Friday, April 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
A Las Vegas man described as a career criminal and drug supplier has admitted to running a lucrative drug operation from his sister's homes in eastern Las Vegas.
Michael McLemore pleaded guilty Thursday to money laundering, possession with intent to distribute crack and powder cocaine and two counts of conspiracy. He faces a minimum 10 years in prison and up to $4 million in fines when sentenced Aug. 9.
He originally fought the charges on grounds that Metro Police and federal drug agents with the Weed and Seed Task Force abused their authority when they claimed to have targeted him as a murder suspect as an excuse to look for drugs.
But he dropped that defense argument. His attorney could not be reached for comment. Metro accused him of a 1994 murder, but the charge was dismissed for lack of evidence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom O'Connell said the government had evidence that McLemore, his sister, Marsha McLemore-Purvis, and her husband, Reynaldo Purvis, and three female friends of theirs were running drugs from a house at 416 Oakford St.
Last year, authorities searched the Oakford residence near Bonanza Road and Nellis Boulevard, and contended they found proof that McLemore had been "cooking" a kilogram of powder cocaine, converting it into crack.
Just before police arrived, McLemore told co-defendant Melinda Ellison to leave with the $22,000 worth of drugs, O'Connell said. Police stopped Ellison and said they found a glass bowl with crack residue, drug paraphernalia, scales, baking soda and firearms.
Ellison, Tanya Williams and Channen Sanders pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and face up to five years in prison. Williams and Sanders occasionally made drug deliveries for McLemore.
The government plans to seize the Oakford residence through forfeiture proceedings. McLemore's sister and her husband bought the home in June 1994, paying $14,000 as a down payment despite claiming less than $5,000 in annual income from 1992 to 1994.
The government accused McLemore-Purvis, who was on welfare at the time, of using drug money to pay for the home. The government said McLemore was the real owner.
McLemore-Purvis and her husband pleaded guilty to conspiracy to money laundering and face up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
In June, police searched McLemore-Purvis' residence at 3933 New Hope Way near Freedom Park in eastern Las Vegas. They said they found 570 grams of marijuana worth about $1,500 and firearms stored in a Cadillac registered to McLemore.
In addition to seeking possession of the Oakford home, the government wants to seize a Lexus that McLemore allegedly bought with drug money.
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