SPRINGFIELD, Mo. The only thing that connected them was meth. 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. 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. - Just when you think police have the methamphetamine problem under control, it rears its ugly head. 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. Owned and operated by Lakeview Health, Home Substance Abuse Statistics by State Missouri. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. In total over the last six years, the Springfield Police Department's investigative units seized 251,520 grams of marijuana, 81,713 grams of meth, 1,122 grams of cocaine, 4,751 grams of heroin . An official website of the United States government. 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. 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. 673 people were treated for cocaine/crack addiction who used the drug other than smoking it. It included 12 people. An official website of the United States government. 27, 2018, to Nov. 14, 2019. Almost all the 29 members of the conspiracy declined interview requestsor had the request denied by their prison. The majority of those entering treatment were 21-25 years olds. 79% of all those admitted for marijuana addiction were males. Meth ring: Springfield woman at'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison. Christopher Brian Rogan, 44, no known address, was also charged in the superseding indictment and is a fugitive from justice. The PCP rate of admissions was slightly higher in Missouri than in other states. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Share . 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. All six are now named in a 16-count superseding indictment, which includes additional charges, returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Any street corner, any hotel room you go to around here, you can find meth, Cody Pickens, a recovered meth addict, told KOLR 10. Fax Line:(816) 426-4210. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Six other defendants have been indicted in separate, but related, cases). Room 5510 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. 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Stewart is also charged with one count of distributing heroin and/or fentanyl. 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. 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. Most people in the conspiracy had no interactionswith anybody outside a few other members of the meth ring. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA 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 plague southwest Missouri. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. All calls are answered by Lakeview Health staff. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Pickens struggled with addiction for about 16 years, but never bothered to find out where his drugs were coming from. 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. 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. 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. 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. Tomorrow, KOLR 10s investigation continues: after addiction, learn how a local program is helping addicts get sober and stay sober. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. Over the last six years, the drug that police have seized the most, in terms of weight, is marijuana. According to a survey from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, teen marijuana use in Greene County has fluctuated over the last four years. (KY3) - A trooper from the Missouri State Highway Patrol made a huge drug bust Monday during a traffic stop in Saline County. 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,. Investigators raided a Springfield home earlier this year expecting a big haul. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. These figures can be verified by contacting the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 573-526-6305. ", The biggest year for marijuana seizures was 2013 when Springfield police collected more than 185pounds of pot. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Heroin and fentanyl,the affidavits say, were sold to Springfield residents by suppliers in Chicago and St. Louis. Join Recovery Connection in celebrating your recovery with our sobriety calculator. Psychological distress and substance abuse are more and more commonly connected. (KY3) - Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers seized 110 pounds of marijuana Saturday morning from a traffic stop in Greene County. 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. ; David Robert Richards II, 32, of Louisburg, Kan.; Christian Douglas Hansen, 41, of St. Louis, Mo. Rodriguez 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. Troopers arrested one man in the investigation. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Hodges is also charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. On Thanksgiving, Friend and his girlfriend hopped on his motorcycle and headed to meet Harmon. Gutierrez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Texas County. At their peak in the early 2000s, at-home meth labs in the Ozarks became synonymous with the local area code, 417. One of the biggest year-to-year spikes in the data was the amount of cocaine seized by investigators in 2016. Shubhra Mohanty June 09, 2022. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. "We do spend a lot of investigation time on that, and I think that plays out in our stats.". Springfield woman at'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison, Ozarks women indicted for meth feds say they found (some in underwear), 4 men tried to sneak meth into Christian County Jail and it almost worked, Prosecutors ask for life sentence for 'career offender' in Springfield meth ring, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Feds decided to pull the plug on Thanksgiving Day 2014, which was a quiet day on a dead-end street in Republic where Beverly Flesch lives. It's unclear how or why federal prosecutors settled on the 29 co-conspirators. Before you go to work, before you make breakfast for your family, before anything.. 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. But while the reputation and the demand arethere, Reece said Springfield is no longer a producer of domestic meth. Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug of abuse in Missouri in 2007. Hill is also charged with attempting to escape from the custody of a DEA agent after being arrested. So far this year, investigators with the SPDs Special Investigations Section have taken almost five pounds of heroin off the streets of Springfield. Two additional defendants were charged in one of the two separate, but related, superseding indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a total of 21 defendants in those two cases. 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. Get information related to substance abuse in Missouri. 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. -- Twenty-five people were charged Monday with taking part in a drug ring that allegedly trafficked more than . 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. Ginnings, Sparks, Patterson, Jones, Hansen, Mainieri, Hoyt, King, Nelson, and Zieger also are charged together in one count of being felons in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition. Ross and Cooper also are each charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County. The superseding indictment replaces an earlier indictment and includes additional defendants. More: Meth ringthat plagued the Ozarks could cost taxpayers $11 million in prison. A locked padlock . Court documents note that Tapia had abused drugs from as young as 14, but they don't explain how he became one of the ring's richest sourcesof meth in 2013 and 2014. [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]. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. 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. "I think the problem is only continuing to skyrocket and blossom in our community," Martin said. The only person who didn't plead guilty was Robert A. Edson, who has eluded capture for years. Flesch specifically recalled a man who rode in on a motorcycle and sported a blue or purple mohawk. Last month, troopers made a similar bust near Cooper County, Missouri, recovering 75 pounds of meth. There was the young hairstylist who got hooked, in part, because of the powerful weight-loss effectsof meth. In 2018, Missouri drops from the nations top 10 list. "The demand for our services has not decreased at all.". 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 SPRINGFIELD, Mo. 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. 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. And through the first nine months of2016, theyseized more than 10 times last year's total. "Everything went to hell in a handbasket, Flesch said. Other homes were raided over the next few days. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. The only structure to the group appears to be itstwo kingpins Kenna Harmon and Kenneth Friend who facilitated purchasing and distribution. Detectives made the largest every buy ever, 8.8lbs of meth. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. ; 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. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriffs Department. 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. 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. Reece said LSD and ecstasy aren't the highest priorities for his investigators, simply because they don't see much of either drug. 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. Coinciding with the unmet treatment needs of those in Missouri is the rising number of those suffering from serious psychological distress. The first indictment came Dec. 10, 2014. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sgt. Reece said heroin cases are a priority for his detectives in the special investigations sectionbecause the drug has reportedly been responsible for at least 21deaths in Greene County over the last two years. In 2009, the Treatment Episode Data Set indicated that 48,628 people entered drug and alcohol rehabs in Missouri. 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. That number has remained consistent since 2002. "But it's not our focus. Martin is also charged with two counts related to distributing fentanyl. Though he doesnt know for sure, Jones hears that meth in the Ozarks could now be coming from south of the border. A spokeswoman for Cox Hospital also said the medical staff has not noticed an increase this year in cocaine-related hospital visits. 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. Marlin Martin is theregional director for Behavioral Health Group,a local provider of opioid addiction treatment. A locked padlock 'Everything went to hell in a handbasket'. Friend lived in a single-story house along East Sunshine Street with two safes and a money counter. 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. The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Charlie Romine is also a former addict. In 2010, 4,341 people were admitted to addiction treatment facilities for heroin addiction. Official websites use .gov This case is part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force program. Unfortunately we know a lot of them on a first name basis, Jones said. According to the indictment, conspirators received $4,160,000 in exchange for the unlawful distribution of more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine, based on an average street price of $8,000 per kilogram of methamphetamine. According to the Treatment Episodes Data Set, Missouri had 2,922 people who entered treatment for opiates other than heroin. Wed see explosions, burns, other traumatic injuries. Tapia, 44,loved baseball, they said, and taught the sport to others. Drug task force officers who worked the largest meth bust in Northeast Wisconsin say the drugs came from the Mexico Drug Cartel and were trafficked from Missouri to Wisconsin. They just swarmed it, Flesch said. 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. ; Markus Michael A. Patterson, 37, of Grandview, Mo. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 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. The number of drug induced . The number of drug induced deaths in 2007 remained consistent with the national figure. Since 2004, meth lab busts across the country become scarce. In 2004, data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows meth back then most likely came from an at-home lab. They know mine; I know theirs.. Police say they have seized 626 grams of cocaine this year after taking only 17 grams in 2015. 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. Data from the county coroner for the last few years suggests meth is more deadly than ever before. SALINE COUNTY, Mo. 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.". There were 12,052 individuals who entered treatment for marijuana addiction. The former church deacon who said he turned back to meth after his wife's death. Authorities charge 25 in Springfield drug bust Tuesday, July 12, 2005 SPRINGFIELD, Mo. That tan, single-story home was rented by Harmon, but shewasn't there the night of the Thanksgiving raid. The second most commonly abused class of drugs were stimulants (including methamphetamine) for those who entered drug addiction treatment in 2007. ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) - The DEA announces a major meth takedown in the St. Louis region. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Saving Your Career and Life While in Rehab. There have, however, been some standout years for LSD and ecstasy seizures. Among the seizeddrugs were packages of narcotics labeled "Playboy" and "SpongeBob.". The national opioid crisis has not missed Springfield. Marijuana 2023 www.news-leader.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Thankful he lived to tell the story, the thought of rock bottom brings tears to Pickens eyes. 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. All sorts of cars were pulling up to the house late at night and leaving shortly after, Flesch said. Jones describes death by meth as slow over time. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. 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 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 A Joplin and Webb City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. 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. We invite you to share your journey of recovery and be featured on Recovery Connection! 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