Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged Thomas Ross, 37, with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance following an investigation into an alleged plot to frame his political opponent. Ross, a Republican candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives, is accused of planning to plant cocaine and prescription amphetamines on Louise Secker during their primary campaign.
Ross won the Republican primary for Missouri's House District 161 on August 4, 2026, defeating Secker by a margin of 33 votes. According to an FBI probable cause statement, a former campaign manager contacted the Joplin Police Department to report the matter. The staffer provided authorities with a black nylon glove containing a small bag of white powder and a pill.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri reported that laboratory testing confirmed the substances were cocaine and Adderall. Investigators allege Ross provided the drugs to the staffer with instructions to plant them in Secker’s purse or vehicle while Ross was away on vacation. Text messages provided by the staffer allegedly show Ross stating he hoped to "make it happen" before Secker attended a meeting of Republican women to cause her "extreme egg on the face."
Court records indicate that FBI agents equipped the former campaign manager with a recording device for a meeting in July. During that recorded conversation, the staffer suggested making an anonymous tip to law enforcement about Secker possessing drugs, to which Ross allegedly replied, "If you can pull it off ... pull it off." Investigators believe the Adderall used in the alleged scheme originated from Ross’s own prescription.
Peter Kinder, the chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, has called for Ross to withdraw from the race, though Ross has not yet responded to these requests or the federal charges. Neither Ross nor his federal public defender responded to requests for comment on Thursday. Future court dates for his initial appearance and plea have not yet been reported.