A Cleveland, Mo. man was charged by criminal complaint after investigators seized 86 pounds of methamphetamine.
Russell D.
Kircher, 41, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint with possession with
intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to
an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint on May 4, 2026,
investigators of the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force
(MOWIN) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) along with the Kansas City
Interdiction Task Force (KCITF) were working at the “sort” at a UPS center when
they identified a parcel being shipped from Los Angeles, Ca., to Cleveland,
Mo. Investigators observed the parcel to
be consistent with attempted concealment of illegal drugs and obtained a search
warrant for it. Investigators opened the parcel and observed an orange-colored
FIFA HOME DEPOT bucket. The bucket contained approximately 22 pounds of
methamphetamine.
On May 5,
2026, an undercover investigator delivered the parcel to the delivery address
in Cleveland, Mo. Investigators obtained a search warrant from the Cass County,
Mo. Circuit Court. Kircher was arrested
and investigators recovered approximately 2.24 grams of methamphetamine and a
glass pipe from Kircher’s person.
After
obtaining another search warrant, investigators searched Kircher’s property and
located a large plastic tote, approximately six to eight inches deep in the
ground, containing 27 sealed packages of methamphetamine, weighing
approximately 62.88 pounds.
In total,
investigators seized approximately 86 pounds of methamphetamine.
The charges
contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.
Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury,
whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is
being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was
investigated by the Cass County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Prosecuting
Attorney’s Office, DEA Kansas City Interdiction Task Force, and Missouri
Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force.
