NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPERATION HEADHUNTER

JOPLIN MAN SENTENCED FOR COCAINE,

MARIJUANA CONSPIRACY

            SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana.

             Domonic Dewight Johnson, 37, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith this morning to 10 years and three months in federal prison without parole.

             Johnson is the final defendant to be sentenced as a result of Operation Headhunter, a multi-agency investigation into the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana in southwest Missouri. In addition to Johnson, 14 co-defendants from Joplin and Carl Junction, Mo., have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

             On April 27, 2009, Johnson pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and to distribute marijuana from Nov. 8, 2004, to April 3, 2006, in Jasper County, Mo., and elsewhere. Johnson also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

             Johnson admitted that he obtained supplies of cocaine and marijuana and distributed them to co-conspirators for re-distribution in the southwest Missouri area. Johnson also admitted that he was in possession of a .45-caliber handgun in his residence, along with approximately 56 grams of marijuana. Johnson intended to distribute the marijuana, and possessed the handgun in connection with that offense.

            This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robyn L. McKee. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Carl Junction, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.