CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- An Arizona man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine after authorities intercepted a shipment in Butler County.
Gregory John Sanders, 54, of Phoenix pleaded guilty to the felony of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine to U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Willis.
The agreed-upon facts of the case say on Feb. 28, United States postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious parcel in St. Louis, Mo., which was addressed to a "Jo Woley" at a rural Butler County address.
"A search warrant was obtained after a drug-detecting police dog alerted to an odor of narcotics coming from the package," the plea agreement says. "Officers opened the package and discovered that it contained 112 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine."
On March 2, investigators reportedly "attempted a controlled delivery of the package to Woley and encountered her near her residence."
Woley, the plea agreement says, was told of her rights and agreed to speak with investigators.
"Woley initially indicated that she did not know anything about the package; however, later admitted that it had been sent to her by Gregory Sanders, a methamphetamine supplier whom she had met several years" before, the agreement further said.
Woley reportedly indicated she had "one day received a package of approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine from (Sanders) in the mail."
The plea agreement says Woley admitted she had used some of the methamphetamine and allegedly distributed the rest.
"Woley indicated that she had received methamphetamine from Sanders on six occasions previous to getting this package," the plea agreement says.
Sanders typically would call Woley and let her know "whom various amounts of methamphetamine were for, and Woley would be allowed to keep the rest as long as she paid for it," the plea agreement says.
Woley, who also was indicted, reportedly would "typically parcel out the methamphetamine to the people Sanders indicated, use some of it and then sell the rest.
"Woley would then send Sanders the money for the methamphetamine sold by herself and others through different means."
According to Woley, the total amount of meth that Sanders allegedly had sent her was approximately 28 ounces or about 794 grams.
"At the agents' request, Woley made a consensually recorded phone call to Sanders, and the two discussed the package that had been intercepted," the plea agreement says. "Woley told Sanders that she was nervous about law enforcement watching and waiting for her to get the package.
"Sanders told her that if the package showed up that she should just 'throw it under a tree' and get it another time."
On July 5, Sanders was arrested in Poplar Bluff, Mo., after allegedly distributing about a half ounce of meth.
After being told of his rights, Sanders reportedly was confronted with the allegation he was a meth distributor.
" ... Sanders responded: 'You're right; I am probably good for a couple of pounds,'" the plea agreement says.
Sanders further indicated he was "primarily shopping for others who wanted drugs, as he knew a number of people who sold drugs in various cities."
A state search was obtained for and executed on a Poplar Bluff hotel room where Sanders was staying. Officers reportedly recovered about $5,000 in suspected drug proceeds from the room.
After accepting Sanders' plea, Willis said, Limbaugh set sentencing for 2 p.m. May 15.
At that time, Sanders faces a maximum penalty of not more than life imprisonment, followed by at least a five-year period of supervised release.
The charge reportedly requires a mandatory minimum of at least 10 years.
As part of his plea, Sanders agreed to forfeit his interest in money seized July 5 from his hotel room in the 2500 block of North Westwood Boulevard.
An additional felony of distribution of methamphetamine is expected to be dismissed by the government at sentencing.
Jo Anna Woley is to stand trial March 1 in federal court on the felonies conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.