A St. Joseph, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Michael Robinson, 35, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to nine years in federal prison without parole.
On May 22, 2014, Robinson pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. Robinson is among 20 co-defendants who have pleaded guilty in this case and the 16th co-defendant to be sentenced.
Robinson was arrested by St. Joseph, Mo., police detectives on May 8, 2013, in reference to a shooting investigation. Robinson was in possession of approximately eight grams of methamphetamine, which was recovered from his vehicle. Detectives also found images of what appeared to be large chunks of methamphetamine on Robinson’s cell phone.
According to court documents, detectives interviewed several confidential sources, who stated they had accompanied Robinson to the Argosy Casino in Riverside, Mo., the Legends shopping center and residences in the Kansas City area to pick up multiple-ounce or pound quantities of methamphetamine, which he brought back to St. Joseph for distribution. Some of the sources stated those trips were made on a daily basis.
One confidential source told investigators that Robinson would meet co-defendant Charles Blazer, 46, of St. Joseph, on a daily basis during the summer of 2013; Robinson collected $1,900 for the ounce of methamphetamine previously sold “on front” and provided Blazer with an additional ounce for sale. Blazer was sentenced to six years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy.
Also among those to whom Robinson provided methamphetamine for distribution was his brother, Roy Owens, 45, of St. Joseph. Owens was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy.
One confidential source told investigators that Robinson had been in a fight with a man over money. The source saw Robinson with a handgun and knew that the man Robinson had been fighting with had been shot.
On July 29, 2013, investigators executed a search warrant at Robinson’s residence and seized digital scales covered in a residue of methamphetamine, multiple plastic bags that contained the same residue, two handguns and ammunition and surveillance cameras that had been installed on the house.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce A. Rhoades. It was investigated by the Buchanan County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
