Last of 8 defendants pleads guilty in Springfield meth distribution ring

The last of eight defendants pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with a large-scale meth distribution ring that brought drugs from Arizona to Springfield.

Michael P. Ayala, 37, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth, money laundering and a gun charge after admitting his role in the multi-pound drug distribution network, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

The release says Ayala joins seven others who have pleaded guilty to federal crimes in connection with the drug ring — Ronda Easton, 53, Steven Easton, 49, James Parker, 46, Robert Cardenas, Jr., 28, Cody Keller, 33, and David Climer, 37, all of Springfield, and Michael Thompson, 58, of Goodyear, Arizona.

The release says Ayala supplied pounds of meth from Arizona to Steven Easton and his wife Ronda Easton for distribution in Springfield.

Ayala sold meth to Ronda Easton every seven to 10 days, in amounts as large as 10 pounds, according to the release.

Ronda Easton then sold pound quantities of meth to Parker, Keller and Climer, according to the release.

The release says Thompson and Cardenas drove the meth from Arizona to Missouri.

In April of 2015, the release says, authorities stopped Cardenas in New Mexico with almost 20 pounds of meth in a Jeep.

Authorities arranged a controlled buy with Ayala and busted him with a gun and $19,000 cash, according to the release.

The search of a Springfield home shared by Ayala and Ronda Easton in January 2015 turned up more than three pounds of meth, several guns and $15,000 cash, according to the release.

Ayala and Ronda Easton told authorities they used drug money to buy property and a Ford Mustang, according to the release. Those assets must be forfeited to the government.

The release says Ayala faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.