According to court documents, theDEA and local law enforcement partners launched an investigation into the drug-trafficking organization in June 2019. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government any property obtained from the proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy, including a money judgment of $4,160,000. Martin said there are about 460 patients consistently receiving treatment from Behavioral Health Group in Springfield, and the company is preparing to open a second location on the north side of town. Reece said those spikes were likely the result of a couple of big seizures and not a reflection of increased use of the drugs in Springfield. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno praised the Springfield Police Department for taking "poison" off of the city's streets and urged judges to impose lengthy sentences for the suspects' alleged crimes. Meth is everywhere. 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. They took everything out of there, she said. But while the reputation and the demand arethere, Reece said Springfield is no longer a producer of domestic meth. "We do some large-scale marijuana interdiction work," Reece 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. Whether youre looking for treatment or for aftercare options, we can point you in the right direction. -- Twenty-five people were charged Monday with taking part in a drug ring that allegedly trafficked more than . 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. 67 alcohol and drug rehabs were able to offer residential care but only 10 facilities offered opioid treatment. Lock 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. There were 5,088 admissions for drug and alcohol treatment for amphetamine addiction in 2010. According to a survey from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, teen marijuana use in Greene County has fluctuated over the last four years. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. In some states, the number of meth lab seizures has been significantly reduced. Griffin also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County, 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. Morgan is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. "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. A decade later, that many people died in Greene County just in the first two months of 2020. Get information related to substance abuse in Missouri. There were 257 addiction treatment facilities in 2006. 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. The trooper had stopped a driver for a traffic violation in Saline County. Prosecutors say the man at the center of a large-scale Springfield meth distribution ring was a high roller at a nearby casino. Jones describes death by meth as slow over time. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. 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. 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. However, it's unclear if taking down the meth ring has had any effect on meth use in theSpringfield area. I guess the cops were watching them, too, but I didnt know that, Flesch said. For two months, she sat and watched her new neighbors a woman she called "tattoo lady," a man, and a young boy and girl. The estimated street value is $85,000. Over the last six years, the drug that police have seized the most, in terms of weight, is marijuana. She had $4,604 and only a small amount of meth. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Morgan allegedly possessed an SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 14, 2019. Though he doesnt know for sure, Jones hears that meth in the Ozarks could now be coming from south of the border. All calls are answered by Lakeview Health staff. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Pickens struggled with addiction for about 16 years, but never bothered to find out where his drugs were coming from. 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. Flesch said she would wave to "tattoo lady," but she never waved back. 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. Troopers arrested one man in the investigation. "Everything went to hell in a handbasket, Flesch said. CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. That tan, single-story home was rented by Harmon, but shewasn't there the night of the Thanksgiving raid. 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. 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In 2014, Springfield police say investigatorsseized more than 11 pounds of LSDafter finding a total of 1 gram in the three previous years. (KY3) - Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers seized 110 pounds of marijuana Saturday morning from a traffic stop in Greene County. 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. In 2010, the two largest drug categories for people who entered drug rehab in Missouri were tranquilizers at a rate of 486 persons followed by PCP at the rate of 326 individuals. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. I just wanted to get high.. On Thanksgiving, Friend and his girlfriend hopped on his motorcycle and headed to meet Harmon. Wheeler is also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of firearms. 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. A Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman told the News-Leader this summer the Ozarks has a reputation nationwide for meth,particularly the homemade variety. Glosson was allegedly in possession of a Springfield 9mm semi-automatic pistol and an SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol on March 7, 2019. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Posted: Mar 3 . Tapia, 44,loved baseball, they said, and taught the sport to others. Its awful, Romine said. The Drug Enforcement Administration believes the group was responsible for bringing hundreds of pounds into the Ozarks. Before you go to work, before you make breakfast for your family, before anything.. Have a question about Government Services? - 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. Bedell allegedly possessed a .223-caliber semi-automatic pistol without a serial number, a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Ruger .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Sept. 12, 2019. Stewart is also charged with one count of distributing heroin and/or fentanyl. Share . Meth ring: Springfield woman at'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison. A lock ( "We get the occasional hit on those," Reece said. 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. 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. They did it when they least expected it.. The superseding indictment replaces an earlier indictment and includes additional defendants. A lock ( 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. What seems like good news, could represent merely a change in meth manufacturing. 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. In 2005, there were 630 drug related arrests. To read part two of our investigation, Life After Meth, click here. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. Martin is also charged with two counts related to distributing fentanyl. The drug remains a stubborn scourge in southwest Missouri, according to Tim Garrison, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. 79% of all those admitted for marijuana addiction were males. It's unclear how or why federal prosecutors settled on the 29 co-conspirators. Reece said LSD and ecstasy aren't the highest priorities for his investigators, simply because they don't see much of either drug. 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. An official website of the United States government. But the total weight of meth seized by Springfield investigatorsthis year is more than 10 times what they took off the streets in 2011. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). In 2010, 10,600 people entered alcohol addiction treatment in Missouri for alcohol as a primary substance of abuse with an additional 8,605 people who entered alcohol addiction treatment with alcohol combined with a secondary drug of abuse. 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. And through the first nine months of2016, theyseized more than 10 times last year's total. 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. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hicks, Ortega, Griffin, Cooper, and Ross. 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. Noose, who has previously been convicted of at least one felony offense, allegedly was in possession of a Taurus .38-caliber revolver on Feb. 11, 2019. With 189 in Greene County, that was second only to Jefferson County near St. Louis. Thankful he lived to tell the story, the thought of rock bottom brings tears to Pickens eyes. It included 12 people. All calls are confidential. The trooper searched the vehicle, then found 88 pounds of methamphetamine, $5,505 in cash, and a weapon. 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. 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. Data from the county coroner for the last few years suggests meth is more deadly than ever before. Largest Meth Bust in Missouri BootheelBy: CJ Cassidy. [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]. But data from local law enforcement shows meth lab busts have become nearly non-existent. All loss of hope, eating out of dumpsters so I wouldnt be hungry.. Two men from California face drug trafficking charges in that investigation. Springfield police say they have recovered only seven meth labs in the city this year, compared to 108 in 2011. 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. In 2018, Missouri drops from the nations top 10 list. Gutierrez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Texas County. Ingram was sentenced to 20 years in federal 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. 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. A KOLR 10 investigation set out to find out if Missouri, or Greene County, is still the meth capital of the world. Christopher Brian Rogan, 44, no known address, was also charged in the superseding indictment and is a fugitive from justice. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. A locked padlock 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Other Drugs 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 former church deacon who said he turned back to meth after his wife's death. Amphetamine/Methamphetamine You wake up and your primary mission of the day is find that way to get high. Tapia declined an interview request from the News-Leader. Contact Us Today to Learn More About Our Recovery Resources! 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. MSHP says the drug bust happened. U.S. Attorney's Office MSHP says the drug bust happened around 9 a.m. on Interstate 44 near mile marker 82. "But there's no upward trend toward LSD or ecstasy use.". Bags of everything.. Wed see explosions, burns, other traumatic injuries. Sgt. Its a waiting game. Methamphetamine has devastating effects on drug users and can lead to memory loss, "meth mouth," overdose and death. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. - Three Springfield, Missouri, residents were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. 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. SALINE COUNTY, Mo. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In 2015, Springfield police seized more heroin than in the previous three years combined. Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. They, along with additional defendants Solomon Hodges, also known as Little Daddy, 60, and Cordaroe D. Sims, 33, all of Springfield, were charged in a 30-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. (WWLP) - Springfield Police have arrested two men and seized heroin, two rifles and more than $16,000 in cash Wednesday evening . 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. Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug of abuse in Missouri in 2007. - Just when you think police have the methamphetamine problem under control, it rears its ugly head. Patrick Brigaudin, 54, is one of four men charged last week with . 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. 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; The officers repeatedly circled around the house, she said. SALINE COUNTY, Mo. 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. "I want to thank the leadership of Commissioner Barbieri, D.A. Banasik said since 2011 he hasn't noticed much cocaine in the local drug market. A spokeswoman for Cox Hospital also said the medical staff has not noticed an increase this year in cocaine-related hospital visits. 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 officer. Sparks is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved the distribution of at least 10 kilograms of methamphetamine. There were 730 drug deaths related to drug use compared with 1,054 deaths from motor vehicle accidents and 759 deaths from firearm incidents in the same year. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. 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. Saving Your Career and Life While in Rehab. In 2018, 32 people died. Noose also is charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine in Greene County and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Official websites use .gov Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. Join Recovery Connection in celebrating your recovery with our sobriety calculator. 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. The largest demographic receiving treatment for opiate addiction was in the 21-25 year old age group. I remember being homeless on the streets of Branson, with nowhere to go, no one to turn to, just absolutely broken, Pickens said. 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. 'You either open the door or were gonna kick it in,'" Flesch recalled an officer saying. While a 29-person drug indictment is an unusually large case for Springfield's federal courthouse, it did not appear to be a sophisticated, violent or loyal group. 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 If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Addiction Recovery Resources. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. 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. Additionally, Rory Dale Bechtel, 37, of Kansas City, Mo. ; 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.