Two KC Men Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two members of a drug-trafficking organization that distributed at least 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Independence, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo., area have been sentenced in federal court.

Alberto Manuel Piggott, 32, and Diamond Lynell Cooper, 34, both of Kansas City, Mo., were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner. Piggott was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Cooper was sentenced on Thursday, April 16, 2015, to 16 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

The court also ordered Piggott and Cooper to forfeit $700,000 to the government for which they are jointly and severally liable, which represents the proceeds of drug-trafficking (based on a conservative street price of $2,000 per ounce and distribution of at least 10 kilograms of methamphetamine through the overall conspiracy).

On Sept. 25, 2014, Piggott pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, participating in a money-laundering conspiracy, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Oct. 30, 2015, Cooper pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies, and to aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Piggott admitted that, from 2009 to 2012, he and co-defendant Bonnie Cortez Hernandez, 39, of Kansas City, Mo., supplied the other conspirators with methamphetamine for further distribution. From May 5, 2010, to July 19, 2011, Piggott was found in possession of methamphetamine totaling over 50 grams and three weapons: May 5, 2010, vehicle stop and seizure of .20-gauge shotgun and 1.73 grams of methamphetamine; Dec. 22, 2010, vehicle stop and seizure of 21.23 grams of methamphetamine; Jan. 31, 2011, vehicle stop and seizure of 14 grams of methamphetamine; Feb. 24, 2011, vehicle stop and seizure of 19 grams of methamphetamine; April 4, 2011, vehicle stop and seizure of a shotgun and a 9mm Beretta handgun; and July 19, 2011, a stolen Taurus TCP 380 with six rounds.

Cooper admitted that he sold 1.4 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on Aug. 23, 2011. On Sept. 13, 2011, a vehicle stop of Hernandez and Cooper was conducted and a stolen .45-caliber Sig Sauer and 37.69 grams of methamphetamine were seized. On Oct. 18, 2011, a vehicle stop of Cooper was conducted and a consent search of Hernandez’s residence was conducted and they resulted in the seizure of a 9mm Sky Industries pistol and 4.2 grams of methamphetamine. On Dec. 7, 2011, another vehicle stop of Cooper resulted in the seizure of 39.23 grams of methamphetamine.

Co-defendants Hernandez, Juliann Marie Savona, 30, and William Gregory Smith, 33, all of Kansas City, Mo., have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

Co-defendant Brittany Michelle Dugger, 26, of Independence, Mo., was sentenced on March 18, 2015, to 11 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.