KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing cocaine and a firearm.

Deandra S. Gray, 39, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 15 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 21, 2010, Gray pleaded guilty to possessing 50 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Gray was arrested on March 23, 2010, when police officers observed him driving a Dodge Durango in which co-defendant Gerome K. King, 29, of Kansas City, was a passenger. King has also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

Officers had conducted several controlled buys from King for crack cocaine and had the residence where those buys occurred under surveillance. After Gray picked up King at the residence, officers observed the Durango pull over and witnessed a suspected narcotics transaction. When officers stopped the vehicle, Gray attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a loaded Desert Eagle .44 mag (which had been reported as stolen) in the center console and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun under the passenger seat. Officers also found two clear plastic bags containing a total of 262.12 grams of cocaine in the center console along with $1,749.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Davids. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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