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Press Release

Columbia, Jefferson City Residents Among Five Defendants Indicted in Meth Conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that four Columbia, Mo., and Jefferson City, Mo., residents and a Compton, Calif., man have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Cole County, Mo.

Shadeed Seifullah Muhammad, 41, of Compton; Javier Rashad Rosser, 30, Robert Istill McNair, 30, and Bria Lanier-Richie, 37, all of Jefferson City, Mo.; and James Alexander Larkins, 37, of Columbia, Mo.; were charged in an 11-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on May 31, 2017. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following the arrests of all five defendants.

The government is seeking detention without bond for all of the defendants, who remain in federal custody pending detention hearings. Muhammad, who was arrested in Atlanta, Ga., had his initial court appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and is being transported to the Western District of Missouri. The other defendants had their initial court appearance this afternoon in Jefferson City.

The federal indictment alleges that each of the five defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Cole County from Jan. 15, 2016, to Feb. 18, 2017.

In addition to the conspiracy, Muhammad is charged with two counts of distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in March and April 2016. Rosser is also charged with attempting to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on March 9, 2016.

Rosser, McNair, Lakins and Lanier-Richie are charged together in one count of attempting to possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in April 2016.

Rosser, McNair, Larkins and Lanier-Richie are also charged in various counts of using a cell phone to facilitate the commission of the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Updated June 8, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking