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Meth Ring Busted in Southwest Missouri
Two West Plains men, Benny D. Griffin, 59, and Jordan W. Gutierrez, 26, have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties.
The pair were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough. Griffin received a 15-year sentence without parole, while Gutierrez was sentenced to 12 years and six months without parole.
Griffin and Gutierrez each pleaded guilty on March 25, 2021, to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Dec. 31, 2015 to June 21, 2019. Griffin also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
On Nov. 26, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Griffin’s residence, where they found 1.947 grams of pure methamphetamine in his pocket. A search of the property uncovered multiple bags of methamphetamine, totaling 851 grams, as well as marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and surveillance equipment.
Griffin told officers that he had obtained the methamphetamine from co-defendant Fontella J. Noose, 40, of Springfield. Noose, who pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole.
Gutierrez was arrested on Sept. 25, 2018, while returning from a trip to Oklahoma to purchase illegal drugs. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of 70.63 grams of methamphetamine. Gutierrez told officers that he purchased methamphetamine from co-defendant Shirley J. Hicks, 63, of West Plains, on a consistent basis for approximately two months during the conspiracy.
Co-defendants Jose I. Gonzales, 39, and Shaun M. Ross, 43, both of West Plains, have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney [redacted]. The investigation was conducted by the Springfield Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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