KC Reporter

A Newtown, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in conspiracies to distribute fentanyl in northwest Missouri and to wire the proceeds of drug trafficking to Mexico.

Lucas Ryan Coltrain, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Coltrain to forfeit $10,000 to the government, representing the proceeds he received from drug trafficking.

On Feb. 6, 2024, Coltrain pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl from Oct. 27, 2020, to Jan. 24, 2023, and to participating in a conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents, Coltrain distributed at least 5,662 fentanyl pills that were pressed into pills appearing as prescription pharmaceuticals by members of a Mexican cartel. Coltrain’s Facebook message records show that he was receiving M30 pills “by the thousands” and selling them for $40 each.

Coltrain admitted knowing that people were dying after taking the M30 pills he sold to friends. His sales continued even after an acquaintance's death on July 17, 2021. Coltrain himself was hospitalized for a fentanyl overdose in August 2023 after being released on bond in this case.

Coltrain admitted wiring approximately $10,000 to $15,000 to Mexico. These wire transfers represented the proceeds from distributing fentanyl.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and was investigated by multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department; the Trenton Police Department; the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the FBI; the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department; the Grundy County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; and IRS-Criminal Investigation.