KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two men were indicted by a federal grand jury today, in separate and unrelated cases, for using public transit to smuggle several kilograms of cocaine through Kansas City.

Khalil Bryant, 30, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Bryant on Aug. 28, 2012.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Bryant was arrested on Aug. 28, 2012, at the Amtrak train terminal at #30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City. Bryant carried a ticket to travel from Flagstaff, Ariz., to Pittsburgh, Penn. Officers searched a black duffel bag allegedly owned by Bryant, the affidavit says, and found three large brick-shaped bundles wrapped in grey and black duct tape. According to the affidavit, the bundles contained a total of more than three kilograms of cocaine.

            Today’s indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Bryant to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offense, including $9,325 that was seized from Bryant by law enforcement officers.

Rene A. Meras, 32, no known address, was charged with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Meras on Aug. 29, 2012.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Meras was arrested on Aug. 29, 2012, at the Greyhound bus terminal at 1101 S. Troost Ave., Kansas City. The bus, originating from Los Angeles, Calif., arrived for a layover to off-load passengers and pick-up departing passengers. Meras carried a one-way ticket paid with cash originating from Los Angeles, with a final destination of Cleveland, Ohio.

A law enforcement officer searched Meras’s luggage and found two pieces of plywood sandwiched together and sewn into the liner on the bottom of the bag. He removed the plywood and located more than a kilogram (approximately 2.9 pounds) of cocaine taped to the underside of the top piece of plywood.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments 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.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeTar Newbert. They were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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