three men sentenced for meth conspiracy
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three co-defendants have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry County, Mo.
Ignacio Servin-Chavez, also known as “Nacho,” 33, of Lowell, Ark., and Ricardo Grimaldo, also known as “Rico,” 39, and Joe L. Lizcano, 44, both of Monett, Mo., were sentenced in separate appearances on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple. Servin-Chavez was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government a 2003 Ford F-350 pickup truck, which was used to facilitate the conspiracy, and $1,099 that was seized by law enforcement as the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Grimaldo was sentenced to five years and six months in federal prison without parole. Lizcano was sentenced to three years and three months in federal prison without parole.
Servin-Chavez, Grimaldo and Lizcano each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry County and elsewhere from April to October 2009. Another co-defendant, Maria Guadalupe Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 27, of Lowell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and awaits sentencing.
Servin-Chavez supplied Grimaldo with methamphetamine for distribution two or three times a week. Servin-Chavez and Grimaldo typically met at locations in Springdale, Ark., or Seligman, Mo., to deliver shipments of methamphetamine. Grimaldo then distributed the methamphetamine to others in southwest Missouri, including Lizcano. Lizcano then distributed the methamphetamine to others. Lizcano also kept records for people who owed Grimaldo money for methamphetamine.
In total, the conspiracy involved between 1.5 and five kilograms of methamphetamine.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Rush. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department.
