A total of 17 defendants, primarily from the Kansas City metropolitan area, have been indicted for their roles in a nearly $10 million conspiracy to distribute almost 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine. Fahrudin F. Fejzic, also known as “Frank,” 48, Steven M. Lyons, also known as “Pops,” 60, Shelly Marie Exton, 38, Mary L. Corona, 38, […]
A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing heroin to distribute and illegally possessing 10 firearms. William C. Merriweather, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 4, 2019, Merriweather pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a […]
A Mexican national in Kansas City, Missouri, has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana, illegally possessing a firearm, and illegally entering the United States for the sixth time. Uriel L. Martinez, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to six […]
Additional charges and more defendants have been added to two federal indictments that now charge a total of 21 defendants for their roles in separate conspiracies to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Springfield, Missouri, area, resulting in the overdose deaths of at least two people. Most of the defendants were arrested in a coordinated […]
United States Attorney Tim Garrison praised the cooperation of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Western District of Missouri today, as U.S. Attorney General William Barr addressed the problem of sanctuary cities elsewhere in the nation. “We appreciate the cooperation in this district among state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies,” said Garrison. […]
Five defendants waived preliminary hearings Tuesday in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Their cases were bound for court appearances either Thursday or next month in Division One. Trenton residents Daniel Brown and Krystal Leanna Martin are charged with trafficking drugs, or an attempt to do so, as of December 24th. Both are to […]
A Mexican national pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to illegally entering the United States for the eighth time. Jesus Vargas-Melendez, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously deported. By pleading guilty, Vargas-Melendez admitted that he illegally entered the United States […]
Eleven defendants have been indicted for their roles in a $1.7 million conspiracy to distribute 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and 10 kilograms of heroin, as well as illegally possessing numerous firearms. Kamel Mahgub Elburki, 31, Ashley Brooke Clevenger, 37, Edward Jason Alberty Jr., 23, Rachel Gale Simpson, 36, Daniel Jessie Ruiz, 35, and Matthew John […]
A Raytown, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. Victor Rodriguez Kessel, 63, a Cuban national, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, attempting to manufacture crack cocaine, possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, […]
A Kansas City, Missouri, man who led police officers on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm. Chance Ayers, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On March 12, 2019, a […]
A former Kansas City-area man, who claimed self-defense after fatally shooting another man during a drug deal, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and to illegally possessing 52 firearms he stole from a local pawn shop. Kameron M. Bynum, 24, of Wilson, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts […]
A Lee’s Summit, Missouri, man who illegally purchased 15 firearms pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing firearms and to making a false statement on a federal form in order to purchase those firearms. Jay C. Miller, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of possessing firearms while […]
A Columbia, Missouri, man who crashed his vehicle in a high-speed chase has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing methamphetamine and firearms. Kenneth C. Fredenburg, 33, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri, on Tuesday, November 5. The indictment replaces a federal criminal […]
A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing the firearm he allegedly used to shoot and kill another person. Dionandre Ganter, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 15 years in federal prison without parole, which is the maximum penalty that can be imposed under the […]
A Greenfield, Missouri, man who crashed his motorcycle into another vehicle during a police chase was sentenced in federal court for possessing methamphetamine to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm. Chad R. Weis, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole. On April 10, 2019, Weis […]
A Mexican national who illegally entered the United States at least a dozen times was sentenced in federal court for illegal reentry and for stealing a deceased person’s identity to obtain employment. Rigoberto Vasquez-Milan, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two years and six months in federal prison without parole. […]
The Highway Patrol reports the arrest of two area residents Friday night on various allegations. Thirty-eight-year-old Melissa Brill of Galt was arrested in Grundy County and accused of two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance, felony unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, and the misdemeanors of driving while revoked, no insurance, failure to have […]
An Independence, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally selling firearms without a license, some of which have been seized during arrests at several crime scenes. Frank E. Hedden, 25, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to engaging in the business of dealing […]
A Columbia, Missouri, man who tried to run a woman off the road and chased her into the police station, was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Daleron Michael Monroe, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to six years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered the […]
A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Alexander Monday Coleman, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 16 years in federal prison without parole. Coleman was sentenced as an armed career offender due to his prior felony convictions. On Nov. 13, 2018, Coleman pleaded guilty […]
