New Bloomfield man in federal custody for drug charges

Jeremy Traxler - a man who was arrested in New Bloomfield on drug-related charges on Aug. 11 - is in federal custody and awaiting trial. A federal criminal complaint was filed against Traxler on Aug. 12 for possession of and intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Traxler was arrested after the MUSTANG Drug Task Force and Callaway County Sheriff's Office served a narcotics-related search warrant for a residence on the 500 block of Redwood Drive in New Bloomfield on Aug. 11. The search warrant was the result of a MUSTANG Drug Task Force ongoing drug investigation. Beau Brinker, Amber Hinton and Traxler were detained at the residence while officers located a small, portable safe in a bedroom, according to a drug enforcement administration affidavit. Traxler had a key that opened the safe on a clip along his waistline, according to the affidavit.

The safe contained about 56 net grams of methamphetamine. The Callaway County Sheriff's Office and MUSTANG Drug Task Force seized the methamphetamine found in the safe as well as digital scales and packing material. Officers also seized a 2010 Chevrolet truck and about $2,500, according to a press release from the sheriff's office the week of the arrest. The press release stated that two people from the home on Redwood Drive were arrested. Traxler is the only one of the three who were present who is being held and federally charged.

Traxler said he was visiting Brinker and Hinton and brought the safe with him, according to a drug enforcement administration affidavit. Traxler, however, denied knowing all of the safe's contents.

Don Ledford, public affairs officer with the U.S. Attorney's Office - Western District of Missouri, said the next step is to present the case to a federal grand jury for indictment.

The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a motion to hold Traxler in federal custody without bond until trial. The court granted that motion because it believed Traxler posed a flight risk, could be a substantial risk to the community and because there was probable cause to believe that Traxler committed the drug trafficking offense for which he was arrested.

Traxler is currently in federal custody.