JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jefferson City, Mo, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to distributing synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, at a Holts Summit, Mo., business.
Billie L. Bruce, 36, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to the charge contained in an April 20, 2016, federal indictment.
By pleading guilty today, Bruce admitted that he sold synthetic cannabinoids to an undercover law enforcement officer on July 16, 2015, while working at S&J Tobacco in Holts Summit. Bruce told officers that he had been employed at the store for three or four months.
Officers executed a search warrant at S&J Tobacco the same day and seized 2,241.5 grams of synthetic cannabinoids and a Hi-Point.40-caliber handgun, which was located next to the cash register.
Under federal statutes, Bruce is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the DEA Task Force - Jefferson City, DEA Sacramento, Calif., DEA Reno, Nev., IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the MUSTANG Drug Task Force, the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Cole County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department, the Fulton, Mo., Police Department and the Holts Summit, Mo., Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
