14 Defendants Plead Guilty to $4.3 Million Meth Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that 14 defendants pleaded guilty in federal court this week to their roles in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine throughout Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.

Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 40, Ryan A. Battagler, 38, and Elgin Eugene Dothage, 41, all of Kearney, Mo.; Jason Daniel Davis, 43, of Liberty, Mo.; Joshua K. Bowers, 33, of Polo, Mo.; and Paula Rae Scott, 48, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to the charges contained in a July 7, 2015, federal indictment.

Jose Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 38, his brother, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 34, and Caleb Dean Hayes, 36, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Brian Michael Bowers, 34, of Richmond, Mo.; and Taylor Lee Syas, 25, of Polo, pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

Gregory Bullock, 48, of Kansas City, Mo., and Anthony Ray Stevenson, 45, of Excelsior Springs, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 7, 2017.

Bryan D. Carroll, 28, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

In addition, co-defendants Rodney Earl King, 51, of Excelsior Springs, Franklin Charles Carter, 28, of Grandview, Mo., and Jay Harrison Lee Carder, 31, of Cowgill, Mo., pleaded guilty last week.

They are among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty; four of those convicted defendants have been sentenced.

In 2010, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA initiated an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, Joshua Bowers and Bullock admitted that they were the primary sources that supplied co-conspirators with large amounts of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Co-conspirators then distributed the methamphetamine throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties in Missouri.

According to court documents, conspirators sold $4,359,600 worth of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015. That estimate is based on a conservative street price of $1,200 for an ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a conservative street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin and an overall conspiracy distribution of approximately three pounds.

On Jan. 13, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence regularly frequented by members of the drug-trafficking conspiracies. Approximately one kilo of methamphetamine was recovered along with heroin, firearms, drug paraphernalia, drug sale proceeds and a drug ledger.

Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar and Bullock each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Under the terms of their plea agreements, Jose and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar each will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 10 to 16 years in federal prison without parole. Bullock is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.

Morgan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing firearms (including a pink, pump-action shotgun) in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and maintaining a drug premises. Morgan admitted that her involvement in the conspiracy resulted in the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine. Morgan is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.

Joshua Bowers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Bowers admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine and more than one kilogram of heroin. Bowers also admitted that he possessed a Springfield .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, a New England 12-gauge shotgun and various other firearms during the time of the conspiracies. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Joshua Bowers will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 15 and 30 years in federal prison without parole.

Syas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, possessing firearms (including a Springfield Armory .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a New England 12-gauge shotgun) in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and maintaining a drug premises. Syas admitted that her involvement in the conspiracy resulted in the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine and more than one kilogram of heroin. Syas is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole.

Four defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gary Dewayne Brown, 37, of Cowgill, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Ronald Louis Roberts, 54, of Lathrop, Mo., was sentenced to 10 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Brittney James Brehm, 38, of Bland, Mo., was sentenced to six years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. Darin Gene Berry, 51, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison without parole.

The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades, Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Matt Moeder. It was investigated by the Clay County Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA.