A federal grand jury indicted seven people for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in southwest Missouri. All seven are either Missouri residents or Mexican nationals.
The 16-count indictment was returned under seal on June 26, 2024. It was unsealed and made public after the arrests of six defendants. Listed in the indictment are:
- Wilber Pacheco-Salazar, 36, a citizen of Mexico residing in Springfield
- Frank Lee Chapman, 25, Joplin
- Omar Rosales-Olmos, 51, a citizen of Mexico residing in Joplin
- Jamie Francisco Figueroa, 42, Carthage
- Issac Alan Schilling, 32, Carthage
- Evan Lance Masters, 47, Sarcoxie
- Indelfonso Vazquez-Martinez, 52, a citizen of Mexico
Vazquez-Martinez is the only defendant who has not been arrested.
The federal indictment alleges all seven defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Green, Jasper, Newton and Vernon counties from Jan. 1, 2020, to May 1, 2024. The indictment also alleges that Vazquez-Martinez and Rosales-Olmos participated in a conspiracy to commit money laundering related to financial transactions of drug trafficking proceeds.
Several defendants face other charges
In addition to the methamphetamine distribution charge, Pacheco-Salazar is charged with one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He allegedly had a Remington 7mm rifle on April 4, 2021.
Rosales-Olmos is also charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Rosales-Olmos allegedly possessed a Smith & Wesson 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a Sig Sauer .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Westernfield 12-gauge pump-action shotgun on April 4, 2021.
Chapman, Schilling and Masters are also charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Chapman is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chapman, who has prior felony convictions, allegedly possessed a Taurus semi-automatic pistol on Sept. 10, 2023.
Figueroa is also charged with three counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Figueroa, who has prior felony convictions, allegedly possessed an FMK 9mm semiautomatic pistol on Jan. 30, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. D. Hatcher. It was investigated by the Springfield Police Department; the Narcotics Enforcement Team; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team; the Missouri State Highway Patrol and several other southwest Missouri law enforcement agencies. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation.
