Two Lawrence Men Convicted
On Counterfeiting, Drug Trafficking Charges
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal jury Monday convicted two Lawrence men on conspiracy to counterfeit U.S. currency, identity theft, drug trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Convicted were:
Donald Milton Steele, 52, Lawrence, Kan., one count of conspiracy to commit counterfeiting; three counts of identity theft; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, hydrocodone, methadone and marijuana; two counts of distributing marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Randy J. Dyke, 51, Lawrence, Kan., one count of conspiracy to commit counterfeiting; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, hydrocodone, methadone and marijuana; one count of distributing hydrocodone; two counts of distributing methadone; and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that in 2009 Steele developed a plan to pay for a large shipment of marijuana with counterfeit cash. He and Dyke set up a residence he owned in Topeka for the purpose of counterfeiting. Steele provided checkbooks, identification documents and credit cards that had been stolen. The stolen checks were to be used to purchase equipment for the counterfeiting operating. In February 2010, Dyke passed what he believed to be one of the counterfeit bills at Harper Corner Square Liquor in Lawrence. On Feb. 17, 2010, Steele directed Dyke and another man to retrieve $10,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine Steele and Dyke had conspired to have manufactured, from the house in Topeka.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 14, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.
Grissom commended the Lawrence Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt for their work on the case.
