Kansas Meth Kingpin Lapping Lands 24 Years

A Kansas man’s reign of methamphetamine terror has come to a close, with a 24-year federal prison sentence for possessing the illicit substance with intent to distribute.

Justin T. Lapping, 49, of Pittsburg, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to 24 years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered the federal prison sentence to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed in a pending state case in Taney County, Missouri.

Lapping’s extensive rap sheet earned him a career criminal designation, with nine prior felony convictions, including five for drug trafficking and two for fleeing law enforcement. His latest crime was just the tip of the iceberg in a long history of illicit activity.

The crime itself began on Aug. 9, 2022, when a Crawford County, Kansas, sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop Lapping on his motorcycle. But instead of pulling over, Lapping led authorities on a wild goose chase, abandoning his bike and fleeing on foot in Barton County, Missouri. Law enforcement eventually subdued him using tasers, finding a Ziploc baggie containing 187.9 grams of methamphetamine on his person.

Lapping’s guilty plea to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute was entered on May 11, 2023, and marked the beginning of the end for the Kansas man’s reign of terror.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon, and was the result of a joint investigation between the FBI, the Barton County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department, and the Crawford County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Department. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which aims to disrupt and dismantle high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operations prioritize taking down the highest-level players in the game, using a coordinated effort to dismantle illicit networks and disrupt the flow of illicit substances.

Justin T. Lapping’s 24-year sentence is a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in methamphetamine trafficking. As law enforcement continues to crack down on these crimes, it’s clear that the tide is turning against those who would seek to profit from the suffering of others.

This case serves as a testament to the dedication and hard work of law enforcement agencies across the country, who are committed to keeping our communities safe from the scourge of illicit substances.