Five KC men indicted for meth conspiracy, armed home invasion
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that five Kansas City, Mo., men were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, which involved a shooting during a home invasion.
Steven M. Martin, 56, John O. Younce, 37, his brother, Timothy Younce (age unknown), Jason M. Keeton, 30, and Vernon Tennison, Jr., 27, all of Kansas City, were charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. That indictment was unsealed following the arrest and initial court appearance of Tennison. Martin, John Younce and Jason Keeton were arrested yesterday; Timothy Younce remains a fugitive.
The federal indictment alleges that all five defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine from Jan. 1 to May 23, 2010.
According to the indictment, Martin set up an armed home-invasion robbery by purchasing methamphetamine from their target, then ordering more methamphetamine for an ostensible purchase. John and Timothy Younce and Keeton, allegedly armed with firearms and disguised as police officers, entered the target residence on May 23, 2010. They allegedly confronted their target in an attempt to steal methamphetamine and cash. During this confrontation, the indictment says, their target was shot and wounded.
Tennison, who shared the target residence, allegedly served as the an “inside man” for the conspiracy. Tennison arranged for the back door of the residence to be open, the indictment says, providing access for the robbery.
All five of the defendants are also charged with aiding and abetting each other to use a firearm in the commission of a drug-trafficking crime.
Phillips 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 Charles E. Ambrose, Jr. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
