Joplin man sentenced to nine years for role in trafficking heroin between Louisiana and Joplin

A Joplin man was sentenced to nine years in prison today for his role in a conspiracy trafficking heroin between Louisiana and Joplin.

A second charge of possession of a controlled substance against John Bourque, 38, was dismissed this morning during a hearing held in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

According to the charging affidavit, the FBI, suspecting Bourque was making heroin runs between Louisiana and Missouri, obtained a search warrant to track Bourque's cell phone November 11. Two weeks later, federal agents tracked the phone to Crowley, Louisiana.

When Bourque returned to Missouri, the FBI arranged with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to stop him in Newton County.

Bourque consented to a search and troopers found a black package containing heroin taped under the hood. He admitted making several trips between Missouri and Louisiana to pick up and deliver heroin.