Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CAPE GIRARDEAU – United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. sentenced GENE TYRONE WREN, age 41, of Cape Girardeau, to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison following his guilty plea to narcotics and firearms charges last March.

Wren was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by law enforcement officers in the City of Cape Girardeau last November. Officers discovered various items inside the vehicle, including approximately sixty grams of methamphetamine, a semi-automatic rifle loaded with thirty rounds of ammunition, and a loaded semi-automatic pistol. During his guilty plea hearing, Wren admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Wren also admitted that the firearms belonged to him. Wren was prohibited from possessing firearms at the time because of numerous prior felony convictions dating back to 1997, including convictions for robbery and drug-trafficking crimes.

This case was investigated by the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.