KANSAS CITY, MO – Matthew J. Crossfield, 40, of St. Joseph, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for fifteen years after a brazen run from police revealed a massive drug and gun operation. Crossfield was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs, facing the maximum penalty for his crimes.
The bust began December 11, 2019, when St. Joseph police responded to a theft at a Dollar General. Spotting a man matching the thief’s description – Crossfield – heading towards Oak Ridge Apartments, officers attempted to make contact. Crossfield immediately bolted, leading police on a foot chase through the apartment building. A search after the foot pursuit revealed a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol tucked into his waistband, along with a stash of drugs: 10.9 grams of methamphetamine, 1.4 grams of heroin, and an additional 11.7 grams of heroin. Further search of his person uncovered 14.1 grams of methamphetamine, 13.8 grams of marijuana, and four suboxone strips.
But that wasn’t all. On January 13, 2021, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and St. Joseph Police, acting on active felony warrants, located Crossfield driving a white PT Cruiser. When officers attempted a traffic stop, Crossfield slammed the car into reverse, deliberately ramming an investigator’s patrol vehicle. He surrendered with his hands up, but officers discovered a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with a 25-round extended magazine between his legs, and a KelTec .22-caliber handgun in his back pocket. A search revealed even more hidden under his shirt: 2.1 grams of methamphetamine, 14.7 grams of heroin, 3.4 grams of heroin, and 20-25 ecstasy pills.
The vehicle search turned up a motherlode of illicit substances: two bags of marijuana and rolling papers, 21.7 grams of methamphetamine, 11.5 grams of methamphetamine, 1.6 grams of methamphetamine, 4.1 grams of methamphetamine, 92.4 grams of marijuana, and an assortment of drug paraphernalia. The scale of Crossfield’s operation was staggering, and his attempts to evade capture only compounded his legal woes.
During questioning, Crossfield confessed to being a prolific drug dealer, admitting he’d been slinging heroin – roughly 10 ounces every eight days – since approximately August 2020. He also admitted to a long history of drug sales dating back to his release from prison in 2018, demonstrating a clear pattern of criminal behavior. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri, prosecuted the case, securing the lengthy sentence that will keep Crossfield off the streets for the next decade and a half.
Crossfield pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and two counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. This case highlights the ATF’s continued commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and removing dangerous criminals from our communities.
Related Federal Cases
- Matthew Allen Hampton, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Missouri 2024 · Ohio
- James Frederick Johnson, Drug Trafficking, MO 2025 · Illinois
- Darrell Niswonger, Drug Trafficking, MO 2024 · Louisiana
- James Allen, Marijuana Trafficking, MO, 2013 · Missouri
- Robert Downing, Sex Trafficking, Baltimore MD, 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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