A man from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 40-year-old Lonnie C. Hamilton was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.
Hamilton was arrested on May 16, 2023, following an investigation by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. According to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, a task force officer was approached by an individual who claimed Hamilton attempted to sell him an ounce of methamphetamine.
The officer located Hamilton, who admitted that a baggie in his possession contained meth and confirmed he had recently been released from prison. Hamilton further stated that an acquaintance had given him two ounces of the drug to sell, and he had used some of it himself.
At the time of his arrest, Hamilton was found with about 48 grams of meth. With at least two prior felony convictions for either a drug offense or a crime of violence, Hamilton was classified as a “career offender,” which led to the 12-year sentence.
The SEMO Drug Task Force led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI