California Woman Sentenced to 27 Years for Meth Conspiracy

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pomona, California, woman was sentenced in federal court today for leading a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Jasper County, Missouri.

Melissa R. Kivett, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 27 years in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 9, 2019, Kivett pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Jasper County from March 8, 2016, through Oct. 3, 2017. Kivett also pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine.

Kivett transported methamphetamine from California, usually through the mail, to co-conspirators in Missouri. Co-conspirators purchased multiple kilograms of methamphetamine from Kivett for about $400 per ounce (28 grams). Those co-conspirators then distributed methamphetamine to others.

When Kivett was arrested in California on Sept. 7, 2017, she was in possession of 3.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately 1.3 kilograms of morphine, and 610 grams of hydrocodone.

Kivett is the fifth and final defendant in this case to be sentenced.
 
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan Nguyen. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Illinois State Police, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Duquesne, Mo., Police Department, the Pomona, Calif., Police Department, and the Ontario, Calif., Police Department. 

OCDETF
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program.  The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy.  OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.  Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.