Sentencing memo: Meth addiction at age 13, poor family life led former Carthage man to life of crime

Noting that his client's methamphetamine addiction and wrong choices dating back to age 13, the attorney for former Carthage resident Carlos Joseph Blake Gandy is recommending an 18-year sentence for his client.

Gandy's sentencing is scheduled for October 23 in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed today by assistant public defender Paul R. Duchsherer, the lengthy sentence would give Gandy, 38, an opportunity to participate in a long-term rehabilitation program.

Mr. Gandy does not deny he has struggled with severe substance abuse issues most of his life. He is very interested in participating in the long-term 500-hour residential substance abuse program (RDAP) offered by the BOP. Upon his release he is desirous of involving himself in a structured program to help avoid relapse and put drug dependency behind him for good. He is also requesting that this Court recommend his participation in the BOP UNICOR program so he can advance his vocational skills and be self-supporting upon his release from incarceration. Finally, he is asking this Court to recommend to the BOP his participation in mental health treatment.

The odds were stacked against Gandy from the start, Duchsherer said in the memorandum"

Mr. Gandy’s childhood put him in a challenging position. His parents divorced when he was very young. His father and grandfather were both semi-functioning alcoholics, and he too began drinking alcohol at the very early age of 9 years old. His use of illegal substances began shortly thereafter. 

By the age of 13, young Carlos was using both marijuana and methamphetamine at least on a weekly basis. By 16, Carlos was smoking and using methamphetamine intravenously at least every other day. By 24, Carlos added a Xanax addiction to the mix. 

Up until his sophomore year in high school, Carlos was active in several school sports. He played football, basketball, and baseball until his early and increasing exposure to illegal substances caused him to quit these activities. 

Soon thereafter, Carlos dropped out of school altogether. Increasingly, drugs and the poor associations that go along with that drug use, influenced him to leave school after the 10th grade. Burgeoning mental health issues involving anxiety and depression added to this early dysfunction. 

By 13 years old, his drug use had already escalated to that of a full-blown addict. And with the destructive lifestyle of a young addict comes all the almost, unavoidable consequences. He had few life skills, if any, and was ill equipped to become an independent and productive adult. This immature nature is revealed within the offenses he committed thereafter.

As is all too common, Carlos’s record suggests a strong correlation between his early exposure to substance abuse, the resulting negative associations that lifestyle creates, and all the behavioral and chemical changes that result from such long-time use. 

Nearly all of Mr. Gandy’s criminal history is either drug related, or drug-use inspired. More than 20 years of methamphetamine addiction has cost him dearly. His inability to refrain from use has affected all other aspects of his life. 

At times in his past, he had problems interacting with others and keeping a job for than a few months. Additionally, because of his addiction and poor decisions, he was also associating with others with similar disfunctions. 

As he gets older, he understands now more than ever all the time he has squandered because of his addiction. Although he participated and graduated from several short-term substance abuse programs offered by the State of Missouri’s court and prison system, he kept falling back into addiction. 

The needed long-term plan for treatment addressing the effects on Mr. Gandy can be provided by the BOP within the term of incarceration requested and continued while he is on supervised release. 

Effective mental health treatment, life skills counseling and training, and drug counseling that starts at the BOP and continues once Mr. Gandy is on supervised release can reverse those patterns.

The Joplin Police Department arrested Gandy August 30, 2021. He came to their attention when his license was flagged for being revoked.

A JPD officer followed him to Gringo's where he parked his motorcycle and went into the restaurant carrying a black bag, according to the plea agreement.

When the officer entered the restaurant, Gandy was standing in line waiting to order but the bag was nowhere in sight. Gandy was arrested on the traffic charge. A customer told the officer where Gandy put the bag, which contained 33.86 grams of methamphetamine and a gun.