Joplin Man Sentenced to Over 22 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Dustin L. Holden, a 34-year-old man from Joplin, Missouri, has been sentenced to 22 years and nine months in federal prison without parole for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy and illegal firearm possession. U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark handed down the sentence on Friday, August 23.

Holden pleaded guilty on February 13, 2024, to three charges: conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

The investigation began on January 11, 2022, when a Christian County sheriff's deputy stopped co-defendant Britton D. Friday, 42, of Nixa, Missouri, in Ozark, Missouri. Friday was found with 32.8 grams of methamphetamine and was subsequently arrested. Friday admitted that he purchased methamphetamine from Holden for approximately $350 per ounce.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Holden's residence on February 10, 2022, where they discovered 187.9 grams of pure methamphetamine and multiple firearms, including two 9mm handguns, a 7.62mm rifle, and an AR-15 rifle. One of the firearms, an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 lower assembly, had been reported stolen.

Co-defendant Friday was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole on July 16, 2024, after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, admitting to purchasing a total of 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine from Holden.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert and was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Two Persons Doing an ExperimentPhoto byArtem Podrez