Kansas City Man Sentenced to 20 years for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in drug trafficking and the illegal possession of a firearm.

Brandon R. Haywood, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 20 years in federal prison without parole for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm.  Haywood was convicted of those offenses at the conclusion of a jury trial held in September 2025.

On Feb. 4, 2023, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a store in Independence, Mo., regarding a sexual assault, for which Haywood is charged in Jackson County, Mo., Circuit Court.  On Feb. 15, 2023, Haywood returned to the same store and was arrested by officers.  His vehicle was towed from the scene in anticipation of a search warrant.  When the state search warrant was executed on his vehicle, investigators located a Glock, Model 23, .40 caliber firearm; the defendant’s wallet; and approximately 30 grams of cocaine in the center console. Prior to this incident, Haywood was convicted of the felony offense of Voluntary Manslaughter in Jackson County, Mo., Circuit Court.            

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh Ragner and Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.