Springfield Meth Dealer Gets 12 Years

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Jeffrey L. Hatch, 47, of Springfield, Missouri, will spend the next decade behind bars after being sentenced to 12 years in federal prison today for his role in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that flooded southwest Missouri with the deadly drug. U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool handed down the sentence, with no possibility of parole.

The sentencing stems from a multi-agency investigation that began in 2012, revealing a sprawling network sourcing methamphetamine from multiple locations. Federal authorities indicted a total of 28 individuals, and Hatch was among those snared in the probe. He initially pleaded guilty on October 18, 2016, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime – a charge that added significant weight to the sentence.

Law enforcement raided Hatch’s residence on April 24, 2014, following two confirmed drug transactions with a confidential informant. The search uncovered approximately 131 grams of methamphetamine, a hefty $1,000 in cash stashed in Hatch’s wallet, and a Springfield Armory 9mm semi-automatic handgun hidden inside a safe. Drug paraphernalia was also seized, painting a clear picture of a full-blown operation. But Hatch didn’t learn his lesson.

Just weeks later, on May 22, 2014, another undercover deal saw Hatch sell 27 grams of methamphetamine for $1,300. Then, on May 28, 2014, a traffic stop in a Springfield hotel parking lot yielded another bust. Hatch was found carrying a baggie of methamphetamine and $1,390 in cash. A subsequent search of his hotel room revealed even more methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. In total, authorities seized 18 grams of the drug from Hatch that day alone. His connections ran deep.

Court records reveal Hatch sourced his supply from Daniel Harmon, who pleaded guilty to similar charges in the Eastern District of Missouri. When Harmon was arrested, Hatch simply switched to Harmon’s wife, Kenna Harmon, who has since been identified as a leader of the drug trafficking organization and also faces charges of money laundering and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Harmon organization was responsible for distributing over 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, according to authorities. Hatch personally purchased between ¼ and ½ pound of methamphetamine per day, with approximately 150 grams seized from him throughout the duration of the conspiracy.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall D. Eggert, Nhan D. Nguyen, and Cynthia J. Hyde. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This conviction sends a clear message: dealing death in southwest Missouri comes with a steep price.

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