Thomas Ross, a Joplin resident, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance following allegations he asked his former campaign manager, C. S., to plant drugs on his opponent, Louise Secker. The allegations surfaced when the Joplin Police Department contacted the FBI on Thursday, July 30, 2026, initiating an investigation into what JPD described as a public corruption matter in Joplin, Missouri.
During an initial debriefing with law enforcement, C. S. told authorities that Ross had provided him with a black nylon glove containing a small plastic bag of white powder and a pink and white capsule. Law enforcement used a Nartec Inc. Cocaine Test Kit, which indicated a positive hit for cocaine, identified as a Schedule II controlled substance. The capsule, inscribed ELI-513, was identified as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine 20 mg extended release, commonly known as Adderall, also a Schedule II controlled substance. C. S. advised he believed Ross had a prescription for the Adderall.
C. S. informed law enforcement that he and Ross had exchanged text messages regarding the "substance of the matter," which C. S. understood to be in reference to the request to plant drugs on Secker. Screenshots provided by C. S. to law enforcement showed Ross sent messages such as, "Taking it no luck with the substance of it all?" on June 21, 2026, and "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.
The investigation advanced on Friday, July 31, 2026, when the FBI provided C. S. with a covert audio recording device. C. S. then met with Ross at Ross's residence, located at 2607 South Minnesota Avenue in Joplin, Missouri. Approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes into their conversation, C. S. told Ross that he still had "the bag and addies" if Ross wanted to "try." Ross reportedly agreed and told C. S. that Secker had been carrying a small purse. C. S. then proposed calling in an anonymous tip that Secker had drugs in her car. When C. S. asked if Ross still wanted this done, Ross responded with, "if you can pull it off, pull it off."
Clarifying interviews were conducted with C. S. during the week of August 24, 2026. C. S. stated that Ross had provided the black glove containing the narcotics to him in early June 2026, while they were together at Ross's office, located in the downtown Joplin, Missouri, area on Joplin Avenue. Ross allegedly told C. S. at the time that the glove contained a baggie with "some coke" and a couple of Adderall. Ross further instructed C. S. to place the bag in Secker's purse or vehicle if an opportunity arose while Ross was on vacation.
C. S. clarified that Ross went on vacation to Myrtle Beach during mid-June 2026, providing the narcotics before his departure. This travel information was corroborated by text messages exchanged between Ross and C. S. on Sunday, June 14, 2026. In one exchange, Ross stated, "We are good...it was a bit bumpy at points but made it to SC in one place," referring to South Carolina. Further messages between Ross and C. S. while Ross was believed to be in South Carolina included Ross asking, "Hope you all are having success knocking doors and getting the substance of the matter sorted this week" and "Any luck with the substance of the matter? I won't be gone much longer."
Additional messages from June 21, 2026, reviewed by law enforcement, showed Ross asking C. S. about "no luck with the substance of it all?" C. S. replied that he had it "on me for a couple days in order to be able to take full advantage of any opportunity that arise." In a separate instance, C. S. also disclosed to law enforcement that he had previously purchased what he believed to be "pot" from Ross in July 2026 for $40 at Ross's downtown Joplin office. During this purchase, C. S. observed other vapes and disposables, which Ross implied he had sold. C. S. clarified in an interview that the "coded language" in their messages referred only to the alleged drug plot against Secker. Ross never specified to C. S. where he obtained the marijuana or cocaine.
