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 number of drug induced . Ross and Cooper also are each charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County. Lock All loss of hope, eating out of dumpsters so I wouldnt be hungry.. Tapia declined an interview request from the News-Leader. 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. The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Defendants originally charged in the indictment are Trevor Scott Sparks, 31, Gerald L. Ginnings, 40, Gloria May Jones, 30, Vicente Araujo, 23, Leslie Ladon Walker, 33, and Paul J. Kibodeaux, 37, all of Kansas City, Mo. The latest figure for people who went to rehab for methamphetamine is not available, but all reports indicate that the number is increasing rapidly. Far more people were directly mentioned, implicated in crimes or alluded to in court documents and hearings. "I want to thank the leadership of Commissioner Barbieri, D.A. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. In terms of drugs, property andmoney seized, arrestsmade, and dealers sentenced, it was one of the most successful operations in recent years. ", The biggest year for marijuana seizures was 2013 when Springfield police collected more than 185pounds of pot. Doctor Joseph Jones can spot someone overdosing on meth by their agitation, racing heart, and hallucinations. ; David Robert Richards II, 32, of Louisburg, Kan.; Christian Douglas Hansen, 41, of St. Louis, Mo. Get information related to substance abuse in Missouri. Springfield Police Lt. Lawrence Murphy credited Det. Before you go to work, before you make breakfast for your family, before anything.. 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. She had $4,604 and only a small amount of meth. Official websites use .gov 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 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. Investigators raided a Springfield home earlier this year expecting a big haul. 27, 2018, to Nov. 14, 2019. The drug remains a stubborn scourge in southwest Missouri, according to Tim Garrison, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Gulluni, Captain [Brian] Keenan and all of our brave and dedicated 'men and women in blue' for their continued efforts to rid our streets of these 'poison individuals' and their 'poison products' and weapons. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Bags of everything.. Hodges is also charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. FRANKLIN COUNTY, MO (KTVI) - Drug cops made a record breaking bust in Franklin County. There were 257 addiction treatment facilities in 2006. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Largest Meth Bust in Missouri BootheelBy: CJ Cassidy. A lock ( Flesch specifically recalled a man who rode in on a motorcycle and sported a blue or purple mohawk. 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. 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. 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. 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 . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The most common form of ingestion was smoking. 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. Updated: Apr 15, 2021 / 07:37 PM EDT. Martin is also charged with two counts related to distributing fentanyl. Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug of abuse in Missouri in 2007. 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. Marlin Martin is theregional director for Behavioral Health Group,a local provider of opioid addiction treatment. Sgt. 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. Fill out the form below and one of our team members will reach out to help you get started. Thats why it often takes more than medicine to save a life from addiction. For drug dependency and unmet treatment needs, the figures varied greatly from year to year. An official website of the United States government. Meth ring: Springfield woman at'ground zero' of drug ring gets 22 months in prison. "I think the problem is only continuing to skyrocket and blossom in our community," Martin said. Amphetamine/Methamphetamine 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. The man and woman were arrested, Flesch said, and police started taking items out in brown paper bags. Have a question about Government Services? Saving Your Career and Life While in Rehab. "But there's no upward trend toward LSD or ecstasy use.". 67 alcohol and drug rehabs were able to offer residential care but only 10 facilities offered opioid treatment. According to the most recent data, Missouri has experienced an increase in marijuana and methamphetamine use over the last two decades. In 2017, 30 people died from meth in Greene County. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. More: Meth ringthat plagued the Ozarks could cost taxpayers $11 million in prison. A Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman told the News-Leader this summer the Ozarks has a reputation nationwide for meth,particularly the homemade variety. What do the orange, green dots on my iPhone mean? SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Drug only admissions comprised 45% of all admissions have tripled from 1992 to 2006. Earlier that day, police overheard them setting up a buy. There have, however, been some standout years for LSD and ecstasy seizures. In addition to the conspiracy, Crawford is charged with three counts of possessing heroin or fentanyl with the intent to distribute, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. 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. How Can a Florida Heroin Rehab Center Help Me? 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. All calls are answered by Lakeview Health staff. Tapia, 44,loved baseball, they said, and taught the sport to others. Over the last six years, the drug that police have seized the most, in terms of weight, is marijuana. "The increase is a concern," Reece said. Troopers arrested one man in the investigation. 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. 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. COPS Special Edition Springfield, Missouri Drug Busts - YouTube 0:00 / 22:54 COPS Special Edition Springfield, Missouri Drug Busts SRL Images Channel 2.08K subscribers Subscribe. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The data collected is from State and Federal sources. Martin said Behavioral Health Group's patients tell him they have little trouble finding heroin in Springfield. 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. "If you see a big jump one year compared to another, it is probably because of one investigation where we ended up seizing a large amount of that drug.". Marijuana 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. - Three Springfield, Missouri, residents were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. I just wanted to get high.. ; and Stephanie Thurmond, 29, Leeanna Michelle Schroeder, 27, and Adam Joseph Mainieri, 32, all of Winfield, Mo. [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]. Missouri had the most meth lab busts in the country that year. Since 2004, meth lab busts across the country become scarce. "We do some large-scale marijuana interdiction work," Reece said. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 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. 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. The trooper found 88 pounds of. 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. Morgan allegedly possessed an SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Nov. 14, 2019. The superseding indictments also include additional charges against several defendants related to drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms, including a new charge in each of the two cases related to overdose deaths that resulted from fentanyl trafficking. 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. "We do spend a lot of investigation time on that, and I think that plays out in our stats.". In 2015, Springfield police seized more heroin than in the previous three years combined. KANSAS CITY, Mo. I didnt really care where it came from, Pickens said. All six are now named in a 16-count superseding indictment, which includes additional charges, returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The Missouri state page provides you with a quick overview of issues relating to drug and alcohol addiction, Missouri drug abuse statistics, and MO drug rehab centers. methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug . We focus more on the harder scale drugs like meth and heroin. Overall, rates of heroin overdose have dramatically increased in certain counties with Missouri. 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. "Our meth has stayed pretty stable," Reece said. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. 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. And through the first nine months of2016, theyseized more than 10 times last year's total. - Just when you think police have the methamphetamine problem under control, it rears its ugly head. But while the reputation and the demand arethere, Reece said Springfield is no longer a producer of domestic meth. Cocaine ; 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. 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. According to the Treatment Episodes Data Set, Missouri had 2,922 people who entered treatment for opiates other than heroin. The only structure to the group appears to be itstwo kingpins Kenna Harmon and Kenneth Friend who facilitated purchasing and distribution. (KY3) - Officers with the Springfield Police Department's Special Investigations Unit made a large drug bust after serving a search warrant on August 6. 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 OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justices drug supply reduction strategy. Prosecutors say the man at the center of a large-scale Springfield meth distribution ring was a high roller at a nearby casino. In 2018, Missouri drops from the nations top 10 list. Owned and operated by Lakeview Health, Home Substance Abuse Statistics by State Missouri. Police Sergeant Jason Grellner said, " 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. 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. Friend lived in a single-story house along East Sunshine Street with two safes and a money counter. Hill is also charged with attempting to escape from the custody of a DEA agent after being arrested. This case is part of the Department of Justices Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force program. Coinciding with the unmet treatment needs of those in Missouri is the rising number of those suffering from serious psychological distress. Sometimes that means he treats the same addicts pretty often. When Friend finally gets sentenced, that will be the end of the ring. Meth ringthat plagued the Ozarks could cost taxpayers $11 million in prison. Worsham, Sims, and Lindsey are each also charged with one count of possessing heroin and/or fentanyl with the intent to distribute. He said there isn't much demand here for the drug, and he agreed this year's spike in cocaine is likely an anomaly. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri, Eleven More Defendants Indicted for $4.1 Million Meth Conspiracy, KC Man Charged with Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearm After Arrest During Police Standoff, Joplin, Webb City Man Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms, KC Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy, Eleven More Defendants Indicted For $4.1 Million Meth Conspiracy. 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. -- 12 pounds of meth and 6.5 pounds of heroin, seized from a Springfield home. 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. More guns and more meth were found. 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. Lock A spokeswoman for Cox Hospital also said the medical staff has not noticed an increase this year in cocaine-related hospital visits. KC Metro Strike Force 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. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriffs Department. Tomorrow, KOLR 10s investigation continues: after addiction, learn how a local program is helping addicts get sober and stay sober. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Missouri was once known as the meth capital of the U.S. Now the drug is coming from major distributors An official website of the United States government. Gonzalez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County. A locked padlock Mercy Hospitals Emergency Room in Springfield often treats drug addicts. The raid stemmed from a two month investigation of an alleged "stash house" for a Holyoke-based drug ring at 1251 Bay Street in Springfield, police said. A decade later, that many people died in Greene County just in the first two months of 2020. 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). With 189 in Greene County, that was second only to Jefferson County near St. Louis. In some states, the number of meth lab seizures has been significantly reduced. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. The trooper searched the vehicle, then found 88 pounds of methamphetamine, $5,505 in cash, and a weapon. 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. MSHP trooper recovers 88 pounds of meth from traffic stop in Saline County, Mo. All rights reserved (About Us). -- Twenty-five people were charged Monday with taking part in a drug ring that allegedly trafficked more than . 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. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 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. Among the seizeddrugs were packages of narcotics labeled "Playboy" and "SpongeBob.". There were 12,052 individuals who entered treatment for marijuana addiction. 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. Shubhra Mohanty June 09, 2022. 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. A locked padlock Fax Line:(816) 426-4210. The number of drug induced deaths in 2007 remained consistent with the national figure. 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. The Springfield Police Department is committed to continuing to fight to reduce the number of heroin and opioid deaths. 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. A KOLR 10 investigation set out to find out if Missouri, or Greene County, is still the meth capital of the world.