Sentencing delayed for 3 drug convicts|[02/06/08]

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Sentencing for three of nine Warren County residents who have faced federal drug indictments has been delayed.

Originally scheduled for Thursday, the sentencing for Keafur Wallace, 25, and Cadie Mae Bunch, 28, was moved to March 18, while Charles Price, 53, once scheduled to be handed his sentence by U.S. District Judge David Bramlette on March 18, will now appear in court April 17.

All three were arrested as part of a multi-agency drug sweep in June 2007 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Their convictions carry a minimum 10-year sentence and a maximum of life in prison, as well as up to $4 million in fines.

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The reason for the delays in sentencing was not known.

Postponed but still not rescheduled is the sentencing of Michael Tyler, 35, described by law enforcement officials as the leader of the “Tyler Organization.” Tyler, who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 8, but that was delayed because his previous attorney, William Barnett of Jackson, died. Michael Knapp of Jackson now represents Tyler.

Arrested and pleading guilty in the same roundup were Christopher Shaun Walker, 29, Tommie Shepherd, 46, Larry Jones, 31, Kenny Tyler, 35, and John Dillard, 61.

Vicksburg Police Chief Tommy Moffett described the group as the No. 1 distribution ring of crack cocaine in Vicksburg. Moffett said he believed the group was selling more than eight kilos, or 17.6 pounds, of crack cocaine in Vicksburg per month.

All, except Bunch and Dillard, had previous felony convictions. Walker, Shepherd and Jones were sentenced by Bramlette to serve five years in prison, the minimum under guidelines. They faced potential sentences of 20 years.

Kenny Tyler, like Wallace and Bunch, is scheduled to be sentenced March 18, for his conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The only defendant to request a trial was Dillard, charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. After being postponed, his trial date will be March 4. The trial was set to start Jan. 14, but was continued because two chemists with the Mississippi State Crime Lab who were to testify for the prosecution were not available.