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Springfield Woman Gets 11+ Years in Meth Ring
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield woman is headed to federal prison for over eleven years after admitting her role in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution network. Lisa Renae Thompson, 39, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark today, a harsh penalty for her involvement in trafficking a significant quantity of the drug.
Thompson pleaded guilty on December 13, 2016, to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between June 1 and September 11, 2015. The operation involved shipments of the drug – totaling approximately 24 pounds – originating from California. Thompson wasn’t working alone. Her co-defendant, Michael E. Ford, 37, of Springfield, has also admitted guilt and awaits his own sentencing. Ford faces additional charges related to possessing a firearm during the drug trafficking operation.
The scheme operated with chilling efficiency. A co-conspirator in California shipped methamphetamine to Thompson in two- to two-and-a-half-pound packages. Thompson acted as the receiver, collecting the drugs at various hotels across Springfield. She would then contact Ford, who took possession of the meth and pushed it out to other distributors. The money flowed back up the chain, with Ford handing Thompson $10,800 after a few days. Thompson kept $800 for herself and wired the remaining $10,000 back to the California source.
Thompson wasn’t just a mule. She admitted to personally selling some of the 24 pounds of methamphetamine she received, directly profiting from the misery the drug creates. The operation continued even after Thompson’s initial arrest on September 11, 2015. Ford, undeterred, began receiving shipments directly from the California co-conspirator.
The scheme finally unraveled on September 30, 2015, when a FedEx employee flagged a suspicious package to the Springfield Police Department. Officers delivered the 2.2-pound package of methamphetamine to Ford at a Springfield residence, leading to his immediate arrest. A search of Ford revealed he was also carrying a Ruger .22-caliber handgun. The weapon adds another layer to the severity of the charges he faces.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II prosecuted the case, a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. The sentencing of Thompson serves as a warning: those involved in large-scale drug trafficking will face serious federal consequences. Ford’s sentencing is pending, and further details will be reported as they become available.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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