along with a separate charge of possession with intent to distribute.

Nunley was known as a longtime drug dealer in the region, police said.

Felicia Nicole Thomas, 23, received five years for cocaine possession with the intent to distribute.

In his appearance before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Monday, Nunley said he had made four trips to Kansas City where he had obtained a total of 10 kilograms of cocaine from a supplier.

On one occasion the Kansas City supplier had delivered two kilograms to Nunley in Cape Girardeau. Nunley paid nearly $250,000 for cocaine, which was distributed around Cape Girardeau, Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Ferrell said.

The couple had been arrested on Sept. 26, when they were returning from Kansas City with approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine, Ferrell said.

Police patrolman Dan Seger had noticed a speeding car shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Highway 177 north of Bertling Street. When he signaled for the car to stop, the driver turned sharply to the left on Mechaw Drive. The driver didn't know that Mechaw Drive is a dead-end street, police said.

"He turned right and drove through a couple of yards before he got to Ferguson Drive," police Sgt. Carl Kinnison said.

The driver turned his rental car right onto Ferguson Drive and then back to Highway 177, from which he headed south toward Southeast Missouri State University, police said.

The cars traveled at moderate speeds during the chase, police said, and along the way the driver threw out bags of cocaine that were later retrieved.