23 indicted on drug conspiracy charges KANSAS CITY, Mo.

I.C.E. News Release

June 10, 2010

23 indicted on drug conspiracy charges

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Twenty three people were charged by a federal grand jury for participating in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, according to an indictment unsealed on Thursday. The indictments resulted from a joint investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the Kansas City Police Department; the FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The following individuals were charged in a 17-count indictment returned under seal May 26 by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.: Shawn R. Hampton, aka "Smoke," 34, of Raytown, Mo.; Delbert Roberson, aka "Del," 31; Naricco Scott, aka "Rico," 28; Calah Johnson, aka "Green Eyes," 29; John L. Hooker, aka "Ace," 22; Gregory P. Young, aka "Chan," 37; Ronnell A. Brown, 38; Theodore S. Wiggins, aka "Theo," 29; Antar H. Roberts, aka "Saw," 36; Marcus L. Gay, 36; Andreya Jones, 28; Justin J. Campbell, aka "Shaw," 30; Dorothea L. Cain, aka "Dea," 38; Keiyatie R. White, 20; Jason R. Carter, aka "J-Roc," 23; Mylin D. Smith, aka "G," 26; Sterling F. Byndom, 24; Adrian U. Barrett, 34; Ray A. Johnson, 31; all of Kansas City, Mo.; Ricardo Nevarez, 28; Alfonso Velo, 45; and Alejandro Holguin-Bonilla, aka "Alex," 22; all of Kansas City, Kan., and Brice C. Hale, 37, of St. Louis, Mo. The indictment was unsealed June 10 and made public upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants.

"We have dismantled a major drug trafficking organization," said Beth Phillips, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. "The Kansas City Police Department and the FBI initiated an intensive investigation more than a year ago. ICE and ATF joined the investigation in October 2009. These local and federal agencies have worked closely together in a partnership that culminated in this week's arrests. The Department of Justice is committed to disrupting the flow of drugs nationwide, and we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to combat drug trafficking in our community."

"These are significant arrests that dismantled a suspected cocaine trafficking conspiracy in the Kansas City area," said Gary Hartwig, ICE special agent in charge in Chicago. "This is an excellent example of teamwork among local and federal law enforcement. ICE works aggressively to keep illegal drugs out of our communities, and to dismantle the criminal networks that profit from narcotics trafficking." Hartwig oversees a six-state area that includes Missouri and Kansas.

"Working with our federal partners, Kansas City police have helped cut off a major pipeline of narcotics to the metropolitan area," said Kansas City Police Chief James Corwin. "This is one of the largest investigations of its kind that the Kansas City Police Department has ever engaged in, and it's a good example of the major impact we can have on narcotics trafficking and the crime that surrounds it when we join forces."

Hooker, although named as a defendant, was discovered murdered along with his brother the day after the indictment was returned. Their bodies were found May 27 in a shopping cart behind a vacant lot near the intersection of 45th St. and Askew in Kansas City.

The federal indictment alleges that all 23 defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms (11 pounds) or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine since July 1, 2009.

The federal indictment also charges the following defendants with these additional crimes:

•Hampton is also charged with one count of distributing 500 grams or more of cocaine and three counts of distributing five grams or more of crack cocaine.
•Roberson is also charged with three counts of distributing five grams or more of crack cocaine.
•Scott is also charged with two counts of distributing crack cocaine, one count of possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
•White is also charged with two counts of distributing crack cocaine.
•Wiggins and Carter are each charged with one count of distributing crack cocaine.
•Johnson is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Johnson, who has a felony conviction, illegally possessed a Glock .40-caliber pistol on March 7.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman, Western District of Missouri, is prosecuting this case.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Friday, June 11, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1006/100610kansascity.htm