DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Missouri

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Timothy A. Garrison
, United States Attorney
Contact: Don Ledford

Columbia Man Sentenced for Heroin Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for heroin trafficking and for illegally possessing a firearm.

 

Horashio Antoine Pritchett, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to six years and three months in federal prison without parole.

 

On June 6, 2018, Pritchett pleaded guilty to possessing heroin with the intent to distribute and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 

Columbia police officers executed a search warrant at Pritchett’s residence on Sept. 15, 2016, and detained him as he was leaving the residence. Detectives seized approximately nine grams of heroin, nine suboxone pills, 10 oxycodone pills, several digital scales, and baggies believed to be used for distribution of the controlled substances. Detectives also located a loaded Taurus .40-caliber handgun in Pritchett’s jacket pocket.

 

Pritchett told investigators he had obtained one to two ounces of heroin every two weeks for the past two years.

 

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Pritchett has five prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and a prior felony conviction for distribution/possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility. He also has a misdemeanor conviction for domestic assault.

 

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.

 

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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:

@USAO_WDMO

 

 

Facebook:

http://www.Facebook.com/USAOMOW

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Kansas City Field Division