JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that three Sedalia, Mo., residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pettis County, Mo.

Eric Kristen Wiser, 32, Priscilla Alice Yunt, 66, and Russell Neal Livengood, 49, all of Sedalia, were charged in a two-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. The indictment has been unsealed and made public upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Yunt and Livengood on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. Wiser remains in state custody.

The federal indictment alleges that Wiser, Yunt and Livengood participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pettis County from June 23 to Sept. 27, 2010.

In addition to the conspiracy, Yunt and Livengood are charged with aiding and abetting each other to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Wiser to forfeit to the government $8,720 that was seized from him at the time of his arrest. It would also require Yunt and Livengood to forfeit to the government a total of $8,412 that was seized from Yunt and from their shared residence at the time of their arrests.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Berry. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department.

 

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