Alabama Man Sentenced for Missouri Pharmacy Burglary that Netted 16,800 Pills

CAPE GIRARDEAU - U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a man involved in the theft of 16,800 pills from a Kennett, Missouri pharmacy to 57 months in prison.

Judge Limbaugh also ordered Cornelius Cardez Bray, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, to pay $2,174.66 in restitution to the pharmacy. Bray was the driver for David Jerome Evans, who broke into the pharmacy on March 13, 2025. A police officer responding to the break-in spotted a car with Tennessee license plates heading out of town and recalled that a few days earlier someone in a passenger car with Tennessee plates had been taking pictures of another pharmacy. The officer tried to stop Bray, who sped off before crashing. Officers found numerous pill bottles in the wreckage, as well as Bray's wallet and cell phone. The men stole 16,800 pills, including 7,500 hydrocodone pills and 7,500 pills containing benzodiazepine drugs. Evans was arrested at the scene of the crash. Bray fled but was arrested later.

Both Bray and Evans, 32, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to one count of intent to steal a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone. Evans was previously sentenced to 78 months in prison.

The Kennett Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.