Griffin, who has previously been convicted of at least one felony offense, allegedly was in possession of a Ruger .22-caliber pistol on Nov. 26, 2018. Fill out the form below and one of our team members will reach out to help you get started. Officers with the Springfield Police Departments Special Investigations Unit made a large drug bust after serving a search warrant on August 6. A Kansas City, Mo., man who was arrested last night during the police standoff in the 2300 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard has been charged in federal court for offenses A Joplin and Webb City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. It used to be that wed see folks that were making meth at home. "We get the occasional hit on those," Reece said. In 2015, Springfield police seized more heroin than in the previous three years combined. A locked padlock 3,277 people were admitted to treatment for cocaine addiction. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. In 2009, the Treatment Episode Data Set indicated that 48,628 people entered drug and alcohol rehabs in Missouri. The federal indictment charges each of the 15 defendants with participating in a conspiracy to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin and/or 400 grams or more of fentanyl in Christian and Greene counties from Sept. 23, 2018, to Nov. 14, 2019. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. In 2010, 4,341 people were admitted to addiction treatment facilities for heroin addiction. Reece said marijuana is the drug that officers encounter most often while doing police work, but it's not the highest priority for the special investigation units. Get information related to substance abuse in Missouri. Flesch specifically recalled a man who rode in on a motorcycle and sported a blue or purple mohawk. Its a waiting game. Affidavits cite numerous undercover and controlled drug purchases, as well as seizures of heroin, fentanyl, and large amounts of cash. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Cartel connection: tracing meth from Missouri to Northeast - WBAY The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Glosson was allegedly in possession of a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic pistol and an SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol on March 7, 2019. This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. 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. 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. Whether youre looking for treatment or for aftercare options, we can point you in the right direction. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Join Recovery Connection in sharing stories of hope and recovery. The trooper found 88 pounds of. According to the Treatment Episodes Data Set, Missouri had 2,922 people who entered treatment for opiates other than heroin. MSHP says the drug bust happened around 9 a.m. on Interstate 44 near mile marker 82. Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. The Springfield Police Department is committed to continuing to fight to reduce the number of heroin and opioid deaths. Among the defendants who were arrested and charged in November and December 2019, 19 defendants along with two new defendants were charged in two separate superseding indictments this week. Hill is also charged with attempting to escape from the custody of a DEA agent after being arrested. Glosson was allegedly in possession of a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Oct. 23, 2019. That indictment was unsealed and made public following their arrests. 67 alcohol and drug rehabs were able to offer residential care but only 10 facilities offered opioid treatment. Jones describes death by meth as slow over time. 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. 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. They took everything out of there, she said. According to the indictment, Sparks was the principal leader of the criminal enterprise and obtained substantial income from the criminal enterprise. The trooper found 88 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 at mile marker 79, about 50 miles west of Columbia. Data from the county coroner for the last few years suggests meth is more deadly than ever before. Amphetamine/Methamphetamine SPRINGFIELD, Mo. "The increase is a concern," Reece said. Garcia is charged with trafficking between 18 and 36 grabs of heroin and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. 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. "I want to thank the leadership of Commissioner Barbieri, D.A. The latest figure for people who went to rehab for methamphetamine is not available, but all reports indicate that the number is increasing rapidly. Worsham, Sims, and Lindsey are each also charged with one count of possessing heroin and/or fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Charlie Romine is also a former addict. . Unfortunately we know a lot of them on a first name basis, Jones said. All rights reserved (About Us). Contact Us Today to Learn More About Our Recovery Resources! A spokeswoman for Cox Hospital also said the medical staff has not noticed an increase this year in cocaine-related hospital visits. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Drug only admissions comprised 45% of all admissions have tripled from 1992 to 2006. 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. Fax Line:(816) 426-4210. 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. For drug dependency and unmet treatment needs, the figures varied greatly from year to year. 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. Carlos Tapia, a man they knew as a dedicated father with no criminal history, was a drug mule. [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]. They wrote letters to the federal judge handling the Lee's Summit man's sentencing. Martin is also charged with two counts related to distributing fentanyl. On an average weekday, hecould look out his front picture window and see children running around themulti-color playground of Sunshine Elementary School directly across the street. But the total weight of meth seized by Springfield investigatorsthis year is more than 10 times what they took off the streets in 2011. The only structure to the group appears to be itstwo kingpins Kenna Harmon and Kenneth Friend who facilitated purchasing and distribution. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. But back at her house in Republic, feds found$20,000 in cash, more than 5 pounds of meth, and a loaded handgun in a nightstand drawer. 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 plaguesouthwest Missouri. Doctor Joseph Jones can spot someone overdosing on meth by their agitation, racing heart, and hallucinations. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hicks, Ortega, Griffin, Cooper, and Ross. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. 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. All calls are confidential. The injuries theyre coming in with are different, Jones explains. A federal. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Shubhra Mohanty June 09, 2022. SALINE COUNTY, Mo. "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. "We do some large-scale marijuana interdiction work," Reece said. The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. 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. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. . All sorts of cars were pulling up to the house late at night and leaving shortly after, Flesch said. According to a survey from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, teen marijuana use in Greene County has fluctuated over the last four years. 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. Flesch said she would wave to "tattoo lady," but she never waved back. From all accounts, the high is euphoric, and the sobering crash back down to earth, painful. MSHP trooper recovers 88 pounds of meth from traffic stop in Saline County, Mo. Patrick Brigaudin, 54, is one of four men charged last week with . Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. An official website of the United States government. "Our meth has stayed pretty stable," Reece said. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. They know mine; I know theirs.. 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. In 2004, data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows meth back then most likely came from an at-home lab. An official website of the United States government. KOLR 10 Investigates: Is Missouri still the meth capital? Police say they have seized 626 grams of cocaine this year after taking only 17 grams in 2015. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. A locked padlock And through the first nine months of2016, theyseized more than 10 times last year's total. Similarly, Springfield investigators found more than 300 grams of ecstasy in 2011 and have seized a total of only 54 grams of the drugin the five years since. An official website of the United States government. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. In 2018, 32 people died. Gonzalez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County. 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. Among the seizeddrugs were packages of narcotics labeled "Playboy" and "SpongeBob.". For two months, she sat and watched her new neighbors a woman she called "tattoo lady," a man, and a young boy and girl. -- 12 pounds of meth and 6.5 pounds of heroin, seized from a Springfield home. 79% of all those admitted for marijuana addiction were males. Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. That number has remained consistent since 2002. 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. 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. 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. Share . On Thanksgiving, Friend and his girlfriend hopped on his motorcycle and headed to meet Harmon. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A nearly three-year investigation culminated on Feb. 29 when, according to court documents, investigators rushed into a garage on East McDaniel Street and found 12 pounds of meth and more than six pounds of heroin hidden in a truck. Call 866.811.3235 to contact Recovery Connection today. Other homes were raided over the next few days. ; David Robert Richards II, 32, of Louisburg, Kan.; Christian Douglas Hansen, 41, of St. Louis, Mo. All rights reserved. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. The second most commonly abused class of drugs were stimulants (including methamphetamine) for those who entered drug addiction treatment in 2007. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ", The biggest year for marijuana seizures was 2013 when Springfield police collected more than 185pounds of pot. 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. It included 12 people. 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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. Lock Banasik told the News-Leader last yearthe Springfield market hadbeen inundated with high-grade marijuana from Colorado and other states where the drug is legal for recreational use. 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. Press Releases | DEA.gov Gutierrez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Texas County. "In terms of quantity, meth is still our biggest problem here," Garrison told the News-Leader in July. Friend lived in a single-story house along East Sunshine Street with two safes and a money counter. In 2010, Missouri became one more state in the nation to implement the prescription data base. To read part two of our investigation, Life After Meth, click here. ; and Stephanie Thurmond, 29, Leeanna Michelle Schroeder, 27, and Adam Joseph Mainieri, 32, all of Winfield, Mo. According to a news report on 9/01/11, the Madison County State Attorney stated that heroin related crimes had increased between 30-40%, with heroin deaths twice the number of that in 2010. 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. According to the most recent data, Missouri has experienced an increase in marijuana and methamphetamine use over the last two decades. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. Major Springfield Drug Bust Part of Year-Long Investigation by: Lindsay Clein. Bags of everything.. Of that number, 68.5 % were male and 31.5% were female. Thats why it often takes more than medicine to save a life from addiction. How Can a Florida Heroin Rehab Center Help Me? Ortega allegedly was also in possession of a Ruger .22-caliber rifle, two Marlin .22-caliber rifles, and two Browning .22-caliber pistols on June 21, 2019. Two men from California face drug trafficking charges in that investigation. A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed Western District of Missouri
All loss of hope, eating out of dumpsters so I wouldnt be hungry.. The estimated street value is $85,000. -- Twenty-five people were charged Monday with taking part in a drug ring that allegedly trafficked more than . The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. The first indictment came Dec. 10, 2014. New device helps nab record breaking Missouri meth bust 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., Sheriff's Department; the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff's Department; the Bourbon, Mo., Police Department; Lock The trooper searched the vehicle, then found 88 pounds of methamphetamine, $5,505 in cash, and a weapon. (KY3) - Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers seized 110 pounds of marijuana Saturday morning from a traffic stop in Greene County. (null!=i&&i!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][n]=r)}}); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How to Choose The Right Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program, Addiction Treatment Focused on Health And Wellness in FL (Florida). Psychological distress and substance abuse are more and more commonly connected. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. In a separate but related case, Derrick E. Dailey, also known as Cuzzo, 34, William C. Farisse, also known as Wack, 33, Roderick L. Stewart, 35, Antwanae L. Morgan, 29, Robert D. Everette, 40, and Dominique Glosson, 26, all of Springfield, were among those charged in November and December 2019. Christopher Brian Rogan, 44, no known address, was also charged in the superseding indictment and is a fugitive from justice. A lock ( 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. Other family and friends noted his generosity, saying he supported his own family and others financially even helping pay for the schooling of the son of a family friend after his father walked out on them. 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. Police Sergeant Jason Grellner said, " 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. Other Drugs The former church deacon who said he turned back to meth after his wife's death. 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. With 189 in Greene County, that was second only to Jefferson County near St. Louis. Last month, troopers made a similar bust near Cooper County, Missouri, recovering 75 pounds of meth. Shirley J. Hicks, 61, Raymon F. Ortega, 63, Benny D. Griffin, 57, Jose I. Gonzales, 37, Jordan W. Gutierrez, 25, and Shaun M. Ross, 39, all of West Plains, Missouri; Fontella J. Noose, 38, of Springfield, Missouri; James E. Cooper, 52, of Mountain View, Missouri; and Luis Ortiz Rodriguez, 36, address unknown, were charged in a 19-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Aug. 20.