2 area residents arrested on federal meth trafficking charges

Virginia Perreira and John Zastrow (Photos courtesy of Greene County Sheriff’s Office)

A pair of area residents were arrested Friday after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield on accusations trafficking methamphetamine in southwestern Missouri. Thirty-six-year-old Virginia Perreira of Mountain Home and 34-year-old John Zastrow of Bakersfield face multiple charges following the indictment on April 1.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, the indictment alleges Perreira and Zastrow participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from March 12 of last year through Jan. 22. Perreira is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Zastrow is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count each of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

If convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, federal statutes indicate a maximum prison sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10 million is authorized. If convicted of distribution of methamphetamine, the maximum prison sentence is 40 years, and a fine could be as high as $5 million. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm has a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine I. Schlegl. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the South Central Missouri Drug Task Force and the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office. The Howell County Sheriff’s Office, the Operation Relentless Pursuit Task Force and the Mountain Grove Police Department in the arrests of Perreira and Zastow.

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