James Jacob Johnson, Eric Ryan Janes, Amber Marie Lawson, Drug Trafficking, Missouri 2021

Three Sedalia residents have been accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in Pettis County, Missouri.

According to a five-count indictment, James Jacob Johnson, 23, Amber Marie Lawson, 36, and Eric Ryan Janes, 36, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from April 1 to June 15, 2021.

Johnson, Lawson, and Janes allegedly engaged in a drug-trafficking operation in Pettis County, Mo. during the specified time period, resulting in their indictment by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo.

Johnson is also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Law enforcement officers seized 28 firearms from Johnson’s residence while executing a search warrant on June 15, 2021. The firearms included two AK 47s, a Glock 9mm pistol, a .38-caliber revolver, a Ruger 57, a Tauron PR 24/7 Pro, a Glock 20, a Smith & Wesson MIP 20, a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, a Ruger EC9S, a Ruger 89, a Rossi 357, a 44 magnum Ruger, a Springfield Armory Saint .223-caliber rifle, a Chrome Palmetto AR .223, a Keltec Sun 2000 9mm, a Savage 300, a Gold 9mm AR, a Marlin 17, an MCK Roni with Glock 17, a Digmonn 200 blackout, a Smith & Wesson, a Black Dawn 300 blackout, a Typhoon F-12 Gold 12 gauge, a Zastava Arms, an M&P Bodyguard 38 special, and a Smith & Wesson M&P 9C.

Johnson is also charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Lawson and Janes also are each charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Richenberger. It was investigated by the Pettis County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department, the Morgan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA’s Mid Missouri Drug Task Force.

The indictment alleges that the three defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pettis County, Mo. from April 1 to June 15, 2021.

Johnson, a 23-year-old resident of Sedalia, Mo., is being charged with multiple counts related to the conspiracy, including possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.

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