A Poplar Bluff man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to sell methamphetamine, following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday in Cape Girardeau.
Lonnie C. Hamilton, aged 40, had previously pleaded guilty in December to a felony charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, the incident occurred on May 16, 2023, when an officer from the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force was informed by an individual that Hamilton had attempted to sell him an ounce of methamphetamine on the street.
Upon locating Hamilton, the officer discovered a baggie containing methamphetamine in his pocket. Hamilton admitted that it was indeed meth and revealed he had recently been released from prison. He explained that an acquaintance provided him with two ounces of methamphetamine to sell for financial gain, acknowledging he had used some and planned to sell the rest. At the time of his arrest, Hamilton was found with approximately 48 grams or about 1.7 ounces of meth.
Hamilton's criminal history includes at least two prior felony convictions involving either violent crimes or drug offenses, qualifying him as a "career offender."
The case was investigated by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter.
