---

May 2, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOPLIN MAN INDICTED IN '99 DOUBLE HOMICIDE,
FOUR MORE ALSO CHARGED
IN CRACK COCAINE DISTRIBUTION

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin man was indicted today for a double homicide that occurred in Joplin in 1999. Four additional defendants were also also charged for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Jasper County.

Thomas D. Smith, also known as "Mad Dog," 29, a Joplin area resident, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield today for the murders of Paris Harbin and Chandy Bresee-Plumb on December 13, 1999. Smith was also indicted on two additional counts related to a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

Also charged in the 25-count indictment returned by the federal grand jury this afternoon in Springfield are Brian L. McDaniel, also known as "Barrion," 26, who is in the custody of the United States Marshals Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma; Ernesto v. Bell, also known as "Stone," 27, who is in state custody at Bolivar County, Mississippi; Larry D. Saddler, also known as "Laughin' Larry,"43, of Cartervi1le, Mo.; and Victoria Gonzalez, 25, of Carthage, Mo.

Two separate counts of the 25-count federal indictment charge Smith with the murders of a Joplin man and woman on or about December 13,1999. Count Five of the federal indictment alleges that Smith murdered Paris Harbin, and Count Six alleges that Smith murdered Chandy Bresee-Plumb. Both murders are alleged to have been willful, deliberate, malicious, premeditated and committed in the perpetration of a drug trafficking crime. Counts Five and Six also allege that Smith used a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime.

Count One of the federal indictment alleges that all five of the defendants conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine in Jasper County, from as early as January, 1999 to December, 2000.

Count Three of the federal indictment alleges that Smith and McDaniel managed a residence at 115 Cleveland in Joplin, which they made available for the purpose of unlawfully storing crack cocaine from October, 1999 to December, 1999.

Count Two of the federal indictment alleges that Saddler managed a residence at 2116 Grand in Joplin, which he made available for the purpose of unlawfully storing, distributing and using crack cocaine from October, 1999 to December, 1999.

Count Four of the federal indictment alleges that McDaniel distributed crack cocaine on or about December 9, 1999.

Counts Seven and Eight of the federal indictment alleges that Saddler distributed crack cocaine on or about January 20, 2000.

Bell was charged in five additional counts. Counts Nine and Ten of the federal indictment alleges that Bell distributed crack cocaine in Jasper County on or about February 2, 2000, and February 3, 2000, respectively. Count Eleven of the federal indictment alleges that on or about February 29, 2000, Bell possessed a Steyr 9 millimeter handgun in furtherance of the crack cocaine conspiracy alleged in Count One. Count Twelve of the federal indictment alleges that Bell was also in possession of a Ruger .357 magnum revolver on February 29, 2000. Possession of any firearm at that time would have been illegal as a result of Bell's 1998 criminal felony conviction in Bolivar County, Mississippi, for aggravated assault. Count Thirteen alleges that both of those firearms in Bell's possession were stolen.

Gonzalez was charged in 12 additional counts. Counts Fourteen and Fifteen allege that Gonzalez distributed crack cocaine in Jasper County on or about June 12,2000, and June 15, 2000, respectively. Counts Sixteen through Twenty-Five allege that Gonzalez distributed five grams or more of crack cocaine in Jasper County on 10 separate occasions during the year 2000, from June 20 to November 21.

If convicted as charged in the indictment, Smith could be subject to a sentence of any number of years in prison without parole, including life imprisonment or death, on each of the two murder charges. Smith could also be subject to a mandatory life sentence on Count One and a sentence of up to 20 years in prison without parole on Count Three. Smith could also be subject to a fine up to $9 million.

If convicted as charged in the indictment, McDaniel could be subject to a sentence of up to life imprisonment plus 50 years in prison without parole, plus a fine up to $10.5 million.

If convicted as charged in the indictment, Bell could be subject to a sentence of up to life imprisonment plus up to 60 years in prison without parole, plus a fine up to $12,750,000.

If convicted as charged in the indictment, Saddler could be subject to a sentence of up to life imprisonment plus up to 60 years in prison without parole, plus a fine up to $6 million.

If convicted as charged in the indictment, Gonzalez could be subject to a sentence of up to life imprisonment plus up to 440 years in prison without parole, plus a fine up to $26 million.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Brookman. It was investigated by the Joplin Police Department, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Joplin Area Major Case Squad, the Tulsa Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Jasper County Sheriff's Department, the Newton County Sheriff's Department, the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team, and the Springfield Police Department.

 

#####