BREAKING: Lincoln County Man Sentenced for Trafficking Synthetic Drugs
Richard Gross, a resident of Winfield, Missouri, has been sentenced to 150 months in prison for his involvement in a synthetic drugs trafficking ring.
According to court documents, Gross, along with co-defendants Paul Berra and Pam Tabatt, manufactured and sold synthetic cannabinoids, also known as "K 2" and "Incense," as well as synthetic cathinones, known as "Bath Salts," to stores in multiple states.
The largest customer for the synthetic drugs was Gross’ mother, Pam Tabatt, who operated retail stores in St. Charles County and St. Louis County.
Gross pleaded guilty in April to multiple felony charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substance analogues intended for human consumption.
Tabatt, who was sentenced in July, received 150 months in prison and a $25,000 fine. Paul Berra, Jr., another co-defendant, was sentenced to 34 months in prison.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with additional assistance from local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant United States Attorneys James Delworth and Erin Granger handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Gross’ sentence is a significant blow to the synthetic drugs trafficking ring, which had amassed assets and property totaling over $6.5 million.
Related Federal Cases
- Muhammad Anwar, Synthetic Spice Trafficking, IA 2024 · Georgia
- 19 Members of Charleston-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Charged with Conspiracy, Southeast Missouri, 2024 · Georgia
- Patrick Roger Brigaudin, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Missouri 2016 · Missouri
- Esmeralda Castro, Fentanyl Trafficking, Missouri 2017 · Missouri
- Jamey Wayne Charon Jr., Methamphetamine Trafficking, Manhattan NY, … · Montana
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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