Affidavits cite numerous undercover and controlled drug purchases, as well as seizures of heroin, fentanyl, and large amounts of cash. Join Recovery Connection in sharing stories of hope and recovery. The number of drug induced . Meth is everywhere. The second most commonly abused class of drugs were stimulants (including methamphetamine) for those who entered drug addiction treatment in 2007. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri, Nine Southern Missouri Residents Indicted for Meth Conspiracy, KC Man Charged with Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearm After Arrest During Police Standoff, KC Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy, Joplin, Webb City Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms, Nine Southern Missouri Residents Indicted For Meth Conspiracy. [vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=Sobriety Calculator style=custom custom_background=#81387d custom_text=#ffffff shape=square size=lg i_icon_fontawesome=fa fa-calculator add_icon=true link=url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.recoveryconnection.com%2Faddiction-resources%2Frecovery-tools%2Fsobriety-calculator%2F|title:Sobriety%20Calculator||][/vc_column][/vc_row]. Have a question about Government Services? Harmon's blue BMW sedan had just crossed into Springfield city limits, past the Macedonia Baptist Church on West Sunshine Street, when officers pulled her over. Investigators raided a Springfield home earlier this year expecting a big haul. pic.twitter.com/jU0X8hs7wv. "We do spend a lot of investigation time on that, and I think that plays out in our stats.". "So they opened the door.". I didnt really care where it came from, Pickens said. They did it when they least expected it.. Worsham, Sims, and Lindsey are each also charged with one count of possessing heroin and/or fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Bobbie Lynn King, 51, and Patricia Gail Nelson, also known as Mama Pat, 60, both of Kansas City, Missouri; Michael Glen Zieger, also known as Lees Summit Mike, 43, of Lees Summit, Missouri; Amanda Leigh Watson, 33, of St. Joseph, Missouri; and Logan Tanner Laws, 28, of Shelbina, Missouri, were arrested on July 23, 2020, after being charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on July 21, 2020. Defendants originally charged in the indictment are Trevor Scott Sparks, 31, Gerald L. Ginnings, 40, Gloria May Jones, 30, Vicente Araujo, 23, Leslie Ladon Walker, 33, and Paul J. Kibodeaux, 37, all of Kansas City, Mo. The Springfield Police Department announced Wednesday that it has raided a major Western Massachusetts drug trafficking operation, seizing over 2 kilograms of heroin, 490 grams of cocaine, 40,000 bags of packaged heroin and $48,000 in cash. Feds indict 32 on drug charges | Local News | joplinglobe.com Fax Line:(816) 426-4210. Fill out the form below and one of our team members will reach out to help you get started. Authorities charge 25 in Springfield drug bust - seMissourian.com SPRINGFIELD, Mo. On the county level, the number of busts and seizures decreases from nearly 200 to just three. These figures can be verified by contacting the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 573-526-6305. Prosecutors say the man at the center of a large-scale Springfield meth distribution ring was a high roller at a nearby casino. The data collected is from State and Federal sources. Tomorrow, KOLR 10s investigation continues: after addiction, learn how a local program is helping addicts get sober and stay sober. "We do some large-scale marijuana interdiction work," Reece said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. KOLR-TV Childrens Television Programming Reports, KOZL-TV Childrens Television Programming Reports, KRBK TV Childrens Television Programming Reports, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. According to the most recent data, Missouri has experienced an increase in marijuana and methamphetamine use over the last two decades. Glosson is also charged with one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of being an unlawful user of controlled substances (heroin) in possession of firearms. The only structure to the group appears to be itstwo kingpins Kenna Harmon and Kenneth Friend who facilitated purchasing and distribution. 18-25 year olds were among the group most suffering from unmet treatment needs for alcohol dependency in 2006 and it ranked among the highest in the country for this demographic. Friend lived in a single-story house along East Sunshine Street with two safes and a money counter. Crawford allegedly possessed an Armscor of the Philippines 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Dec. 3, 2018, and a Lorcin .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Jan. 15, 2019. Flesch specifically recalled a man who rode in on a motorcycle and sported a blue or purple mohawk. Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug of abuse in Missouri in 2007. They know mine; I know theirs.. Tapia declined an interview request from the News-Leader. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also reported that it had seenan exponential increase over the last fewyears in the seizures of marijuana-infused food products known as edibles. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Meth ring: Springfield woman at'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison. Largest Meth Bust in Missouri BootheelBy: CJ Cassidy. There were 12,052 individuals who entered treatment for marijuana addiction. That year, the Greene County coroner recorded 7 deaths from the drug. That indictment was unsealed and made public following their arrests. While seizures like that don't happen often, data obtained by the News-Leader shows the amount of drugs seized by the Springfield Police Department's investigative units has been increasing over the last six years. Rodriguez, who has previously been convicted of at least one felony offense, allegedly was in possession of a Taurus .410-caliber revolver on Jan. 4, 2019. The national opioid crisis has not missed Springfield. Officers with the Springfield Police Departments Special Investigations Unit made a large drug bust after serving a search warrant on August 6. While many Americans were putting turkeys in ovens, watching football in the living room, or driving to their grandmothers' houses, officers were listening to the phone calls of Friend and Harmon. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri, Eleven More Defendants Indicted for $4.1 Million Meth Conspiracy, KC Man Charged with Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearm After Arrest During Police Standoff, Joplin, Webb City Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms, KC Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy, Eleven More Defendants Indicted For $4.1 Million Meth Conspiracy. Troopers arrested one man in the investigation. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. 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The estimated street value is $85,000. Lock Faced with decades in federal prison, people started flipping. All loss of hope, eating out of dumpsters so I wouldnt be hungry.. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hicks, Ortega, Griffin, Cooper, and Ross. The federal indictment alleges that each of the nine defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties from Dec. 31, 2015, to June 21, 2019. Most of the defendants were arrested in a coordinated law enforcement sweep in November 2019 and originally charged in a series of federal criminal complaints, which were followed up by initial indictments in December 2019. Amphetamine/Methamphetamine Greene County traffic stop leads MSHP to 110 pounds of marijuana - KY3 And in 2019, the medical examiner reports 67 people, more than double the year before, died from meth in Greene County. ; David Robert Richards II, 32, of Louisburg, Kan.; Christian Douglas Hansen, 41, of St. Louis, Mo. Heroin If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Sometimes that means he treats the same addicts pretty often. All rights reserved. ; Phillip Tra Joseph Hoyt, 43, of St. Joseph, Kenneth James McClure, 41, of Kingdom City, Missouri; Christapher Dean Parton, 31, of St. Joseph, and Marion Douglas McCrorey Jr., 40, of Rich Hill, Missouri, each of whom are already in custody on unrelated state and federal cases, were charged in the superseding indictment. Of that number, 68.5 % were male and 31.5% were female. The trooper found 88 pounds of. Reece said, however, the 2016 spikeis more of a fluke driven by a one-time seizure than an indication that dealers are flooding the Springfield market with cocaine this year. Martin is also charged with two counts related to distributing fentanyl. Robert Patruno with leading the stash house investigation, and said the broader investigation into the Holyoke-based drug ringcontinues. And through the first nine months of2016, theyseized more than 10 times last year's total. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug . Share . The only person who didn't plead guilty was Robert A. Edson, who has eluded capture for years. Sgt. According to the indictment, Sparks was the principal leader of the criminal enterprise and obtained substantial income from the criminal enterprise. His family and friends apparently couldn't believe it. Tapia was also delivering 10 pounds of meth worth tens of thousands of dollars every two weeks to one of the biggest meth rings ever to plague southwest Missouri. Reece said he does not think meth use has increased tenfold over the last six years. "In terms of quantity, meth is still our biggest problem here," Garrison told the News-Leader in July. Springfield drug bust nets 40,000 bags of heroin, 490 grams of cocaine Press Releases | DEA.gov Additionally, Worsham, Hill, and Hodges are charged together in one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that caused the death of another person (who is not identified in court documents) and one count of distributing fentanyl on or about Sept. 23, 2018, that caused the death of this person. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration believes the group was responsible for bringing hundreds of pounds into the Ozarks. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Police say they have seized 626 grams of cocaine this year after taking only 17 grams in 2015. (KY3) - Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers seized 110 pounds of marijuana Saturday morning from a traffic stop in Greene County. Dan Banasik,a Missouri State Highway Patrol supervising sergeant for narcotics, was the lead investigator in 2011 when the feds took down a multi-pound cocaine distribution ring that was operating in Springfield and Nixa. Room 5510 I just wanted to get high.. You wake up and your primary mission of the day is find that way to get high. Lt. Eric Reece with the Springfield Police Department, said seizure numbers are generally a good reflection of drug use in the community, and it's clear that meth and heroin from out of state have made inroads in Springfield. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) - The DEA announces a major meth takedown in the St. Louis region. The highs and lows of drugs in Springfield - Springfield News-Leader In total over the last six years, the Springfield Police Department's investigative units seized 251,520grams of marijuana, 81,713 grams of meth, 1,122grams of cocaine, 4,751 grams of heroin, 6,903 grams of LSD and 372 grams of ecstasy. Araujo, Walker, Thurmond, Schroeder, Meyers, Hack, Bechtel, Laws, and Parton also are charged together in one count of being drug users in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition. A KOLR 10 investigation set out to find out if Missouri, or Greene County, is still the meth capital of the world. Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Major Springfield Drug Bust Part of Year-Long Investigation by: Lindsay Clein. Get information related to substance abuse in Missouri. Each of the defendants, with the exception of Kibodeaux, Rogan, and McClure, are charged together with possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of violent crimes and drug-trafficking crimes. Thankful he lived to tell the story, the thought of rock bottom brings tears to Pickens eyes. Other Opiates The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. According to court documents, theDEA and local law enforcement partners launched an investigation into the drug-trafficking organization in June 2019. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Ross and Cooper also are each charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Additional charges and more defendants have been added to two federal indictments that now charge a total of 21 defendants for their roles in separate conspiracies to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Springfield, Mo., area, resulting in the overdose deaths of at least two people. Court documents note that. Unfortunately we know a lot of them on a first name basis, Jones said. Missouri was once known as the meth capital of the U.S. Now the drug is coming from major distributors -- 12 pounds of meth and 6.5 pounds of heroin, seized from a Springfield home. Flesch said she would wave to "tattoo lady," but she never waved back. We focus more on the harder scale drugs like meth and heroin. "Our meth has stayed pretty stable," Reece said. It's unclear how or why federal prosecutors settled on the 29 co-conspirators. Garcia is charged with trafficking between 18 and 36 grabs of heroin and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. "But there's no upward trend toward LSD or ecstasy use.". Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. GREENE COUNTY, Mo. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Ortega to forfeit to the government $10,924 that was seized by law enforcement officers; Hicks to forfeit to the government $20,393 that was seized by law enforcement officers; and Griffin to forfeit $16,078 that was seized by law enforcement officers. Since 2004, meth lab busts across the country become scarce. - Three Springfield, Missouri, residents were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. Learn about the latest Missouri drug abuse statistics. Reece said LSD and ecstasy aren't the highest priorities for his investigators, simply because they don't see much of either drug. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 On Thanksgiving, Friend and his girlfriend hopped on his motorcycle and headed to meet Harmon. Ortega, Hicks, and Griffin would also be required to forfeit to the government a money judgment representing the proceeds obtained as a result of their participation in the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy. A locked padlock For two months, she sat and watched her new neighbors a woman she called "tattoo lady," a man, and a young boy and girl. Rates for alcohol abuse or dependence in 2006 remained above average for all age groups in Missouri while rates for drug dependence have been below the national average for the same time. Hill is also charged with attempting to escape from the custody of a DEA agent after being arrested. Drug traffickers allegedly kept narcotics and money at the Springfield house, with high level dealers using the house to pick up drugs for distribution, authorities said. The injuries theyre coming in with are different, Jones explains. My understanding is that meth production has gone from basements and little hideouts to industrial grade stuff in Mexico and were just importing it, he said. Wheeler allegedly possessed a Sig Sauer .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, an Izhmash .308-caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 14, 2019. April 5, 2021: A trooper stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on I-70 (EB) at the 79 mile marker in Saline County. To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Wheeler is also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of firearms. When Friend finally gets sentenced, that will be the end of the ring. Major Springfield Drug Bust Part of Year-Long Investigation Most people in the conspiracy had no interactionswith anybody outside a few other members of the meth ring. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 400 East 9th Street Meth Lab Statistics - Missouri In addition to the criminal conspiracy, Hicks is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Thats why it often takes more than medicine to save a life from addiction. In 2014, Springfield police say investigatorsseized more than 11 pounds of LSDafter finding a total of 1 gram in the three previous years. Methamphetamine has devastating effects on drug users and can lead to memory loss, "meth mouth," overdose and death. The investigation has led to four arrests: Springfield residents Hector Rodriguez, 42, and Luis Acevedo, 43, and Holyoke residents Emmanuel Hernandez, 30, and Nellys Garcia, 32. Police seize a pound of heroin during arrest in Springfield, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, Springfield police ask for help to identify suspects after SUV hit a gas pump, Insect found outside Arkansas Walmart identified as Jurassic-era insect, Missouri State falls short in MVC quarterfinals against Southern Illinois, NASCAR star Elliott has leg surgery after snowboard accident. All of the defendants are also charged with participating in a money-laundering conspiracy during that time to use drug sale proceeds to promote the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to conceal the proceeds of that drug-trafficking conspiracy. Morgan allegedly possessed an SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 14, 2019. This case is actively being investigated by SPD and as part of a Career Criminal Task Force (CCTF) case in conjunction with FBI. Banasik said since 2011 he hasn't noticed much cocaine in the local drug market. An official website of the United States government. Other homes were raided over the next few days. Leath is also charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. In 2015, Springfield police seized more heroin than in the previous three years combined. Sheron Loggins, also known as Bane, 47, of Florissant, Missouri; Jerry Bedell, also known as dAndre, 29, his father, Jerry Wheeler, also known as Love, 44, his significant other, Bethany Rice, 29, all of Springfield, Missouri, and his mother, Nichole Bedell, 48, of Nixa, Missouri; and Delante Worsham, 35, Crystal J. Hill, 23, William Leath, also known as Chill, 44, Marquise Martin, 29, Robin Roberts, 50, and Laurel J. Lindsey, also known as Mama, 47, all of Springfield, were among those charged in November and December 2019. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Lock Hopefully, all this hard work does not go for want - due to some of our judges in our court system,"Sarno said in a statement. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He said there isn't much demand here for the drug, and he agreed this year's spike in cocaine is likely an anomaly. However, it's unclear if taking down the meth ring has had any effect on meth use in theSpringfield area. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy, including $2,200 seized by law enforcement from Glossons residence on March 7, 2019; $11,266 seized by law enforcement from a vehicle occupied by Dailey and Morgan on Nov. 14, 2019; $5,214 seized by law enforcement from Farisses hotel room on Nov. 14, 2019; and $4,400 belonging to Dailey, which was seized by law enforcement during the search of a residence on Nov. 27, 2019.
