PB man alleged to have 2,000 pills to manufacture meth

Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man is to appear in federal court Tuesday for a detention hearing after he was indicted for possessing pseudoephedrine.

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Darrell Spain picked up Ronald Lee Lunsford, 43, Thursday from the Butler County Jail, where he has been held since his May 6 arrest, and transported him to Cape Girardeau.

Lunsford made his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lewis Blanton on the one-count indictment Thursday afternoon, according to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbie Crites-Leoni. Blanton ordered Lunsford to appear Tuesday for the hearing, Crites-Leoni said. Bond may be set at that time.

According to Poplar Bluff Police Detective Mike Elliott, Lunsford allegedly "took delivery of approximately 2,000 pills" in rural Butler County on May 6.

Lunsford was arrested that day on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and possession of ephedrine. He had been held without bond since that time for reportedly violating his probation.

If convicted, Lunsford faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, Crites-Leoni said.

The indictment against Lunsford had been suppressed, and the judge unsealed it after Lunsford's arrest.