KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Guilty verdicts have been returned on three men convicted for their involvement in a $28-million drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, Marvin Lee Ellis, 36, Vernon Brown, 36, both of Kansas City, Kan., and Robert Vasquez, 40, of Socorro, Tex., were convicted Friday on charges related to their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Ellis was convicted on several counts related to the distribution and possession of crack cocaine, as well as maintaining a residence used for drug trafficking, located at 921 Haskell in Kansas City, Kan., and also unlawful possession of a fire arm after a felony conviction. Vasquez was convicted on counts involving money laundering, and Brown was convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute both cocaine and crack cocaine. A fourth defendant involved in the trial was acquitted.
Evidence was presented during the trial that indicated the three defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization which began being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in October of 2010. During the investigation over $2 million in cash, 194 firearms, 29 vehicles, 26 kilograms of cocaine and three kilograms of crack were recovered and seized.
The release states evidence was presented during the trial indicating the organization had employed several people to transport drugs from Mexico to the Kansas City, Kan. area. Vasquez was said to be one of the people hired as a courier. Investigators said he had met up with fellow conspirators at the Swift commercial trucking center in Edwardsville, Kan., where he was seen putting a black duffel bag inside of his semi-truck. Officers later pulled him over near Pratt, Kan. where he was arrested by the Kansas Highway Patrol. The duffle bag contained $549,495 in cash.
The trial also revealed that Brown had purchased crack cocaine with the intention of selling it several times from Ellis at the house located at 921 Haskell in Kansas City, Kan.
Ellis, Brown, and Vasquez are set to be sentenced at a later date, and face penalties which include serving several years in prison, and face fines of up to $10 million.
