St. Paul Man Sentenced for Possessing Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Two Nine-Millimeter Pistols
MINNEAPOLIS – Yesterday in federal court, a 35-year-old felon from St. Paul was sentenced to 216 months in prison for possessing cocaine, crack cocaine, and two nine-millimeter pistols. United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Ronald Louis Trice to 156 months in prison on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and 60 months in prison on one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. Trice will serve his sentences consecutively. Trice, who was indicted on April 10, 2012, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2012.
According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, officers found 15 grams of crack cocaine and 26 grams of cocaine inside the pocket of a shirt hanging in a closet when they executed a state search warrant at Trice's residence on March 9, 2012. They also discovered in a hidden compartment underneath a dresser drawer, 136 grams of crack cocaine and seized from the house and detached garage, two loaded firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, more than two pounds of marijuana, another 48 grams of cocaine, more than $10,000, scales, and other drug-packaging materials.
This case was the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.
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