Joplin man sentenced to 22 years for meth trafficking, illegal firearms

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms.

Dustin L. Holden, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark on Friday, Aug. 23, to 22 years and nine months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 13, 2024, Holden pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Co-defendant Britton D. Friday, 42, of Nixa, Mo., was stopped by a Christian County, Mo., sheriff’s deputy while driving a Dodge Avenger in Ozark, Mo., on Jan. 11, 2022. Friday had 32.8 grams of methamphetamine in his possession and was arrested.

Holden admitted that he sold methamphetamine to Friday and others for approximately $350 per ounce (28 grams).

On Feb. 10, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Holden’s residence and found a black zippered case that contained 187.9 grams of pure methamphetamine. Officers also found 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 was reported stolen).

Friday was sentenced on July 16, 2024, to 10 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Friday admitted that he purchased a total of 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine from Holden.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.