Five Excelsior Springs Men 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 five Excelsior Springs, Mo., men pleaded guilty in federal court this week to their roles in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.

Marion Eugene Brammer, 53, and Jason Lee Kirtley,44, both of Excelsior Springs, pleaded guilty today in separate appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert E. Larsen. Co-defendants Jackie R. Love, 60, and William Dean Campbell, 36, both of Excelsior Springs, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Co-defendant Steven Lee Schreier, Jr., 32, of Excelsior Springs, pleaded guilty on Monday, June 12, 2017.

By pleading guilty, Brammer, Kirtley, Love, Campbell and Schreier each admitted that he participated in conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. They are the last of 26 defendants indicted in this case 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 Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 38, his brother, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 34, and Gregory Bullock, 48, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Joshua K. Bowers, 33, of Polo, Mo., 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.

Brammer and Schreier each admitted that his involvement in the conspiracy was responsible for the distribution of more than 1500 grams of methamphetamine.

Kirtley, Love and Campbell each admitted that his involvement in the conspiracy was responsible for the distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

In addition to Jose Ruiz-Salazar, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, Bullock and Bowers, co-defendants who have pleaded guilty include Bryan D. Carroll, 28, and Caleb Dean Hayes, 36, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 40, Ryan A. Battagler, 38, and Elgin Eugene Dothage, 41, all of Kearney, Mo.; Paula Rae Scott, 48, Anthony Ray Stevenson, 45, and Rodney Earl King, 51, all of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Jason Daniel Davis, 43, of Liberty, Mo.; Taylor Lee Syas, 25, of Polo, Mo.; Brian Michael Bowers, 34, of Richmond, Mo.; Franklin Charles Carter, 28, of Grandview, Mo., and Jay Harrison Lee Carder, 31, of Cowgill, Mo.

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.

Under federal statutes, Brammer, Kirtley, Love, Campbell and Schreier are each subject to a sentence of up to 20 years 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.