Federal court document: Joplin man indicted for meth trafficking had stolen weapons, 4,000 rounds of ammunition

A Joplin man indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury poses a threat to the community and should remain behind bars while awaiting trial, according to a motion for a detention hearing filed today iun U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

The grand jury indicted Mark Burdge, 49, on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, a meth trafficking conspiracy and selling meth in a home where someone under 18 is residing.

The crimes allegedly took place between May 9, 2018 and July 18, 2019, according to the indictment.
The allegations against Burdge were detailed in the motion:

On May 9, 2018, investigators with the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (“ODET”) executed a search warrant for controlled substances at Defendant’s property in Newton County, Missouri. 

Defendant was found within the primary residence when investigators entered. A search of the primary residence yielded a total of approximately 76.96 grams of methamphetamine, 24 grams of suspected marijuana, 28 suspected alprazolam pills, and $20,000 in United States currency. 

A portion of the methamphetamine was found near a wallet containing debit cards bearing Defendant’s name. Investigators also searched an outbuilding on the property and discovered approximately 19 firearms—four of which were reported stolen—and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition. 

In February 2019, a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent received information indicating that Defendant was receiving pound quantities of methamphetamine from a source in Oklahoma before the search warrant was executed at his property in May 2018. 

On July 18, 2019, ODET investigators executed a second search warrant for controlled substances at Defendant’s property in Newton County, Missouri. Several individuals were discovered in the primary residence, including Defendant and a minor child. 

A search of the primary residence yielded a black zipper case containing approximately 31 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, plastic bags, and a safe containing a large plastic bag of approximately 165 grams of suspected methamphetamine. 

A handwritten receipt bearing Defendant’s name was found in the safe along with the suspected methamphetamine. 

Finally, investigators found approximately $24,300 in United States currency concealed behind drywall. 

Defendant has a history of criminal activity that includes the following convictions: 

a. Unlawful possession of a firearm in Newton County, Missouri, on or about April 7, 2014; 

b. Receiving stolen property in Buchanan County, Missouri, on or about April 7, 2014; 

c. Two counts of possession of a controlled substance in Newton County, Missouri, on or about March 19, 2012; 

d. Possession of a controlled substance in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, on or about May 3, 2007; and 

e. Possession of a controlled substance in Newton County, Missouri, on or about July 20, 2000. 

For the foregoing reasons, the United States requests that a detention hearing be held and that Defendant be denied bail.

(Note: This post has been edited to correct Burdge's age to 49, rather than 39 as originally reported.)