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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
July 3, 2008
10-, 20-, AND 30-YEAR FEDERAL SENTENCES HANDED DOWN IN OTTAWA DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Three people were sentenced Wednesday to federal prison for their roles in an Ottawa, Kan.-based drug trafficking operation.
Jeremy Garrod, 29, Ottawa, Kan., was sentenced to 30 years. Clarissa Burgoon, 34, Ottawa, Kan., was sentenced to 20 years. Gary Matthews, 30, Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced to 10 years.
Garrod and Matthews pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In their pleas, they admitted that from May 1, 2005, through June 20, 2007, they conspired with one another and others to distribute methamphetamine. Burgoon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money to promote the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She admitted that from May 1, 2005, through June 20, 2007, she conspired with Garrod to launder proceeds of the drug trafficking conspiracy to promote the continued illegal activity.
Investigators used confidential informants, financial records, and surveillance to investigate the defendants as they engaged in their drug trafficking and money laundering in Franklin County, Kan. and Kansas City, Kan. Some of the transactions involved large quantities of methamphetamine that were bought or sold for approximately $10,000 a pound.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren commended the Ottawa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken for their work on the case.
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