KC Reporter

A Springfield, Missouri man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms. Russell Lee Deck, Jr., 47, received the sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Wimes, which includes three years of supervised release following his prison term.

Deck had pleaded guilty on November 8, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His criminal activities were centered around Greene County from June 1 to August 25, 2022.

The case reached a turning point on August 18, 2022, when a Springfield police officer attempted to stop Deck's vehicle at a hotel parking lot. Instead of complying, Deck reversed his car into the officer’s vehicle twice before fleeing the scene. During the ensuing high-speed chase through a residential area, Deck's passenger fired shots at the pursuing officer's vehicle.

The pursuit ended when Deck crashed into another vehicle at an intersection. Although significant damage was caused to the other vehicle involved in the crash—a Jeep SUV—the driver was reportedly unharmed. Following the crash, Deck was apprehended with methamphetamine and firearms found in his possession.

Deck’s passenger during this incident was Blake Basten who had previously been sentenced to ten years for felonious firearm possession on February 27, 2024. Another accomplice involved in the drug trafficking conspiracy with Deck—Justin Hollingsworth—was sentenced to eighteen years on similar charges on June 24, 2024.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Wan prosecuted this case which saw investigative efforts from multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Springfield Police Department.

This sentencing falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime by fostering community trust and cooperation between law enforcement agencies across various levels.