Three KC Men Sentenced for Heroin, Meth Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that three Kansas City, Mo., men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.

Eric L. Harris, also known as “E,” 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips today to 13 years in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Joshua R. Fuertes, 35, was sentenced on March 2, 2017, to 17 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Ian C. Ransdell, 25, was sentenced on March 2, 2017, to 13 years in federal prison without parole.

The court also ordered Harris, Fuertes and Ransdell to forfeit to the government a money judgment of $840,000, which represents the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking, for which they are jointly and severally liable. Harris was ordered to forfeit to the government his residential property, which was derived from the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking.

Harris, Fuertes and Ransdell each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine from February 2012 to September 2014, and to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Harris also pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Harris admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that conspirators distributed approximately two kilograms of heroin and approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Fuertes supplied Harris with heroin and methamphetamine; Ransdell supplied Harris with heroin. Harris also supplied Ransdell and others with heroin and methamphetamine. An undercover detective purchased heroin from Harris and methamphetamine from Fuertes on multiple occasions.

On Aug. 13, 2014, a Kansas City police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle Harris was driving. Harris fled from the officer and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. Harris was eventually taken into custody after a foot chase. A search of Harris’s vehicle and the path in which Harris fled led to the recovery of a plastic baggie containing approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine, a plastic baggie containing approximately 28 grams of heroin and a small amount of marijuana. A .40-caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic pistol was later recovered from an area in which Harris threw it during the chase.

When officers executed a search warrant at Harris’s residence, they found 85.7 grams of methamphetamine, 9.9 grams of heroin, a small amount of cocaine, over 300 grams of marijuana, $42,560, three rifles, a shotgun, three handguns, ammunition and drug paraphernalia.

When officers executed a search warrant at Ransdell’s residence, they found 112.9 grams of heroin, 2.54 grams of methamphetamine, 18 handguns, a shotgun, six rifles, approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition (including a 100-round drum rifle magazine loaded with 91 rounds of ammunition), numerous firearms parts, two bullet-proof vests, drug paraphernalia and a gold Cass County Sheriff’s badge. Ransdell also had a storage locker, where officers found a small amount of heroin, drug paraphernalia, two loaded AR-15 magazines and $20,814.

When officers executed a search warrant at Fuertes’s residence, he attempted to flee from the officers by jumping on the second floor roof, only to encounter more officers at the rear of the residence. Investigators found two pistols, a shotgun, ammunition and drug paraphernalia at Fuertes’s residence.

Harris, Fuertes and Ransdell are among 12 defendants who have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in this case. The final defendant, William H. Shannon, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and awaits sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.