Independence, MO Woman Sentenced for Leading Meth Conspiracy

A 46-year old woman from Independence, MO was recently sentenced in federal court for her role in leading a conspiracy to distribute multiple kilograms of methamphetamine.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 46-year old Melanie C. Hamilton was sentenced on Thursday (Feb 28) to eight years in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 6, 2017, Hamilton reportedly pleaded guilty to being the source of supply for the drug-trafficking conspiracy that ran from Nov. 1, 2013, thru Sept. 24, 2014. Hamilton admitted that she obtained large quantities of methamphetamine, which she broke down into smaller quantities for redistribution. The totality of the investigation indicates that Hamilton was involved in the distribution of at least five kilograms of meth.

A confidential informant reportedly made three separate controlled purchases from Hamilton; on each occasion she weighed out approximately 8.3 grams of meth from a large zip-lock freezer bag that contained multiple pounds of the drug.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hamilton’s residence on September 24, 2014, and seized more than a kilogram of meth,  along with a DVR containing video surveillance of individuals coming and going from her residence, and drug paraphernalia.

Hamilton told investigators that she had received one to two pounds of the drug from her source every other week over the past three months (about 1.5 pounds per two weeks, or three pounds per month, for an approximated total of 9 pounds).

Hamilton is the final defendant to be sentenced among 10 defendants who have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in this case.