Sixteen members of the Cut Throats gang face federal drug and conspiracy charges

Sixteen members of the Cut Throats gang face federal drug and conspiracy charges in a case that began after several drive-by shootings in Columbia and Jefferson City.
Federal prosecutors and Columbia police announced the charges in a 34-count grand jury indictment Thursday. Fourteen of the 16 defendants are from Columbia, and the other two are from Fayette and Kansas City.Each defendant faces drug conspiracy charges for allegedly distributing powder and crack cocaine. Four face weapons charges connected to shootings outside mid-Missouri gas stations in June 2007 and January and May 2008.Interim Columbia Police Chief Tom Dresner said the arrests point to a gang problem in Columbia that city leaders have been reluctant to acknowledge.