Five plead guilty to meth charges

Facing lengthy stays in prison, several accused drug dealers from Southeast Missouri pleaded guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to methamphetamine-related crimes:

Michael Workman, 38, of Jackson, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession with intent to distribute. He now faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and/or a $1 million fine. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27

On April 28, Workman was caught with 3.7 grams of methamphetamine in various plastic bags, which he admits he intended to sell.

Tony Midkiff, 38, of Dunklin County, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting co-defendant, Terry Shawn Davis, with possession with intent to distribute meth. He now faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and/or a $1 million fine. Sentencing is set for Jan. 7.

On May 8, Midkiff was caught with Davis in the possession of 10.4 grams of a substance containing meth, which he admits he intended to help sell.

James W. Jarrett Jr., 35, of Pemiscot County, pleaded guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting the manufacture of methamphetamine while his wife, Susan Jarrett, 46, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of distribution of meth and one felony count of aiding and abetting.

James Jarrett now faces a maximum of life imprisonment and/or $4 million in fines. He admitted helping his wife make meth on May 5.

Susan Jarrett faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and/or $2 million in fines. Sentencing for both is set for Jan. 7.

She admitted trading pseudoephedrine pills for methamphetamine on three different occasions in February.

Michael J. Wells, 47, of Qulin, Mo., pleaded guilty to attempting to manufacture methamphetamine. He now faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and/or a $1 million fine. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27

On Sept. 16, 1997, Wells was caught in a traffic stop carrying several items used to make meth. As part of his plea, Wells agreed to forfeit $2,000 found in his car at a Jan. 24 traffic stop in which police also seized more than 100 grams of methamphetamine.