Stephen Herzog

Springfield

Springfield police say in court documents that methamphetamine distribution in the city is being done by a gang called South West Honkeys.

Other documents indicate officers in Lawrence County have already made an arrest in the gang’s alleged drug distribution that appears to span southwest Missouri.

According to a search warrant affidavit filed last month, Springfield police received information from an informant that three members of the gang were distributing methamphetamine locally.

The three were identified as Michael Carr, 34, Ryan Major, 28, and Jerold Lake, 31. While all three have criminal records, none have been charged in relation to the Springfield investigation.

Police began conducting surveillance of a house on South Ferguson Street and saw numerous people coming and going and only staying for short periods of time, according to the document. Police say that’s a sign of drug distribution.

In late January, police reportedly saw Carr leaving the residence, and when an officer tried to make a traffic stop, Carr “drove away at a high rate of speed through a busy intersection, disobeying traffic signals and placing other people in danger,” according to the affidavit. Carr was not apprehended at that time.

A few days later, police removed several trash bags from in front of the house and found residue which tested positive for methamphetamine, police say.

Police used that information to request a “no knock” search warrant, saying they believe Carr and others in the gang had access to guns.

When police served the warrant on Feb. 5, none of the three men were at the home. Police say they recovered several items, including methamphetamine and a gun, from another person at the address.

The search warrant return lists methamphetamine, marijuana, a pistol and firearm parts, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia — including baggies, scales and pipes.

The next day, Carr was arrested in Springfield. He’s now being held in the state prison system on a previous sentence for which he had been on parole.

Records show Major was arrested on Feb. 2 for an active warrant and has since been released. Lake is free on bond in a case out of Cooper County, court records show.

Springfield police declined to comment on the search or to discuss the gang in general.

Sgt. Kevin Hunter with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said investigators in southwest Missouri are aware of the gang, and specifically, Joplin police have been following the group.

Attempts to reach Joplin police failed.

Some members of the gang identified in court records have posted photos on social media sites. The men are often bare-chested, posing with weapons and flashing tattoos — some of which include the name of the gang and swastikas.

Officers in Lawrence County arrested a man, John Stafford, 32, last month in connection with a drug distribution investigation, and court documents indicate he’s also a member of the gang.

Prosecutor Don Trotter said officers believe it’s possible Stafford is a founding member of the group.

According to a probable cause statement used to charge Stafford with intent to distribute a controlled substance, police had been monitoring Stafford’s home after an informant told them Stafford was traveling to El Dorado Springs to pick up methamphetamine and was selling it out of his Mount Vernon home.

Police arrested Stafford on Jan. 14 in connection with a theft investigation, the statement says. After obtaining a search warrant, officers reportedly found digital scales, many plastic bags, pipes and methamphetamine in Stafford’s home. They also reported finding several items printed with the name “South West Honkies.”

Stafford is charged with intent to distribute a controlled substance and receiving stolen property. He was in the Lawrence County Jail with a $50,000 bond, but has since been transferred to the state prison system.

Carr has previous convictions for possession of a controlled substance and second-degree robbery.

Major has previous convictions for theft, second-degree burglary and resisting arrest.

Lake has previous convictions for resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, leaving the scene of an accident and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

Stafford has previous convictions for second-degree burglary, first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.