Seven people have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
The defendants are either southwest Missouri residents or Mexican nationals.
The all of the seven defendants were charged in a 16-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield.
In addition, some of the defendants were charged with possession of drugs and firearms as well as money laundering.
Here is the Department of Justice news release on this case.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Seven defendants who are either southwest Missouri residents or Mexican nationals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Wilbert Pacheco-Salazar, 36, a citizen of Mexico residing in Springfield, Mo., Frank Lee Chapman, 35, and Omar Rosales-Olmos, 51, a citizen of Mexico, both of Joplin, Mo., Jaime Francisco Figueroa, 42, and Issac Alan Schilling, 32, both of Carthage, Mo., Evan Lance Masters, 47, of Sarcoxie, Mo., and Indelfonso Vazquez-Martinez, 52, a citizen of Mexico, were charged in a 16-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on June 26, 2024.
That indictment has been unsealed and made public following the arrests of all the defendants except Vazquez-Martinez.
The federal indictment alleges that all seven defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene, Jasper, Newton, and Vernon Counties from Jan. 1, 2020, to May 1, 2024. The indictment also alleges that Vazquez-Martinez and Rosales-Olmos participated in a conspiracy to commit money laundering related to conducting financial transactions of drug-trafficking proceeds.
In addition to the methamphetamine conspiracy, Pacheco-Salazar is charged with one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Pacheco-Sanchez allegedly possessed a Remington 7mm rifle on April 4, 2021.
Rosales-Olmos is also charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Rosales-Olmos allegedly possessed a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Sig Sauer .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Westernfield 12-gauge pump-action shotgun on April 4, 2021.
Chapman, Schilling, and Masters each are also charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Chapman is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chapman, who has prior felony convictions, allegedly possessed a Taurus semi-automatic pistol on Sept. 10, 2023.
Figueroa is also charged with three counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Figuero, who has prior felony convictions, allegedly possessed an FMK 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Jan. 30, 2024.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. D. Hatcher. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
