Eldon Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Meth Conspiracy, Attempted Jail Escape
Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
  • Full Menu
  • English
  • Español

Main Menu

Explore DEA
  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Divisions
    • DEA Museum
    • Wall of Honor
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Law Enforcement
    • Education and Prevention
    • Drug Information
    • News
    • Campaigns
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
    • Forensic Sciences Careers
    • Professional & Administrative Careers
    • Student & Entry Level Careers
    • Employment Eligibility
    • How to Apply
  • Resources
    • Illegal Online Pharmacies
    • OD Justice
    • Fentanyl Supply Chain
    • Pill Press Resources
    • Recovery Resources
    • Together for Families
    • Data and Statistics
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • Victim Witness Assistance Program
  • Submit A Tip

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Eldon Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Meth Conspiracy, Attempted Jail Escape

Eldon Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Meth Conspiracy, Attempted Jail Escape

January 24, 2014
|
Share Article
|
Download Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Phone Number: (571) 362-5149

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge James Shroba and United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Tammy Dickinson, announced today that an Eldon, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Cole and Callaway County area, as well as his attempted jail escape.

Mitchell Lynn Atterberry, 36, of Eldon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2013, to 20 years in federal prison without parole.

On Aug. 15, 2013, Atterberry pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to escape from custody, and attempted escape from custody.

Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Law enforcement officers executed two search warrants at Atterberry's residence on Nov. 15, 2010, seizing a total of 8.19 grams of meth and $6,050.

Atterberry, riding his motorcycle, led Jefferson City, Mo., police officers on a high-speed chase on June 2, 2011, which reached speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Atterberry crashed his motorcycle and, after a brief pursuit on foot, was arrested. Officers saw Atterberry discard 2.04 grams of meth during the foot chase. Officers also found $8,190 in six separate envelopes, including what appeared to be a drug ledger, in Atterberry's motorcycle.

Atterberry, driving a Pontiac, was pulled over by a Holts Summit, Mo., police officer for a routine traffic stop on Feb. 11, 2012. During the stop, while the officer returned to his patrol vehicle, Atterberry fled. Atterberry led officers on a high-speed pursuit through Holts Summit, New Bloomfield and Fulton at speeds up to 163 miles per hour. Atterberry fled from his vehicle and was apprehended after a brief chase on foot. Officers searched the vehicle and found .29 of a gram of methamphetamine and $2,986.

Atterberry was pulled over by Jefferson City, Mo., police officers on May 22, 2012. Officers searched the vehicle and its occupants and found 13.02 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded .40-caliber Hi Point pistol, $2,234 and $900 in counterfeit currency.

Co-defendant Tami Jo Zeugin, 38, of Fulton, Mo., pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2014, to her role in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and awaits sentencing.

The total methamphetamine seized from Atterberry and Zeugin during the course of the investigation is 54.14 grams. Officers also seized a total of $20,939.

Conspiracy to Escape from Custody

Sheriff's deputies at the Morgan County jail, where Atterberry was detained, received a tip on Nov. 14, 2012 and searched Atterberry's cell. Atterberry's cellmate was Steven Pyykola of Springfield, Mo. Pyykola was convicted of three state murder charges and is serving three consecutive life sentences without parole.

Deputies discovered that the cell window had been damaged. The metal support beam had been cut most of the way through. They also found a 10-inch saw blade in the mat on the top bunk of the cell and a smaller two-inch saw blade that appeared to have broken off the larger blade.

Authorities reviewed telephone calls that Atterberry and Pyykola made to co-defendant Amanda Leigh Lesh, 35, of Jefferson City. They asked Lesh to purchase saw blades and deliver them to the jail underneath their second story window. Atterberry and Pyykola would then slide a string out of a hole that had been made in the window to the ground where Lesh would tie on the items and they would pull them up and in through the window. Lesh also made references to picking up the two after the escape and buying them clothes to wear.

On Nov. 13, 2012, Atterberry told Lesh in a recorded telephone conversation that they "worked on it late last night, couldn't get it done" and in a later call that day said they hoped to get it done "by tonight." The next day, authorities received the tip about the escape plans.

Lesh pleaded guilty to her role in Atterberry's unsuccessful escape attempt and was sentenced on Sept. 26, 2013, to time served.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kummerer. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jefferson City, Mo. Police Department; the Holts Summit, Mo. Police Department; the Fulton, Mo. Police Department; the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force, (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group); the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Cole County, Mo. Sheriff's Department; the Morgan County, Mo. Sheriff's Department; and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Download Press Release
###
US Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration

Drug Enforcement Administration

Michael A. Davis Special Agent in Charge - St. Louis
@DEAStLouisDiv
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Email

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator

  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Domestic Divisions
    • Foreign Offices
    • Contact Us
    • DEA Museum
  • What We Do
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Law Enforcement
    • Drug Prevention
    • Diversion Control Division
    • News
  • Careers
    • Special Agent
    • Diversion Investigator
    • Forensic Sciences
    • Intelligence Research Specialist
    • How to Apply
  • Resources
    • Drug Information
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • FOIA
    • Publications
    • Media Galleries
    • VWAP
  • Doing Business
    with the DEA
    • Overview
    • Current Vendors
    • Prospective Vendors
    • Security Clauses
    • Security Forms
    • Small Business Program
    • Vendor Engagement Request
  • Policies
    • Accessibility & Policy
    • Legal Policies & Disclaimers
    • No FEAR Act
    • Privacy Policy
    • U.S. Department of Justice EEO Policy
    • USA.gov
    • Whistleblower Protection
    • Your Rights as a Federal Employee

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice
Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram

DEA Contact Center

(202) 307-1000 info@dea.gov
Contact the Webmaster

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Back
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Careers
  • Resources
Back
  • About
  • Mission
  • History
  • Divisions
  • DEA Museum
  • Wall of Honor
  • Contact Us
Back
  • Domestic Divisions
  • Foreign Divisions
  • Operational Divisions
Back
  • Submit a Tip
  • Extortion Scam
  • Public Affairs
  • Social Media Directory
Back
  • Forensic Sciences
  • Law Enforcement
  • Education and Prevention
  • Drug Information
  • News
  • Campaigns
Back
  • GUARDS
  • Forensic Sciences Policy
  • Forensic Science Organizations
  • Forensic Science Contact
Back
  • DEA Office of Training
  • El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
  • Intelligence
  • Operations
Back
  • Office of Training Programs
Back
  • Administrative Law Judges
  • DEA Asset Forfeiture
  • Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program
  • HIDTA
  • OCDETF
Back
  • Family Summit
  • Red Ribbon
  • Kiki and the History of Red Ribbon Week
  • Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community
  • DEA’s Family Summit
  • Operation Engage
  • Community Outreach
  • Just Think Twice
  • Campus Drug Prevention
  • Get Smart About Drugs
  • Operation Prevention
Back
  • Drug Policy
  • Drug Scheduling
  • The Controlled Substances Act
Back
  • Alerts
  • Press Releases
  • Most Wanted Fugitives
  • Stories
  • Events
  • Speeches
  • Testimony
Back
  • All Fugitives
Back
  • One Pill Can Kill
  • DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Back
  • Senior Citizens
  • Partner Toolbox
  • Social Media Campaign
Back
  • Special Agent
  • Diversion Investigator
  • Intelligence Research Specialist
  • Forensic Sciences Careers
  • Professional & Administrative Careers
  • Student & Entry Level Careers
  • Employment Eligibility
  • How to Apply
Back
  • Special Agent FAQs
Back
  • Diversion Investigator Job Announcement
Back
  • Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements
  • Intelligence Research Specialists FAQs
  • Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist
Back
  • How To Claim Veterans' Preference
  • Priority Consideration
  • Benefits
  • Veterans and People With Disabilities
  • Operation Warfighter
Back
  • Illegal Online Pharmacies
  • OD Justice
  • Fentanyl Supply Chain
  • Pill Press Resources
  • Recovery Resources
  • Together for Families
  • Data and Statistics
  • FOIA
  • Publications
  • Media Galleries
  • Victim Witness Assistance Program
Back
  • Domestic Arrests
  • Staffing and Budget
Back
  • About FOIA
  • Contact DEA FOIA
  • Make a Request
  • What Happens After Making a Request
  • Requester Categories
  • Fees Charged
  • Fee Waiver
  • FOIA FAQ
  • FOIA Logs and Reports
  • FOIA Library
  • Additional FOIA Links
  • FOIA Exemptions
  • What Are Exclusions?
  • Privacy Act
  • Privacy Act Exemptions
  • Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems
Back
  • Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources
  • Human Trafficking Prevention
  • Submit A Tip +
  • Get Updates
  • Scam Alert
    • English
    • Español