MAY 22 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Rockport, Texas, man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies responsible for transporting hundreds of pounds of marijuana, as well as cocaine, from Texas.

David Elby Shafer , 49, of Rockport, formerly of Sturgeon, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey on Thursday, May 21, 2009, to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

On June 19, 2008, Shafer was found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana from April to December 2004, and for possession with intent to distribute marijuana on April 28, 2004, in Boone County, Mo. Shafer was also found guilty of interstate transportation in aid of racketeering for traveling between Texas and Missouri with drug proceeds and to distribute marijuana.

Shafer was also convicted for his role in a conspiracy to commit money laundering from September to December 2004. Shafer participated in a conspiracy to conduct financial transactions that involved the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Shafer was found guilty of engaging in a monetary transaction involving the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking when he purchased an automobile for $13,800 in cash from a car dealer in Columbia, Mo.

Shafer was also convicted for his role in a conspiracy to possess and to distribute cocaine in Boone County.

Co-defendant Galen Keith Scott , 47, of Auxvasse, Mo., was sentenced on Nov. 21, 2008, to three years in federal prison without parole. Scott pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2007, to his role in the marijuana conspiracy and the money-laundering conspiracy. Scott was stopped by Texas law enforcement officers on Dec. 22, 2004, who searched his vehicle and found several large bags containing a total of approximately 223 pounds of marijuana that Scott was transporting for Shafer . Scott had made approximately eight prior trips for Shafer , transporting at least 200 pounds of marijuana on each trip (on one occasion, transporting approximately 500 pounds of marijuana to a location near Columbia). Scott was paid about $2,000 to $3,000 per trip, plus travel money. Scott also delivered to Shafer boxes of money from the proceeds of marijuana sales.

Co-defendant Paul Allen Cook, 50, of Sturgeon, was sentenced on Jan. 18, 2007, to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole. Cook pleaded guilty on June 19, 2006, to his role in the marijuana conspiracy. Marijuana brought to Missouri was delivered and stored at Cook’s residence, where it would be distributed to other persons. On April 28, 2004, law enforcement officers seized 40 pounds of marijuana from Cook’s residence while executing a search warrant.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Gonzalez. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Madison County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department, the Madisonville, Texas, Police Department, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, MUSTANG (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team And Narcotics Group), the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Fulton, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Rockport, Texas, Police Department.