Prison term ordered in federal drug case
A Leavenworth man whose apartment contained a crawl space where weapons and drugs were found earlier this year has been sentenced Monday to 135 months in federal prison on drug-trafficking charges.
Vernon M. Bronson, 27, pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of crack cocaine. On Monday, he appeared for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Kathryn H. Vratil in federal court in Kansas City, Kan.
“Officers who served a search warrant at Mr. Bronson’s residence in Leavenworth found a loaded .357 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver tucked into the couch, as well as a trap door leading to a crawl space beneath the house that contained drugs and more weapons,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.
In his plea, Bronson admitted that on May 20, 2005, he and co-defendant Jay D. Carter were living at 726 Pottawatomie Street, Apartment A , in Leavenworth.
While serving a search warrant at the residence, investigators recovered more than 40 grams of crack cocaine, three handguns, a ballistic vest and more than $700 cash.
Carter pleaded guilty to conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced in May to 181 months in federal prison.