United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - - Troy Derby, Assistant Special Agent-in-(ASAC) of DEA’s Kansas City District Office, announced today that Nelson Olmeda, also known as “Diego,” 27, of Rosenberg, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, District Court Judge of the United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Olmeda was also ordered to forfeit to the government $21,302. 

On Dec. 20, 2016, Olmeda pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Beginning in 2012, ASAC Derby said the DEA, assisted by other agencies, investigated one of the largest methamphetamine distribution rings in southwest Missouri. The investigation resulted in the indictment of 28 co-defendants.

During 2013 and 2014, Daniel and Kenna Harmon, 38, of Republic, Mo., distributed in excess of 45 kilograms of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri. Olmeda was a major supplier who distributed large amounts of methamphetamine to the conspiracy. Olmeda was arrested on Nov. 4, 2014, when he delivered approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to a residence in Springfield.

Kenna Harmon was arrested in November 2014. Agents searched various residences and vehicles belonging to Kenna Harmon and her co-conspirators and seized approximately five kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately $128,674 in U.S. currency. Kenna Harmon has pleaded guilty to being a leader in the drug-trafficking conspiracy as well as a money-laundering conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

ASAC Derby announced that although most of the indictments and guilty pleas occurred in the Western District of Missouri, Daniel Harmon was indicted in the Eastern District of Missouri and pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This case was by the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement'(ICE) Homeland Security (HSI).