When opening the plywood they found 320 pounds of marijuana. Ortega, Hicks, and Griffin would also be required to forfeit to the government a money judgment representing the proceeds obtained as a result of their participation in the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy. Lock - Additional charges and more defendants have been added to two federal indictments that now charge a total of 21 defendants for their roles in separate conspiracies to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Springfield, Mo., area, resulting in the overdose deaths of at least two people. The Department of Justice has announced the arrest of more than two dozen people in connection to an armed and violent drug-trafficking organization in Missouri. Troopers made the stop in Lafayette County, east of the Kansas City metro Wednesday . Sign up for FOX4 email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Their objective is to "get the head of the snake," rather than just chasing the tail. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Troop C is celebrating one of their K-9s who helped remove illegal drugs on I-44 in Franklin County Tuesday. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Down 19, Mizzou comes back to beat LSU, 81-76, OFallon girls basketball makes first trip to state, How much? If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. "After a nearly yearlong investigation, our law enforcement partners worked together to take down a significant drug-trafficking organization and reduce the threat of violent crime in our neighborhoods.". I am with the Jackson County Drug Task Force, I swear they sit there, lower their head and just go, Oh, crap. They know who we are, and they know weve got them.. Attorneys for federal prosecution. including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from or in connection with use of the Google Translate Service. We overwhelmed the federal system here in Kansas City.. pic.twitter.com/QbvO70pxxV. Authorities seek charges for distribution of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances and illegal possession of a firearm. KANSAS CITY, Mo. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Find todays top stories on fox4kc.com for Kansas City and all of Kansas and Missouri. Officers also found a number of spent shell casings on top of the truck, in the street, and in a nearby residences front yard. A locked padlock Hawley grills Garland for DOJ attacks on people of faith, Mar-a-Lago raid, Area AGs urging court to protect religious liberty rights, free speech of Kentucky wedding photographer. It really is like getting a call from customer service.Among the weapons the Jackson County Drug Task Force has confiscated this spring include a flame thrower, fully automatic pistols and an arsenal of 46 long rifles found in one home. Especially alarming was the amount of fentanyl also seized: 10.4 kilograms (22.9 pounds), enough for millionsliterally millionsof potentially lethal doses. 'DEADLY' DRUGS KEPT OFF STREETS, If we come into your neighborhood and you know we are there, doing our work, then weve failed. As COMBAT Director Vince Ortega points out, swallowing a tablet with fentanyl in it could be every bit as deadly as biting down on a cyanide capsule. While morphine is 1 times stronger than oxycodone, the semi-synthetic opioid in OxyContin, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. MORE, February 24, 2020Drug Task Record-Setting $30.4 Million In SeizuresThe Jackson County Drug Task Force had never before seized more than $20 million in illegal substances in a single year. Just two milligrams of fentanyl can be a deadly dose. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The suspects also had $7,400 in cash with them. The burden of drug overdose impacts families, communities and healthcare systems. A search warrant was served by the Vernon County Sheriff's Office and the CNET Drug Task Force early Wednesday morning at a hotel in Nevada Missouri. Brown, 36, of Leavenworth; and Amy S. Janish, 44, of Lincoln, Missouri. The operation included officers from the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. In addition, some applications and/or services may not work as expected when translated. After a buy, well get follow-up calls from someone higher up in the organization, says Cummings. ST. LOUIS - Willie Bernard Hollywood, 42, of Caruthersville, Missouri, was sentenced to 262 months of incarceration on one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ortega also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. Prescription pills not obtained from a licensed pharmacy are not only illegal to possess, but when taken can also be dangerous. Theres a good chance those pills might be fakes with potentially fatal side effects. 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A lock ( Cummings and his detectives are constantly vetting candidates among these low-level dealers, seeking out those who dont have the close family connections south of the border and, therefore, might be more cooperative. Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said they had information about the distribution of large quantities of illegal narcotics coming from that location. The Licking Police Department also assisted with the arrests. Investigators said the members were known to sell marijuana, crack and powder cocaine, ecstasy pills, purported OxyContin pills and counterfeit Percocet pills believed to be laced with fentanyl. Equivalent Of More Than 250,000 'Doses' (144lbs.) SCOTT CITY, MO (KFVS) - Illegal drug activity led to the arrest of ten people in Scott City. Investigators determined, based upon the safety of the individuals inside of the residence, to enter the residence. The Google Translate Service is offered as a convenience and is subject to applicable Google Terms of Service. Updated December 19, 2017 2:52 PM. Troopers made the stop in Lafayette County, east of the Kansas City metro Wednesday. Two people from California have been arrested and charged with trafficking after The Missouri State Highway Patrol found 320 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle, according to the Highway Patrol. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Ortega, who has previously been convicted of at least one felony offense, allegedly was in possession of a Jennings (Bryco) .380-caliber pistol, a Ruger 9mm pistol, and a Jennings (Jimenez Arms) 9mm pistol on May 7, 2018. This requires the Task Force to address drug crime in our neighborhoods, while also helping federal authorities try to dismantle cartels with tentacles that stretch across multiple stands and into other countries. Among the weapons the Jackson County Drug Task Force has confiscated this spring include a flame thrower, fully automatic pistols and an arsenal of 46 long rifles found in one home. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Have a question about Government Services? A cartel CEO enforces his personnel rules with violenceextreme violence. They are here. A release from the sheriff's office said 20-year-old . Cummings, representing the Independence Police Department, was among the first detectives assigned to the Jackson County Drug Task Force in the mid-1980s. Task Force Trying To Stay Ahead Of Drug Cartels Focused On Doing Business In Jackson County. . Those rules include not using drugs, operating no side businesses, keeping customers satisfied, staying debt free and remaining silent if arrested. They also seized 18 firearms from Alihodzics vehicle, including a fully automatic machine gun, two sawed-off shotguns, and a stolen firearm. In addition to the criminal conspiracy, Hicks is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Howell County and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Kansas City, MO 64106, Telephone:(816) 426-3122 Fahrudin F. Fejzic, also known as Frank, 48, Steven M. Lyons, also known as Pops, 60, Shelly Marie Exton, 38, Mary L. Corona, 38, and Jesus Banuelos Jr., 21, all of Kansas City, Missouri; Jessica E. Ashworth, also known as Barbie, 30, of Kansas City, Kansas; Justin D. Warren, 31, and Crystell A. Smith, 34, both of Independence, Missouri; John W. Tatom, 48, of Leavenworth, Kansas; and Lesley A. Wilkerson, 45, of Clinton, Missouri, were charged in a 44-count second superseding indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 11. Gutierrez also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Texas County. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Keller. If you test positive and you are fired, your replacement is going to be there, taking your phone, taking your car keys, taking you out of there and taking over your business immediately. In 1989 he joined the Independence PDs first-ever Drug Unit, with various stints to follow on the Task Force in the 1990s and 2000s as a detective, then a sergeant.He was all set to settle into his retirement after 30 years carrying an Independence Police badge, when he was convinced to serve on the Task Force again in 2013 as the OICplaced in that position as a commissioned captain for the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. After Missouri drug bust, man says religion, sovereign citizenship give him immunity By Max Londberg. ), If you are in a cartel, they might drug test you, Cummings says. Acting Director The Task Force has also earned accolades from its law enforcement peers. Drug task force officers who worked the largest meth bust in Northeast Wisconsin say the drugs came from the Mexico Drug Cartel and were trafficked from Missouri to Wisconsin. Download the FOX4 News app to stay updated on the go. Nine individuals, primarily from West Plains, Mo., have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Howell, Greene, and Texas counties. In addition to the conspiracy-related charges, various defendants have been charged with 16 drug-trafficking counts. The federal indictment alleges that all of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Sept. 1, 2018, to Nov. 5, 2019. Investigators also executed a search warrant at Alihodzics residence and seized additional methamphetamine and firearms. Inside the car they found 200 pounds of marijuana, 16 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of cocaine and nearly five pounds of what they suspect is fentanyl. Shirley J. Hicks, 61, Raymon F. Ortega, 63, Benny D. Griffin, 57, Jose I. Gonzales, 37, Jordan W. Gutierrez, 25, and Shaun M. Ross, 39, all of West Plains, Missouri; Fontella J. Noose, 38, of Springfield, Missouri; James E. Cooper, 52, of Mountain View, Missouri; and Luis Ortiz Rodriguez, 36, address unknown, were charged in a 19-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Ortega allegedly was also in possession of a Ruger .22-caliber rifle, two Marlin .22-caliber rifles, and two Browning .22-caliber pistols on June 21, 2019. MORE, September 24, 2020Drug Task Force Seizes 3,000 Pills Laced With FentanylJust a two milligram dose of fentanyl can be lethal. Mo. He asks, Should we just give up fighting and trying to make drugs as limited as possible? Drug overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal, have become an epidemic in Missouri over the past decade. Theres a good chance those pills might be fakes with potentially fatal side effects. "I don't think anyone was going to sit on that much meth for very long," he said. 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