Columbia man convicted of trafficking fentanyl in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A U.S. District Court has found a Columbia, Missouri, man guilty of possessing fentanyl and intending to distribute it in Springfield.

In a press release, the federal court says 43-year-old Micahel E. Hunt was found guilty of one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

Law enforcement learned that Hunt was going to deliver fentanyl from Columbia to Springfield. On June 12, 2022, a Laclede County sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on a black Jeep Renegade driven by Hunt for a moving violation. A police service dog alerted officers of drugs in the Jeep, but Hunt locked his vehicle and refused to hand over his keys.

A local tow company eventually unlocked the Jeep, which allowed officers to search for and find around 300 grams of fentanyl in a black gym back on the front passenger seat.

The jury in the U.S. District Court came to a guilty verdict after around one hour of deliberation following the presentation of evidence, ending a trial that started on Monday, July 15.

Under federal statutes, Hunt is subject to a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office is complete.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.