Damion L. Tripp Press Release (Sentencing)

For Immediate Release
April 28, 2008

BUTLER COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FEDERAL PRISON ON CRACK COCAINE AND MARIJUANA CHARGES

United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today that a Butler County man was sentenced to prison on felony drug charges.

DAMION L. TRIPP, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment on one felony count of possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine base with the intent to distribute, as well as one felony count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute. The terms of imprisonment were ordered to run concurrent. Upon release from prison, Tripp will be placed on supervised release for eight years. He appeared before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber on Monday, April 28, 2008 in Cape Girardeau.

During the course of the trial, evidence and testimony were presented which revealed that on July 13, 2006, a search warrant was executed at Tripp’s residence in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Tripp was on the porch when the officers arrived. When Tripp saw police he ran into the house and attempted to flush ten packages of marijuana down the toilet. Tripp was arrested, and officers found $875 in his pocket and digital scales. A further search of the house resulted in the discovery of a gallon-size plastic bag containing 133 grams of marijuana, as well as 63.2 grams crack cocaine and a small bag of marijuana.

Hanaway praised the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory, located in Cape Girardeau, for their work performed on the case. Assistant United States Attorney Abbie Crites-Leoni handled the prosecution for the Government.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION - CAPE GIRARDEAU CATHERINE L. HANAWAY United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
For further information: Call AUSA Abbie Crites-Leoni at (573) 334-3736
For Immediate Release April 28, 2008 BUTLER COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FEDERAL PRISON ON CRACK COCAINE AND MARIJUANA CHARGES United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today that a Butler County man was sentenced to prison on felony drug charges. DAMION L. TRIPP, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment on one felony count of possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine base with the intent to distribute, as well as one felony count of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute. The terms of imprisonment were ordered to run concurrent. Upon release from prison, Tripp will be placed on supervised release for eight years. He appeared before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber on Monday, April 28, 2008 in Cape Girardeau. During the course of the trial, evidence and testimony were presented which revealed that on July 13, 2006, a search warrant was executed at Tripp’s residence in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Tripp was on the porch when the officers arrived. When Tripp saw police he ran into the house and attempted to flush ten packages of marijuana down the toilet. Tripp was arrested, and officers found $875 in his pocket and digital scales. A further search of the house resulted in the discovery of a gallon-size plastic bag containing 133 grams of marijuana, as well as 63.2 grams crack cocaine and a small bag of marijuana. Hanaway praised the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory, located in Cape Girardeau, for their work performed on the case. Assistant United States Attorney Abbie Crites-Leoni handled the prosecution for the Government.