JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Columbia, Mo. man has been dealt a stiff sentence for his role in trafficking fentanyl and possessing an illegal firearm, violating the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.
James Edward Hughes, 30, was sentenced to a total of 127 months in federal prison without parole for his crimes. He was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release following his incarceration.
The Columbia man’s troubles began on September 21, 2023, when Columbia Police Department officers pulled over a silver Mazda SUV for lacking front license plates. Hughes was driving the vehicle and was asked to exit the vehicle for a pat-down. During the search, officers discovered a bag of pills containing 815 fentanyl pills on his person.
Furthermore, an officer noticed the butt of a handgun sticking out from under the driver’s seat. The firearm, a Glock 36 .45 caliber handgun, was recovered and added to Hughes’ list of charges.
Hughes pleaded guilty on February 25, 2025, to one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations, and setting focused enforcement priorities.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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