Joplin man pleads guilty to drug trafficking, weapons charges

A Joplin man pleaded guilty today in U. S. District Court in Springfield to one count of using firearms in a criminal activity and three counts of drug trafficking.

Judge David Rush ordered a pre-sentence investigation for James E. LaRue, 40, who will remain behind bars while awaiting sentencing.

LaRue was initially arrested after the Joplin Police Department and the Ozarks Drug Enforcement team executed a search warrant December 15, 2015, at 1202 South Murphy, Joplin.

Though LaRue was arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and receiving stolen property, according to a news release from the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, Jasper County Circuit Court records indicate the only charge former Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Dean Dankelson filed against LaRue was possession of a controlled substance.