Sedalia, Otterville Men Among Suspects in Marijuana Conspiracy
Three Sedalia, Mo., men are among nine men who have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana in Pettis, Cooper, Boone, Morgan, Pulaski and Jackson counties.
Zachary Scott Nutt, also known as “Tuna,” 35, a Sedalia native living in Los Angeles, Calif.; Christopher Patrick Martin, 38, and Joshua Ryan Gilmore, 36, both of Sedalia; Charles Christopher Thomas, 36, of Otterville, Mo.; James Devon Garrett, 31, of Fulton, Mo.; Melvin Frank Lovejoy, 36, of Waynesville, Mo.; Nicholas Anders Glaholt, 35, of Independence, Mo.; James Edward Smalley III, 36, of Laytonville, Calif.; and Brian Michael Rodriguez, 39, of Willits, Calif.; were charged in a 20-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo., on May 3, 2018.
The indictment has been unsealed. Rodriguez, the final co-defendant to be arrested, appeared in federal court today for his arraignment. This superseding indictment replaces an indictment returned on July 5, 2017, and adds seven new defendants.
The federal indictment alleges that all nine of the co-defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana in Pettis, Cooper, Boone, Morgan, Pulaski and Jackson counties from Oct. 5, 2010, through June 13, 2017.
In addition to the conspiracy, several defendants are charged in various counts with possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute and with crossing state lines to promote the conspiracy. Additionally, Martin is charged with two counts of maintaining a place for the storage and distribution of marijuana.
Thomas is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm. The indictment alleges that Thomas, an unlawful user of a controlled substance, was in possession of a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Nutt, Glaholt and Smalley are charged with participating in a money-laundering conspiracy.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Nutt and Glaholt – who have leadership roles in the conspiracy – obtained marijuana from multiple sources, including a grow operation in California. They have directly supervised and executed the transportation and distribution of the marijuana obtained from California, the affidavit says.
Law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Glaholt’s residence and another residence in Kansas City, Mo., on June 13, 2017. At Glaholt’s residence they seized approximately $20,000 believed to be drug proceeds, several individual packages of marijuana, marijuana wax, digital scales, vacuum sealers, ledgers, computers, tablets and notes. At the Kansas City residence investigators seized approximately 261 pounds of marijuana (including packaging), cell phones, digital scales, drug packaging equipment, eight empty duffel bags, .22-caliber ammunition and drug ledgers from a safe.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Nutt, Glaholt, Smalley and Martin to forfeit to the government all property obtained from the drug-trafficking conspiracy or used to commit the conspiracy, including Martin’s commercial property for his business, Old 50 Auto & Marine in Sedalia; Smalley’s residential property in California; $22,339 seized from a bank account; and a money judgment equal to the amount obtained by each defendant involved in the conspiracy.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Cooper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the East Central Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
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