Nixa, Springfield men charged with distributing
large amounts of cocaine
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Nixa, Mo., man and a Springfield, Mo., man were charged in federal court today, in separate but related cases, with distributing large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine in the Springfield area.
Carlous Horton, 35, of Nixa, and Christopher Holmes, 25, of Springfield, were charged in separate criminal complaints that were filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo. Horton and Holmes were arrested this morning and remain in federal custody following their initial court appearances this afternoon.
According to affidavits filed in support of today’s criminal complaints, Horton was the leader of a drug-trafficking organization that has been importing multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine from Chicago, Ill., and/or Dallas, Texas, on a monthly basis for the past two years. The affidavits allege that the shipments, averaging two kilograms per trip, were transported to Springfield by vehicles, commercial bus lines and commercial airlines. Once the cocaine arrives in Springfield, the affidavits say, the organization processed it and distributed it as either cocaine or crack cocaine.
One of the affidavits cites a confidential source who describes Horton as the largest cocaine dealer in the Springfield area and indicates that he allegedly distributed two or three kilograms of cocaine every two or three weeks. Holmes allegedly was Horton’s main distributor. The affidavits also report a series of drug transactions that were monitored by law enforcement agents who employed a confidential source.
Law enforcement officers executed search warrants today at two properties where Horton resides. Officers seized nine ounces of cocaine, two handguns, and approximately $30,000 from a residence in Springfield. Officers also seized approximately 1 ½ kilograms of cocaine from a residence in Nixa. Approximately $69,000 was seized from Horton’s bank accounts.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Holmes’ residence today and seized approximately nine ounces of cocaine and a handgun.
Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan. They were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
