United States Drug Enforcement Administration

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge, James P. Shroba announced today that Ryan D. Wright, 39, and Courtnie Lea Goins, 25, both of Springfield, MO have pleaded guilty in federal court to their role in conspiracies to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in Boone County, Mo., and to promote prostitution in Boone County.

Wright admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in Boone County from Jan. 2 to Aug. 6, 2014. Wright also pleaded guilty to participating in a prostitution conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Goins pleaded guilty to her role in a conspiracy to use telephones to promote prostitution.

When Wright was arrested on Nov. 13, 2014, he was in possession of a Taurus .357-caliber revolver, a Ruger .38-caliber revolver and ammunition. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition. Wright has prior felony convictions for arson and possession of a controlled substance.

Under federal statutes, Wright is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 55 years in federal prison without parole. Goins is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Boone County, MO., Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group).