Two Missouri men sentenced in federal court for meth, conspiracy

United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia man and a Harrisburg man were sentenced in federal court today.

Troy Chance Lewis, 31, of Columbia, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Sean Anthony Blumenshine, 34, of Harrisburg, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Columbia police officers stopped a Chevy Tahoe on Rangeline Road near Prathersville Road in Columbia. Lewis was lying down on the third row seat of the Tahoe. Upon searching the Tahoe, officers located a bag containing 527 grams of marijuana and a bag 71 grams of concentrated marijuana, made for vaping, between the second and third row seats on the floorboard.

Additionally, officers located two bags of marijuana under the cup holder next to the third row seat where Lewis was lying. Each of these two bags contained in excess of 500 grams. Officers located 155 grams of pure methamphetamine in the center console area under the front tray.

On Oct. 11, 2016, Lewis pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Lewis admitted that he was in possession of approximately 155 grams of pure methamphetamine when Columbia police officers stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger on Jan. 21, 2016.

Blumenshine, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 22, 2016, admitted that he had traveled to Kingdom City, Mo., to deliver two pounds of methamphetamine to another person on Dec. 3, 2015. Law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance when Blumenshine arrived at the Taco Bell in Kingdom City, driving a white Ford Mustang.

Blumenshine pulled into a parking space near the restaurant, and law enforcement officers attempted to take him into custody; however, he attempted to flee from the scene. Blumenshine drove in a dangerous and erratic manner through a commercial parking lot, striking several unmarked police vehicles and an unoccupied private vehicle. After a brief pursuit through the parking lot, the Mustang was disabled and he was placed under arrest.

Officers searched the Mustang and found a bag containing 924 grams of methamphetamine inside a storage container in the back seat, along with $4,623.

Blumenshine admitted that he had conducted numerous one-pound transactions with his supplier, and that he had sold one-pound quantities of methamphetamine to the individual he was meeting on multiple occasions.