Dustin L. Holden, a 34-year-old resident of Joplin, Missouri, has been sentenced in federal court for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegal possession of firearms. U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark sentenced Holden to 22 years and nine months in federal prison without parole on Friday, Aug. 23.
Holden pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2024, to multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. His sentencing follows the arrest of co-defendant Britton D. Friday, 42, of Nixa, Missouri, who was apprehended by a Christian County sheriff’s deputy while driving a Dodge Avenger in Ozark, Missouri, on Jan. 11, 2022. During the arrest, Friday was found with 32.8 grams of methamphetamine and subsequently taken into custody.
Holden admitted to selling methamphetamine to Friday and others at a price of approximately $350 per ounce (28 grams). The investigation revealed that Holden was a key supplier in the drug distribution network.
A significant development in the case occurred on Feb. 10, 2022, when law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Holden’s residence. During the search, officers discovered a black zippered case containing 187.9 grams of pure methamphetamine. Additionally, they found several firearms, including a Taurus 9mm handgun, a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun, a Poly Tech 7.62mm rifle, a Ruger AR15 rifle, and an Anderson Manufacturing AR15 lower assembly, which had been reported stolen.
Co-defendant Friday, who had pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, was sentenced on July 16, 2024, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Friday admitted to purchasing a total of 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine from Holden, underscoring the scale and reach of the operation.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert and investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
