Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for distributing heroin and illegally possessing a firearm.

Michael Sutton, 33, of Springfield, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s indictment alleges that Sutton distributed heroin on April 19, 2016, and again on May 26, 2016.

Sutton is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, Sutton was in possession of a Colt Night Defender .45-caliber handgun on Aug. 19, 2016. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

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 Jody Larison. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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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

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