Airplane, Guns Seized From The Suspect

A drug runner who used an airplane to transport high-grade marijuana has pleaded guilty to charges related to the activity.

In a news release, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Tammy Dickinson said that Joshua William Vawter, 37, of Marble Hill, MO, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Monday, April 27, 2015, to the charge contained in a Dec. 17, 2013, federal

By pleading guilty, Vawter admitted that he and a co-conspirator purchased seven duffel bags to transport 202 pounds of high-grade marijuana from California to Missouri. They placed the marijuana in the duffel bags, a suitcase and two golf bags, and loaded them onto Vawter’s airplane, a Piper PA-32-260, which he piloted. Vawter’s plane landed at West Plains Regional Airport in West Plains, Mo., on Oct. 31, 2013. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of the plane and seized the marijuana and $1,800. Drug Enforcement Administration agents estimate the total street value of the marijuana seized to be $1 million.

The next day DEA agents searched Vawter’s residence and seized 56 firearms from a vault in the basement. Agents also seized a total of $75,000 from the vault (including $18,000 that was hidden in the foam backing of a gun case). Four additional firearms were seized from the master bedroom, for a total of 60 firearms seized from the residence.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Vawter must forfeit to the government the airplane, the firearms and the money that was seized.

Under federal statutes, Vawter is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1 million. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

FMI: www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo