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Grimy Times Exclusive: $4.3M Meth Conspiracy Rocks Missouri
In a shocking turn of events, 14 defendants have pleaded guilty to their roles in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine throughout Clay, Ray, Clinton, and Buchanan counties in Missouri.
The masterminds behind the operation, Jose Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 38, and his brother Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 34, both of Kansas City, Mo., along with co-conspirators Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 40, and Ryan A. Battagler, 38, all of Kearney, Mo., have admitted to supplying large amounts of methamphetamine to co-conspirators, who then distributed it throughout the region.
According to court documents, conspirators sold $4,359,600 worth of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015. This estimate is based on a conservative street price of $1,200 for an ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a conservative street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin and an overall conspiracy distribution of approximately three pounds.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence regularly frequented by members of the drug-trafficking conspiracies in 2015, recovering approximately one kilo of methamphetamine, heroin, firearms, drug paraphernalia, drug sale proceeds, and a drug ledger.
Under the terms of their plea agreements, Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar each will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 10 to 16 years in federal prison without parole. Bullock is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Morgan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing firearms (including a pink, pump-action shotgun) in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and maintaining a drug premises. Morgan admitted that her involvement in the conspiracy resulted in the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine. Morgan is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.
Joshua K. Bowers, 33, of Polo, Mo., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Bowers admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine and more than one kilogram of heroin.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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