A Springfield, Missouri man has been sentenced to more than 32 years in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy. Dontrell A. Powell, 36, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The investigation began on January 17, 2024, when an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper searched a vehicle at a truck stop in Oklahoma City. Authorities discovered about 100 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl pills hidden inside a subwoofer speaker box in the cargo area of a Dodge Magnum. The drugs had an estimated street value of $1,850,000.
Following this discovery, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration removed the fentanyl pills and replaced most of the methamphetamine with sham substances before arranging a controlled delivery of the vehicle.
On January 18, 2024, Powell and his brother Dreshawn Powell arrived at the parking lot where the Dodge Magnum was delivered. The car had been shipped from California to Missouri under a false name. After Dontrell Powell signed for and drove away with the vehicle, agents followed him and arrested both brothers along with two other codefendants at his residence.
During a search of Dontrell Powell’s home, agents found multiple firearms including an Anderson Manufacturing multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol and several high-capacity magazines as well as approximately $140,000 in cash. Four additional large subwoofer boxes were also found at the residence. A loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol was recovered from his Mercedes Benz GLE.
Powell is one of 19 defendants involved in this case; he is the second person sentenced so far. His brother Dreshawn Powell was previously sentenced on July 21, 2025 to over 15 years in federal prison for aiding and abetting attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon prosecuted this case which was investigated by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Parsons Police Department (Kansas), Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and Labette County Sheriff’s Department (Kansas).
This prosecution falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling major criminal organizations through coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies led by prosecutors using intelligence-driven strategies. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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