A man from Springfield was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole on Tuesday, Jan. 24, for illegally possessing firearms and for his role in a conspiracy that distributed at least 11 kilograms of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri, including Greene and Polk counties.
According to a recent press release, Gregory D. Robinson, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on February 8, 2022.
Court documents state that Robinson conspired with family members to distribute at least 11 kilograms of methamphetamine in the southwest Missouri area, and he admitted his part in the conspiracy to distribute to Greene and Polk counties, which occurred from April 10, 2019, to March 30, 2020. Over 500 grams of methamphetamine were seized from those involved in the conspiracy, the release stated.
On February 9, 2020, a Greene County sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop in which he found a Ziploc bag that contained 55.97 grams of methamphetamine in Robinson’s jacket, along with $2,500 in cash, per the release.
On March 30, 2020, Springfield law enforcement officers conducted another traffic stop of Robinson, after a woman reported that he had threatened her with a firearm. The release also said that Robinson resisted arrest and threatened to kill the officers. Two pistols were removed from Robinson’s waistband – an FNH .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with five rounds of hollow-point ammunition, and a Sturm Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Police officers also found a bag that contained 54.32 grams of methamphetamine in a pocket of Robinson’s pants, the release said. Robinson has been in federal custody since his arrest.
“Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition,” the release stated. “Robinson has three prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and a prior felony conviction for tampering. In addition to felony convictions, Robinson has multiple misdemeanor convictions for assaultive conduct and at least 57 felony arrests.”
Eleven other defendants have been charged in this case, and as the release said, three of Robinson’s co-defendants are pleading guilty and awaiting sentencing.
Robinson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the release said.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
