14 Defendants Plead Guilty to $4.3 Million Meth Conspiracy

14 Defendants pleaded guilty throughout last week in admitting to the sale and distribution of methamphetamine throughout Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.In a July 7, 2015 federal indictment, a total of 21 defendants have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy:

• One pleaded guilty June 6, 2017
• Two pleaded guilty June 7, 2017
• Five pleaded guilty June 8, 2017
• Six pleaded guilty June 9, 2017

Two co-defendants also pleaded guilty sometime last week. Four defendants admitted to being primary sources that supplied to the co-conspirators to distribute throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton, and Buchanan counties in Missouri.

These guilty pleas were a part of investigations in Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas, which began in 2010. The Buchanan County Drug Strike Force teamed up with the DEA to shut down drug distribution and manufacturing in the area.

On January 13, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant for a residence visited frequently by members inside the conspiracy. Approximately one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of methamphetamine was recovered along with firearms, drug paraphernalia, drug sale proceeds, drug ledger, and small amounts of heroin.

According to court documents, an estimated $4,359,600 worth of heroin and methamphetamine was sold from 2010-2015. Calculated from estimated street price of $1,200 per one ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine with at least 100 kilograms (220.4 pounds) distributed. The estimated street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin with at least three pounds distributed.