Missouri Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Meth Trafficking

Carthage man sentenced to 20 years for meth trafficking, found with over 598 grams of meth and a firearm.Photo byBrittney ButleronUnsplash

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri announced today that a Carthage man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking.

Robert Marion Nevels, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 20 years without parole for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Nevels pleaded guilty to the charge on March 12, 2024. He admitted that he was in possession of 200.2 grams of methamphetamine and a handgun when Carthage police officers stopped him on May 16, 2023.

At the time of his arrest, Nevels was on probation and parole for previous assault and narcotics convictions. He was driving a tan 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis when he was pulled over for failing to signal.

A search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded Echasa 7.65-caliber handgun, plastic baggies containing methamphetamine, and receipts totaling $6,523 for money sent to Mexico and California. Officers also found numerous empty baggies with meth residue.

According to court documents, law enforcement officials seized a total of 598.8 grams of pure methamphetamine connected to Nevels.

Investigators determined that Nevels was responsible for distributing between 1.5 and 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Jasper and Newton counties.

Nevels had been involved in large-scale meth distribution since at least February 2023, selling the drug in quantities ranging from one-eighth of an ounce to a pound.

Text messages showed he could purchase one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of meth for $4,000 and typically sold it for $300 to $350 per ounce and $2,300 to $2,500 per pound, according to the DOJ.