biggest drug bust in springfield, missouri biggest drug bust in springfield, missouri

The drug remains a stubborn scourge in southwest Missouri, according to Tim Garrison, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. Press Releases | DEA.gov So far this year, investigators with the SPDs Special Investigations Section have taken almost five pounds of heroin off the streets of Springfield. The percent between men and women for other opiate addiction was fairly equal. "We get the occasional hit on those," Reece said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 67 alcohol and drug rehabs were able to offer residential care but only 10 facilities offered opioid treatment. Fill out the form below and one of our team members will reach out to help you get started. Hill is also charged with attempting to escape from the custody of a DEA agent after being arrested. In 2017, 30 people died from meth in Greene County. A KOLR 10 investigation set out to find out if Missouri, or Greene County, is still the meth capital of the world. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. [vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=866-812-8231 style=custom custom_background=#81387d custom_text=#ffffff shape=square size=lg i_type=entypo i_icon_entypo=entypo-icon entypo-icon-phone css_animation=bounceIn add_icon=true link=url:tel%3A866-812-8231|||][/vc_column][/vc_row]. A locked padlock Additionally, Hodges is charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2015, Springfield police seized more heroin than in the previous three years combined. MSHP says the drug bust happened. 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. I remember being homeless on the streets of Branson, with nowhere to go, no one to turn to, just absolutely broken, Pickens said. There were 16 law enforcement task forces in 2007 to work in the areas of Missouri with the biggest threat of drug trafficking, sales, and use. Garcia is charged with trafficking between 18 and 36 grabs of heroin and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Five police cars pulled up around her neighbors house, she said, and officers wearing tactical gear surrounded the tan, single-story home, blocking exit points. 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. 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Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug of abuse in Missouri in 2007. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. Reece said LSD and ecstasy aren't the highest priorities for his investigators, simply because they don't see much of either drug. There were 257 addiction treatment facilities in 2006. He said police seized about a pound of cocaine this summer as part of a case that is still being investigated. Marlin Martin is theregional director for Behavioral Health Group,a local provider of opioid addiction treatment. ; Markus Michael A. Patterson, 37, of Grandview, Mo. 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"We do some large-scale marijuana interdiction work," Reece said. Far more people were directly mentioned, implicated in crimes or alluded to in court documents and hearings. Springfield Police seize more than 2,300 bags of heroin, two - WWLP Gutierrez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Texas County. One of the biggest year-to-year spikes in the data was the amount of cocaine seized by investigators in 2016. In 2004, data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows meth back then most likely came from an at-home lab. Mercy Hospitals Emergency Room in Springfield often treats drug addicts. In 2005, there were 630 drug related arrests. 27, 2018, to Nov. 14, 2019. While a big chunk of the 2016 spike can be attributed to that Feb. 29 bust and another nearly half-pound seizure, Reece said there's certainlymore heroin on the streets of Springfield today than there was five years ago. Troopers arrested one man in the investigation. Major Springfield Drug Bust Part of Year-Long Investigation MSHP says the drug bust happened around 9 a.m. on Interstate 44 near mile marker 82. 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. 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. Court documents note that. Glosson was allegedly in possession of a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic pistol and an SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol on March 7, 2019. Ortega, who has previously been convicted of at least one felony offense, allegedly was in possession of a Jennings (Bryco) .380-caliber pistol, a Ruger 9mm pistol, and a Jennings (Jimenez Arms) 9mm pistol on May 7, 2018. KOLR 10 Investigates: Is Missouri still the meth capital? The data collected is from State and Federal sources. 673 people were treated for cocaine/crack addiction who used the drug other than smoking it. Each of the six defendants were charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin and/or 400 grams or more of fentanyl in Greene County from Mar. On the county level, the number of busts and seizures decreases from nearly 200 to just three. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Nine individuals, primarily from West Plains, Mo., have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties. To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com, Greene County traffic stop leads MSHP to 110 pounds of marijuana, 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. The CCTF is a joint task force between the Springfield Police Department, the Greene County Sheriffs Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose mission is to reduce street violence by focusing on career criminals committing crimes involving weapons. Acevedo, Rodriguez and Hernandez are all charged with trafficking more than 200 grams of heroin and cocaine, eight counts of illegal firearm possession, possession of ammunition without an FID card, larceny of a firearm and improper storage of a firearm. Additionally, Farisse and Everett also are charged together in one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, the use of which caused the death of another person (who is not identified in court documents), and one count of distributing fentanyl on or about Oct. 17, 2019, which caused the death of this person. Christopher Brian Rogan, 44, no known address, was also charged in the superseding indictment and is a fugitive from justice. [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]. Tomorrow, KOLR 10s investigation continues: after addiction, learn how a local program is helping addicts get sober and stay sober. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. MSHP trooper recovers 88 pounds of meth from traffic stop in Saline County, Mo. Major Springfield Drug Bust Part of Year-Long Investigation by: Lindsay Clein. 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 federal indictment alleges that all of the defendants, with the exception of Sparks, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 1, 2017, to July 21, 2020. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Greene County traffic stop leads MSHP to 110 pounds of marijuana - KY3 The most common form of ingestion was smoking. When the weather is nice, Flesch, who's in her 60s now, likes to sit outside on her front porch and letthe dogs play in the yard. 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. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. ", The biggest year for marijuana seizures was 2013 when Springfield police collected more than 185pounds of pot. . In 2014, Springfield police say investigatorsseized more than 11 pounds of LSDafter finding a total of 1 gram in the three previous years. We invite you to share your journey of recovery and be featured on Recovery Connection! The U.S. attorney's office for the Western District of Missouri said 15 residents of Joplin and Carl Junction were charged in a 41-count indictment returned under seal by a grand jury in . Share . Officers with the Springfield Police Departments Special Investigations Unit made a large drug bust after serving a search warrant on August 6. In 2010, Missouri enacted legislation to track the sale of drugs used to make meth. In 2012, about 24 percent of high school seniors reported they had used marijuana in the last month, that number dropped to 16 percent in 2014 and then moved to 22 percent this year. 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. 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. He said the reason investigators are seizing more of the drug is because the current system of dealers bringing meth in from out of state lends itself to multi-pound seizures, like the one on Feb. 29. Jeremy A. Ingram, 42, Laurie B. Holmes, 39, and Lonnie J. Tinker, 36, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. This case is part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force program. These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Task Force Group in Springfield; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Springfield, Mo., Police Department; the Greene County, Mo., Sheriffs Department; the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriffs Department; the Bourbon, Mo., Police Department; and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Hodges is also charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. Hodges allegedly possessed a Kel-Tec .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on June 4, 2019. Western District of Missouri Other homes were raided over the next few days. SEATTLE - One of the leaders of a violent international drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in the Puget Sound region was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to more than 12 years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. That number has remained consistent since 2002. That tan, single-story home was rented by Harmon, but shewasn't there the night of the Thanksgiving raid. The only structure to the group appears to be itstwo kingpins Kenna Harmon and Kenneth Friend who facilitated purchasing and distribution. "This significant seizure not only puts a stop to this distribution ring, but also shows that our Narcotics Unit continues to get deadly drugs off the street, while arresting the right people," Police Commissioner John Barbieri said in a statement. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hicks, Ortega, Griffin, Cooper, and Ross. With 189 in Greene County, that was second only to Jefferson County near St. Louis. Posted: Mar 3 . Located in the heart of the Bible Belt, where Jesus is King and you can find a church on every corner, not too long ago, you could find a meth lab just as easily. Of that number, 68.5 % were male and 31.5% were female. Methamphetamine has devastating effects on drug users and can lead to memory loss, "meth mouth," overdose and death. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. In 2009, the Treatment Episode Data Set indicated that 48,628 people entered drug and alcohol rehabs in Missouri. 400 East 9th Street Martin is also charged with two counts related to distributing fentanyl. The Greene County Medical Examiner's Office says there have been 56 confirmed drug overdose deaths in the county this year and several more cases are still pending complete results. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. Missouri was once known as the meth capital of the U.S. Now the drug is coming from major distributors A 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. Eleven residents in the Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Joseph, Missouri, areas have been added to a federal indictment that now charges a total of 25 defendants for their roles in a $4.1 million drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine over three years. Saving Your Career and Life While in Rehab. It was investigated by the South Central Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Howell County, Mo., Sheriffs Department, the West Plains, Mo., Police Department, and the Mountain View, Mo., Police Department. Sgt. After years of wiretaps, surveillance, drug busts, three rounds of indictments, dozens of press releases,andyears of court proceedings, the last member of the ring is expected to be sentenced within the next month. 79% of all those admitted for marijuana addiction were males. Unfortunately, in Missouri the number of meth lab seizures has risen between 2007 and 2009 from 1,261 to 1,732 incidents. In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracies, Farisse is charged with three counts of distributing heroin and/or fentanyl, two counts of possessing heroin and/or fentanyl with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. They wrote letters to the federal judge handling the Lee's Summit man's sentencing. . It used to be that wed see folks that were making meth at home. Reece said the meth found in Springfield today is usually ahigh-quality varietymade in Mexico and imported to the United States. The number of drug induced deaths in 2007 remained consistent with the national figure. A superseding indictment in April 2015 raised the number to 19, then 10 more were tacked on in a second superseding indictment three months later. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. All rights reserved (About Us). They took everything out of there, she said. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Morgan is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. I didnt really care where it came from, Pickens said. Police estimated that the seized drugs are worth between $600,000 and $700,000. Sometimes that means he treats the same addicts pretty often. 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. I guess the cops were watching them, too, but I didnt know that, Flesch said. 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. Looking to break addictions strangle hold? More: Meth ringthat plagued the Ozarks could cost taxpayers $11 million in prison. Its awful, Romine said. Springfield drug bust nets 40,000 bags of heroin, 490 grams of cocaine Bags of everything.. 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. But while the reputation and the demand arethere, Reece said Springfield is no longer a producer of domestic meth. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The News-Leader obtaineddata from the Springfield Police Department on how much heroin, meth, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and LSD its investigators have seized over the last six years. Our interdiction unit was hard at work today, taking 110 pounds of illegal marijuana off the streets. Owned and operated by Lakeview Health, Home Substance Abuse Statistics by State Missouri. 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. Feds indict 32 on drug charges | Local News | joplinglobe.com Meth ring: Springfield woman at'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison. Room 5510 The injuries theyre coming in with are different, Jones explains. How Can a Florida Heroin Rehab Center Help Me? Any street corner, any hotel room you go to around here, you can find meth, Cody Pickens, a recovered meth addict, told KOLR 10. But now it just seems that theyre acutely intoxicated and they come in with altered mental status.. The trooper found 88 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 at mile marker 79, about 50 miles west of Columbia. All calls are answered by Lakeview Health staff. Bedell is also charged with two counts of distributing heroin and/or fentanyl, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) - The DEA announces a major meth takedown in the St. Louis region. Heroin An official website of the United States government. What seems like good news, could represent merely a change in meth manufacturing. 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.