July 27, 2010

OTTAWA MAN SENTENCED TO 12+ YEARS FOR METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Wade Johnston, 33, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison on drug trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

Johnston pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to launder proceeds from drug trafficking. In his plea, Johnston admitted that from 2003 through 2007 he conspired with co-defendants Dustin Stoneking, Randy Lucero, Brian Ele, Drew Hulett, Chad Ellis, Corey Ellis, Justin Kenard and others to distribute methamphetamine in Ottawa, Lawrence, Salina, Eudora and elsewhere in Kansas. From 2003 to 2006, Johnston provided a total of five pounds of methamphetamine to Stoneking, who paid about $1,100 an ounce for it. Johnston also employed Stoneking to transport methamphetamine between cities and to wire money to Johnston’s source of supply in California.

Co-defendants include:

Randy Lucero, who was sentenced to 324 months.
Brian Ele, who was sentenced to 262 months.
Justin Kennard, who was sentenced to 240 months.
Dustin Stoneking, who was sentenced to 240 months.
Drew Hulett, who was sentenced to 135 months.
Chad Ellis, who was sentenced to 87 months.
Corey Ellis, who was sentenced to 46 months

Welch commended the Douglas County Sheriff’s office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken for their work on the case.