Nine Suspects Indicted on Meth Conspiracy Charges

Detectives from the Kirkwood Police Department investigated a methamphetamine manufacturing case in which five men and four women from St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jefferson County were indicted on federal methamphetamine conspiracy charges, the Kirkwood Police Department said in a statement Thursday.

The indictment, handed up by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri last month, alleges the activities took place between January 2006 and December 2010 in Jefferson County and St. Louis County.

Those charged in the indictment are: Curtis Seaman, 27, of House Springs; Daniel Shinault, 27, of St Louis; Richard Shinault, 29, of Mehlville; Adam Artinger, 28, of House Springs; Gregory Shuman, 23, of Dittmer; Jamie Evans, 28, of House Springs; Casey Pingel, 29, of House Springs; Jessica Mitchell, 24, of Imperial; and Donna Bell, 46, of Fenton.

Kirkwood detectives investigated the case after receiving information that one of the suspects was purchasing more than the maximum monthly allowance of pseudoephedrine under Missouri state law at a local pharmacy, the statement said.

All suspects were indicted on one felony count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Artinger and Evans also were indicted on one felony count of possession of  pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Daniel and Richard Shinault, Seaman, Shuman, Pingel, Mitchell and Bell were indicted on one additional felony count of possession of pseudoephedrine knowing, and having probable cause to believe, it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, according to the statement.

If convicted, the first count of the indictment for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine carries a penalty of as much as 40 years in prison and fines up to $2 million. The remaining charges each carry a penalty of as much as 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000, the statement says.