Methamphetamine Initiative

As pseudoephedrine HCL pills become more difficult to obtain in Missouri, methamphetamine distribution networks will change rapidly to meet demand. Law enforcement needs to stay ahead of these changes.

Problems and Trends

• Missouri had more methamphetamine labs than any other state during 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
  
• Schedule V restrictions on pseudoephedrine pill purchases have reduced methamphetamine lab seizures in 2005 to less than half of what they were in 2004.
• Imports of Mexican methamphetamine will dramatically increase through vehicles and interstate couriers, such as UPS and FedEx.
• Illinois is the only remaining surrounding state without Schedule V restrictions.
  
• Transportation of pseudoephedrine pills from Illinois will dramatically increases
  
• Property crimes will rise sharply.

Federal Sentences

Often defendants in methamphetamine cases receive longer sentences in federal court than state court. Defendants serve a minimum of 85 percent of federal sentences. Typical methamphetamine-related sentences are:

Pure methamphetamine:	5 grams 50 grams	5 years 10 years
Methamphetamine mixtures:	50 grams 500 grams	5 years 10 years
Career offenders in drug cases:		140 months
250 or more pseudoephedrine HCL pills:		46 months
Felon in possession of a firearm:		18 months
Armed career criminal in possession of a firearm:		15 years
Firearm used in furtherance of federal drug offense:		5 years (consecutive)

NOTE: Sentences based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines are stated in months; statutory mandatory minimums are stated in years. Recent Supreme Court decisions allow District Court judges to impose lower sentences under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, but not in cases involving statutory mandatory minimums.

Firearms Offenses

• Use of a firearm in furtherance of a federal [methamphetamine] drug offense
• Felon in possession of a firearm (includes prior felony SES convictions, but excludes prior SIS convictions)
  
• Armed career criminal in possession of a firearm: Requires a combined total of three prior felony convictions for controlled substance offenses and/or crimes of violence. Includes SES, but excludes SIS

Available Training

In addition to amending its prosecutorial guidelines, the United States Attorney's Office is providing training to law enforcement throughout the Eastern District of Missouri in order to assist law enforcement officers. Contact Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC) Coordinator Ronald Scaggs at (314) 539-2200 to schedule training on any of the following topics:

• Mexican Methamphetamine: Issues and Players (Drug Enforcement Administration)
  
• Interdiction and Traffic Stops (Missouri State Highway Patrol)
  
• Fourth Amendment (U.S. Attorney's Office)
  
• Package Interdiction (U.S. Postal Inspection Service)
  
• Effective Use of Cameras During Car Stops (Missouri State Highway Patrol)
  
• Drug Endangered Children (U.S. Attorney's Office)
  

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