Federal prison ordered for five in drug, gun cases

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Five area residents recently were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to such offenses as distribution of heroin and Fentanyl and weapons violations.

Sentenced were: Freeman C. Williams Jr., 36, of Poplar Bluff; Jaquan Whitfield, 24, of St. Louis; Amber E. Wrinkle, 28, and Matthew Wade Stoutt, 35, both of Poplar Bluff; and Mark Luke Barks, 31, of Patterson.

Freeman, Whitfield and Wrinkle were among those arrested during a round-up in November in Butler County, while Stoutt’s case is the result of a Ripley County investigation and a Butler County search warrant.

Barks’ case stems from a motor-vehicle crash in Wayne County.

The following sentences have been issued by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. for felony charges: Williams, 30 months, two counts distribution of heroin; Whitfield, 21 months, distribution of heroin; Wrinkle, eight months, distribution of heroin and distribution of Acetyl Fentanyl (similar to the opioid Fentanyl); Stoutt, 120 months, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine; and Barks, 46 months, convicted felon in possession of ammunition and firearms.

All, but Stoutt, will placed on a three-year period of supervised release upon their release. Stoutt will be placed on a five-year period of supervised release.

The following information was admitted by the individuals with their separate guilty pleas.

Williams

Williams admitted on Oct. 12, 2018, and Oct. 23, 2018, members of the SEMO Drug Task Force and Poplar Bluff Police Department made controlled purchases of heroin and other drugs from him, according to the plea agreement signed by Williams.

The substances were analyzed at a Missouri State Highway Patrol crime laboratory and found to contain at least 1.19 grams of a substance containing heroin and 1.35 grams of substance containing heroin and fentanyl.

Whitfield

Whitfield admitted on Dec. 7, 2018, members of the task force and police department made a controlled purchase of heroin from him. The bags were later found to hold a total of 3.5 grams of a substance containing heroin.

Wrinkle

Wrinkle admitted on July 3, 2018, and Aug. 3, 2018, officers with the task force and police officers conducted controlled purchases of heroin and other substances from her using a cooperating individual.

Four individually packaged bags initially were purchased in the first buy and eight bags in the second. They were found to contain drugs, including in some cases “what was purportedly heroin, but was actually Acetyl Fentanyl.”

Stoutt

Stoutt admitted on March 19, 2019, investigators conducted a “knock and talk” at a Ripley County residence after receiving information about a large shipment of methamphetamine being delivered there, according to plea agreement signed by Stoutt.

While on the scene, officers reportedly found a duffle bag, which appeared to have been thrown from a window and found to contain 11 pounds of meth.

On March 20, 2019, officers executed a search warrant on Stoutt’s home, the plea agreement says.

During their search, the officers reportedly seized sandwich bags, digital scales and a large amount of suspected methamphetamine. The substance was later found to be “462.45 grams (more than 5 pounds) of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.”

Barks

Barks pleaded guilty in connection with a July 9, 2018, motor-vehicle crash on County Road 314 in Wayne County.

Patrol Trooper Eric Bennett observed a Nissan Xterra crashed into a tree off the left side of the county road, according to the plea agreement signed by Barks.

Bennett reportedly saw a woman with a noticeable limp walking on County Road 314 near the crash site and a man, later identified as Barks, sitting in the bed of a concerned citizen’s pickup.

The plea agreement says Bennett determined Barks had been driving the XTerra at the time of the crash, and that he was intoxicated.

Barks reportedly was arrested for DWI and domestic assault based on the woman’s statements.

“A search incident to arrest of Barks’ (person) revealed a Hornady .35 caliber rifle round located in his front right jeans pocket,” the plea agreement further says.

When asked about the bullet, Barks “stated, ‘I like to hunt man,’” the plea agreement says.

Located in the plain view, behind the driver’s seat, reportedly were two rifles -- a .35-caliber Marlin and a .22-caliber.

At the time of his arrest, Barks was a convicted felon, having been convicted of felonies of third-degree domestic assault and first-degree harassment in November 2017 in Wayne County.