Alleged Area Meth Ring Facing Federal Charges, Arrests in Macon and Shelby Counties
By Echo Menges
Corrected names. Original photos were not identified correctly.
Local law enforcement officials have taken six individuals into custody believed to be part of an area meth making ring based in Macon and Shelby Counties.
“We have arrested six so far with additional arrests to come,” said Macon County Sheriff Kevin Shoemaker. “The agencies involved are the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Macon Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, North Missouri Drug Taskforce and the Northeast Missouri Drug Taskforce.”
According to Sheriff Shoemaker, the six individuals arrested on Tuesday morning, September 13, 2016, have been Federally Indicted for possessing pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in making methamphetamine, with the intent to manufacture meth, and possessing pseudoephedrine while knowing it’s used to make meth.
“Obviously the indictments show they were involved with the manufacturing of methamphetamine. It’s a well-known drug ring around Macon County and surrounding counties,” said Sheriff Shoemaker. “We suspect they were moving a good amount, but we don’t know. The intel we were getting from the informants led us to believe they were dealing a lot. We do know they’ve been doing it for some time.”
Beverly Campbell, 56, of Clarence, MO, was arrested in Macon.
Joseph Campbell, 57, of Clarence, MO, was arrested in Clarence.
Angela Jackson, 42, of Atlanta, MO, was arrested in Atlanta.
William Sloan, 53, of Macon, MO, was arrested in Macon.
Rory Walker, 45, of Atlanta, MO, was arrested in Atlanta.
Donald Wilhelm, 51, of LaPlata, MO, was arrested in LaPlata.
“We have been (busy). We’ve been investigating this case probably two years. A search warrant was conducted last year and only State charges were applied. The State dismissed their charges to pursue Federal charges. These indictments came out just a couple weeks ago. Really, last year, with the search warrants, the investigation really picked up with the District Attorney’s Office out of St. Louis,” said Sheriff Shoemaker. “We feel confident now (that) it’s in the Federal Court system, they’ll learn their lesson. The State system is very good, but I do feel the Federal system is able to dish out a little harsher punishment. I feel it’s a big success for us. As far as (the drug problem in Macon County) coming to an end, it won’t. This is just one of the drug rings taken down.”
A criminal charge is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Photo Caption: Law Enforcement officials descended on this apartment at the Clarence Senior Housing complex on Tuesday morning, September 13, 2016 to arrest Joseph Campbell, 57, for allegedly being part of an area meth ring based in Macon and Shelby Counties, which has recently been Federally Indicted. Photo by Troy Treasure, Reporter for The Clarence Courier
Media: Please attribute to nemonews.net/Echo Menges.
