Probable cause: Thomas Ross asked campaign manager to plant cocaine on Louise Secker

131st District State Representative candidate Thomas Ross asked his campaign manaager to plant cocaine on his Republican primary opponent Louise Secker, according to a probable cause statement filed tonight in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Ross has been charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Ross, who defeated Wecker by 32 votes in the August 4 election, was arrested this morning and is being held without bond in the Joplin Municipal Jail.

From the probable cause affidavit:

On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the FBI was contacted by the Joplin, Missouri Police Department regarding a public corruption matter in Joplin, Missouri. According to the initial information provided by JPD, C. S. the former campaign manager for Ross, had been asked by Ross to plant drugs on is opponent, Louise Secker.

During the initial debriefing, C. S. provided law enforcement with a black nylon glove that he stated had been provided to him by Ross. Inside of the glove was a small, plastic bag. Inside of the bag was a small amount of white powder. Law enforcement attempted to use a TruNarc on the white substance but were unable to obtain a reading based on the small amount of substance within the bag.

As such, a Nartec Inc. Cocaine Test Kit was used. The ampule of the test kit turned blue when it encountered the white powder, indicating a positive hit for cocaine, a Schedule Ii controlled substance.

Additionally, inside of the glove was a pink and white capsule, with ELI-513 inscribed on it. The capsule was identified as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine 20 mg extended release, also known as Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. C. S. advised at that time that Ross was believed to have a prescription for Adderall, which was where he believed the capsule originated.

At the time of the initial debriefing, C.S. disclosed that he communicated wtih Ross using telephone number {number listed}, where they had exchanged text messaages regarding the "substance of the matter."

C. S. understood Ross's messages regarding the substance of the matter to be in reference to his request for C. S. to plant drugs on Secker.

C. S. initially provided law enforcement with various screenshots of messages he had with Ross. I reviewed those screenshots and observed that C. S. received the message, "Taking it no luck with the substance of it all?" on June 21, 2026, and the message, "If you aren't able to get the substnace of the situation handled, I need to get everything else pushed just in case." on June 27, 2026.

Based upon my review of the text messages received thus far from C. S., I believe the earliest reference to the plot to plant drugs on Secker occurred during two text messages C. S. received on May 31, 2026, that read, "We need to resolve that situation sooner than later...June 9th she will be at the republican women meeting at Granny Shaffers." and "I was hoping that we could make it happen before THIS Thursday..which would be extreme egg on the face given Thursday night's event."

Consensual monitoring of Ross

On Friday, July 31, 2026, the FBI provided C. S. with covert audio recording device to be used during a meeting with Ross later that evening.

The meeting between Ross and C. S. on July 31, 2026, was conducted at Ross's residence, located at 2607 South Minnesota Avenue, Joplin, Missouri, a location within the Western District of Missouri.

Approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes into the conversation, C. S. told Ross that he still had "the bag and addies" if Ross wanted to "try."

Ross agreed and told C. S. that Secker had been carrying a small purse and C. S. suggsted that they could call in an anonymous tip thta Secker had drugs in her car.

C. S. then asked Ross if that was something he still wanted done, to which Ross responded with "if you can pull it off, pull it off."

Clarifying interviews and information from C. S.

During the week of August 24, 2026, clarifying interviews were conducted with C. S. regarding the allegations described herein. According to C. S., Ross provided C. S. with the black glove with narcotics on or about early June 2026 while they were together at Ross's office. C. S. described the location of Ross's office to be located within the downtown Joplin, Missouri, area on Joplin Avenue, a location within the Western District of Missouri.

At the time of the handoff between Ross and C.S., Ross told C. S. that the glove contained a baggie with some "coke" and a couple of Adderall.

C. S. stated Ross had instructed him to place the bag in Secker's purse or vehicle while he was on vacation if he had an opportunity to do so. C. S. further clarified that Ross went on vacation to Myrtle Beach during mid-June 2026, with Ross having provided C. S. with the narcotics before his departure. The information regarding Ross's travel was later corroborated in a text message conversation between Ross and C. S. with the following messages exchanged on Sunday, June 14, 2026:

Ross- How did you manage through the storms?

C. S. I'm out already looking, it was crazy last night. I'm good, just tired from being up until 3 lol. All in all, it could have been much worse. I'm on it though (thumbs up) You guys doing ok? I forgot you were driving through the whole line of storms.

Ross- We are good...it was a bit bumpy at points but made it to SC in one place.

C. S. - Very nice! We'll have a good time. We are going to start hitting Precinct 1 this evening and tomorrow.

Furthermore, after further review of the messages provided by C. S., the following messages were exchanged between Ross and C. S. regarding the "substance of the matter" during the time when Ross was believed to be in S. C.

Monday, June 15, 2026

Ross- According to sources, she got endorsed now, too. Hope you all are having success knocking doors and getting the substance of the matter sorted this week.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Ross- Any luck with the substance of the matter? I won't be gone much longer.

Moreover, I reviewed the additional messages between C. S. and Ross that occurred on June 21, 2026, as was discussed above. During the messages, the following conversation transpired.

Ross- Taking it no luck with the substance of it all?

C. S. I am actually creeping down to the car show right now and seeing if I can see your car. I have had it on me for a couple days in order to be able to take full advantage of any opportunity that arise.

C. S.- I thought I had it at the forum. Walter went to, but never got in close car was locked.

Ross- Also... Tuesday night I need as many people at the event in the campaign shirts as possible and poeple working "booth"

Ross- I have more shirts for other people as needed..

Ross- (Photo)

C. S.- Unreal.

CS. But MSSU wanted us to change our entire stuff because Brian had an MSSU logo on his shirt (eye roll emoji) how you know she's a lib.

Ross- A good time would have been while signs were going up. She would have been a ways from an unlocked car.

C. S.  also disclosed to law enforcement that he had previously purchased a two-gram disposable, of what he believed to be pot for a friend from Ross on or about July 2026 for $40 at Ross's office.

During the time of the marijuana purchase from Ross, C. S. observed additional vapes and/or disposables that he had previously observed while they were together at his office, Ross told him that he had got rid of them and had implied to C. S. that he had sold them. Ross never specified to C. S. where he obtained the marijuana or cocaine.

C. S. further clarified during an interview with law enforcement that the only coded language within the messages between himself and Ross was in reference to the drug plot against Secker