SPRINGFIELD, MO – Marcelino Sauseda, Jr., 44, of Arkansas, is facing over a decade behind bars after a federal judge handed down a 13-year, four-month sentence for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy and the illegal possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough delivered the sentence on Tuesday, November 28th, sending a clear message that drug trafficking and firearm offenses will not be tolerated in the Western District of Missouri.
The case unfolded after officers with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department received a tip in October 2020 that Sauseda, already a fugitive with outstanding warrants in Arkansas, was holed up at the Twin Bridges Campground. Sauseda was taken into custody at a cabin, where a search revealed a chilling combination: 196 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded Rossi firearm hidden within an air vent. Authorities also discovered $24,820 in cash stashed under the cabin’s back porch, which Sauseda readily admitted were the profits from his illicit drug sales. The government will now seize that $24,830 as drug-trafficking proceeds.
Sauseda’s criminal history paints a picture of a repeat offender. He was already on parole absconded from Arkansas after previously serving time for robbery, residential burglary, and theft – all stemming from a violent incident where he robbed someone at gunpoint using an SKS rifle. This isn’t his first foray into drug offenses either; Sauseda also carries a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The pattern of escalating criminal behavior clearly influenced Judge Bough’s stiff sentence.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Sauseda actively conspired to distribute methamphetamine throughout Douglas County, Missouri. His use of a firearm during the commission of this crime triggered the additional charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, significantly increasing the potential penalty. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Howell County Sheriff’s Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence that linked Sauseda directly to the methamphetamine distribution network and the illegal firearm. The ATF’s involvement highlights the agency’s ongoing commitment to disrupting drug trafficking organizations and stemming the flow of illegal weapons. The long sentence serves as a warning to others considering similar criminal activity in the region.
Beyond the prison time and financial forfeiture, Sauseda will be subject to a lifetime of federal supervision following his release. The case underscores the dangers of methamphetamine trafficking and the importance of interagency cooperation in dismantling criminal enterprises. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar federal prosecutions as they unfold.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News