Drug case nets millions of meth ingredient pills

A California man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Cape Girardeau to felony methamphetamine-related and money laundering conspiracy charges in connection with the largest psuedoephedrine case ever handled in the Eastern District of Missouri, said U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender.

Dan Frankel, 46, of San Clemente, Calif., was arrested June 25 in Las Vegas, Nev. During the investigation, officers seized more than 4 million psuedoephedrine pills, the largest found in the Eastern District.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release on each count. He also faces fines of up to $250,000 on the psuedoephredrine count and up to $500,000 for money laundering. As part of his plea, he forfeits $850,000, which represented his drug profits.

The case was a joint operation of several federal, Canadian and local law enforcement agencies, including the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, Poplar Bluff Police Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department.

Frankel's alleged co-conspirator, Krystina Randles, 35, of Mississauga, Canada, was arrested in England on June 26. She is expected to arrive in the Eastern District in Missouri within a few weeks for her pending indictment on four felony meth-related charges.