Kearney Residents Among Five Indicted for $2.6 Million Meth Conspiracy

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Kearney, Mo., residents are among five defendants who have been indicted for their roles in a $2.6 million conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 37, and Elgin Eugene Dothage, also known as “Butch,” 38, both of Kearney, Steven Lee Schreier, Jr., of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Ronald Louis Roberts, 51, of Lathrop, Mo., and Franklin Charles Carter, also known as “Frankie,” 25, of Grandview, Mo., were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on July 29, 2014. That indictment has been unsealed and made public following the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants.

The federal indictment alleges that all five defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine between Jan. 1, 2010, and July 29, 2014. According to the indictment, the drug-trafficking conspiracy was responsible for the distribution of more than 50 kilograms of methamphetamine. Based on a conservative street price of $1,500 per ounce, the indictment says, the conspiracy took in $2,650,000.

The indictment also alleges that all five defendants participated in a money-laundering conspiracy during the same time period. According to the indictment, conspirators conducted financial transactions that involved the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Conspirators allegedly obtained cash from illegal methamphetamine sales and used those proceeds to further promote the buying and selling of additional methamphetamine. Conspirators allegedly used items of value they obtained from methamphetamine distribution as collateral for various purposes, including drug debt reduction and obtaining additional methamphetamine for use and distribution.

In addition to the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies, the indictment charges Morgan and Dothage together with one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that Morgan and Dothage were in possession of a pink pump-action shotgun, a loaded 9mm Hi Point pistol and a loaded Smith & Wesson .22-caliber pistol.

Morgan and Dothage are also charged together in one count of maintaining their residence in Kearney as a place for distributing and using methamphetamine.

Dothage is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Dothage, having been convicted of a felony, was in possession of firearms and ammunition during the time of the conspiracies. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

The federal indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged violations, including a money judgment of $2,650,000, which was received in exchange for the unlawful distribution of methamphetamine.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and the Clay County Drug Task Force.