Sunrise Beach Man Sentenced for Meth

JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI: Preston L. Grubbs, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Office, Bradley J. Schlozman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Sunrise Beach, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Jason R. Tewell, 34, of Sunrise Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Scott O. Wright this afternoon to five years in federal prison without parole.

Tewell led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit before being arrested on May 3, 2005. A Versailles, Missouri, police officer attempted to stop the vehicle Tewell was driving at about 3:35 a.m., but Tewell refused to stop. Tewell ran stop signs and drove at a high rate of speed in an attempt to flee from the officer. Tewell’s car spun around several times in an intersection and went into a ditch, at which time he fled on foot. The officer eventually found Tewell hiding in a creek bed. Baggies of marijuana and methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia, were found in a blue jean jacket Tewell had been carrying.

On March 6, 2006, Tewell pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on May 3, 2005, in Morgan County, Missouri.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney C. Douglas Shull. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Morgan County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department, the Versailles, Missouri, Police Department and the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force.

Requests for additional information should be directed to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Donald W. Mendrala at 913-825-4100.