Ozark Man Sentenced To 22 Years In Meth Conspiracy

NOV 30 -- (SPRINGFIELD) – Preston L. Grubbs, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s St. Louis Division and Bradley J. Schlozman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Ozark, Missouri man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a large-scale methamphetamine conspiracy, the final defendant to be sentenced in one of the indictments resulting from Operation Leapfrog, a nationwide investigation that involves multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine into southwest Missouri. This case focuses on the conspiracy to transport methamphetamine from Texas for distribution in Greene County, Missouri.

Clint L. Ball, 34, of Ozark, was sentenced by United States District Judge Richard E. Dorr to 22 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On May 31, 2006, Ball was convicted by a jury for participating in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in Greene County from October 2003 to March 26, 2004. “Ball was a distributor in southwest Missouri, purchasing methamphetamine from co-defendant Eric Fujan, 23, of Branson, Missouri, and redistributing the drug to others,” said Schlozman.

Ball was also found guilty of being in possession of a Ruger Single 6.22 caliber revolver and a Savage Model 93 22 caliber rifle on March 26, 2004. Under federal law, Schlozman explained, it is illegal for anyone who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

Eight co-defendants already have been sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges contained in a March 31, 2004, federal indictment.

Edward Gallegos, 22, of Dallas, was sentenced on April 6, 2006, to14 years in federal prison without parole. On November 21, 2005, Gallegos pleaded guilty to his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy.

Toulavanh Phanithasack, 30, of Ozark, was sentenced on January 17, 2006, to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. On September 27, 2005, Phanithasack pleaded guilty to his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. The amount of methamphetamine that he conspired to distribute was more than five kilograms, but less than 15 kilograms.

Josh Hurst, 25, of Kissee Mills, Missouri, was sentenced on August 23, 2006, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Hurst pleaded guilty on May 16, 2006, to his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Hurst admitted that the amount he conspired to distribute was more than 500 grams but less than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.

John Harris, 32, of Branson, Missouri, was sentenced on December 19, 2005, to five years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Harris pleaded guilty on August 30, 2005, to his role in the conspiracy. The amount of methamphetamine that he conspired to distribute was more than five kilograms, but less than 15 kilograms.

David Sonesourinhasack, 22, of Cedar Hills, Missouri, was sentenced on August 26, 2005, to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Sonesourinhasack also forfeited to the government $4,400, which constitutes proceeds from the distribution of methamphetamine. On January 5, 2005, Sonesourinhasack pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms, but less than 15 kilograms, of methamphetamine.

Daryl Schoenfeldt, 23, of Springfield, Missouri, was sentenced on June 14, 2005, to 14 years in federal prison without parole. Schoenfeldt pleaded guilty on December 1, 2004, to his role in the conspiracy.

Fujan was sentenced on July 29, 2005, to six years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Fujan to forfeit to the government $6,489, which constitutes proceeds from the distribution of methamphetamine. Fujan pleaded guilty on August 12, 2004, to his role in the conspiracy.

Jared Calovich, 24, of Nixa, Missouri was sentenced on August 18, 2006, to one year and nine months in federal prison without parole. Calovich pleaded guilty on March 10, 2006, to his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. The amount of methamphetamine that he conspired to distribute was more than five kilograms, but less than 15 kilograms.

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Weber Dean. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team (COMBAT), the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Dallas County, Moissouri, Sheriff’s Department.