Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement officers discovered illegal drugs and several firearms at this residence, including a firearm hidden under a pillow on a bed where an infant lay.

Ramelus D. Bradley, 34, of Columbia, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Bradley on Aug. 21, 2015.

The federal indictment charges Bradley with one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. Both offenses allegedly occurred on Aug. 21, 2015.

Today’s indictment also alleges that Bradley was in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol on Aug. 21, 2015.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Bradley has two prior felony convictions for distributing a controlled substance, two prior felony convictions for trafficking drugs, two prior felony convictions for resisting arrest and a prior felony conviction for possessing a controlled substance.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers conducted surveillance on Bradley and executed a search warrant at his residence on Aug. 21, 2015. After officers knocked on the front door, announced their presence with a state search warrant, and received no response, a forced entry was made into the residence. Officers immediately saw Bradley (the sole adult occupant of the residence) standing in the living room in his underwear. Officers later determined that Bradley had been within arm’s reach of three firearms at the time of their entry into the residence. Officers observed approximately 22 grams of marijuana at Bradley’s feet on the living room floor in plain sight. During a protective sweep of the residence, officers discovered two infants in an upstairs bedroom.

During their search of the residence, officers discovered and seized three firearms and ammunition from the living room, and one firearm under a pillow on the bed in the upstairs master bedroom. One of the infants was laying on this bed, and the other infant was in a baby swing in the same room. Officers also seized $12,258 from a pocket of Bradley’s shorts, and approximately 22 grams of marijuana from the living room floor.

Officers also discovered approximately 6.5 ounces of cocaine, numerous unidentified pills, and marijuana, all of which had been pre-packaged for sale, as well as a digital scale with cocaine residue, inside the center console of Bradley’s pick-up.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Bradley to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, including $12,258 that was seized by law enforcement officers.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart J. Zander. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

****************
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/wdmo

Twitter:
http://www.Twitter.com/USAO_WDMO

Facebook:
http://www.Facebook.com/USAOMOW