Woman pleads guilty to meth conspiracy in Callaway County

Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tom Larson, announced on Tuesday that a former Holts Summit woman pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Jean Sanchez, 52, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Callaway County.

Jean Sanchez’s husband, Justin Sanchez, pleaded guilty to the same charge in 2016.

Larson said the couple were identified by investigators as distributors of large quantities of methamphetamine in the Callaway County area.

According to the plea agreement, the couple made three trips to Georgia in March and April 2014 to obtain large quantities of methamphetamine.

Jean Sanchez was stopped by state troopers on U.S. Route 63 in 2014 while returning from a trip to Georgia. The trooper said he located a coffee can that contained 8.5 kilograms of meth underneath the seats of the vehicle. The trooper said he also found a gun on the floorboard.

Days later, officers executed a search warrant at their residence. Officers said they found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, thousands of dollars and a drug ledger.

Justin Sanchez was arrested and admitted that he had been distributing methamphetamine.

Jean and Justin Sanchez are each subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and could face up to 40 years in federal prison without parole.