Drug Trafficker, Murderers Sentenced to Life in Prison
Following Trial Convictions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tim Garrison, United States Attorney for
the Western District of Missouri, announced today that local and federal law
enforcement officers were recognized for their work on two significant cases as
recipients of the 2018 Guardian of Justice Award.
Kansas City, Mo., Police Detective Leland Blank and FBI
Special Agent Ryan Williams were recognized for their investigation of two men
who were convicted after a week-long trial of charges related to the kidnapping
and murder of another man.
Kansas City, Mo., Police Detective Don Stanze and U.S.
Postal Inspector Justin Lewis were recognized for their investigation into a
conspiracy to distribute large amounts of PCP, which was shipped in
gallon-sized containers from California. This successful investigation resulted
in the trial conviction of the California supplier as well as the successful
prosecution of numerous local defendants.
The award recipients were honored on Thursday, Aug. 16,
2017, during the 16th Annual LECC Training Seminar in Springfield, Mo.
USA v. King and Ross
Raynal King and Howard R. Ross III were each sentenced to
multiple life terms in federal prison without parole for the carjacking,
kidnapping and murder of Jaime Patton, following the investigation by Blank and
Williams.
Patton was returning home from the hospital, where he had
been caring for a family member, sometime after 5 a.m. that day when King and
Ross kidnapped him and stole his 2014 Jeep Patriot. They held Patton at
gunpoint and drove him around in his Jeep to ATM machines, attempting to force
him to provide his PIN number for his debit card so they could withdraw cash
from his bank account. Patton was unable to provide a working PIN number to
withdraw cash. King and Ross became upset with the lack of cooperation from
Patton and shot him in his upper thigh to make sure he knew they were not
playing around.
King and Ross then drove Patton in his Jeep south on Holmes
Road while they discussed what to do with him. At approximately 6:30 a.m.,
shortly after traveling south on Holmes Road through the intersection with
135th Street and further out of the city, Patton jumped out of his Jeep while
it was moving. Patton was shot multiple times while attempting to jump and he
fell to the roadway. King and Ross then fled from the area in Patton’s Jeep, leaving
him to die on the side of the road.
Blank and Williams expended tremendous investigative efforts
in this case and further demonstrated their dedication to justice during trial
preparations and throughout the trial. It is important to note that after the
jury was excused, several members of the jury were compelled to personally
commend the dedication to seeking justice and thoroughness of the investigative
efforts by law enforcement in this case. This type of acknowledgement by
members of our community who were randomly selected to serve as jurors in this
case is truly an honor.
USA v. Hamilton
Ladronal S. Hamilton, a resident of Hawthorne, California,
was sentenced to life in federal prison following the investigation by Stanze
and Lewis. Hamilton was the organizer and supplier to large-scale Kansas City
PCP distributors, each of whom has been convicted and sentenced in federal
court. He organized and arranged the cross-country shipment of numerous
multi-kilogram containers of PCP from California.
Investigators made three seizures of PCP from Hamilton that
totaled approximately 14 kilograms. In addition, the testimony of cooperating
witnesses during the trial established that Hamilton distributed additional
amounts in excess of 37 kilograms of PCP. Hamilton also possessed firearms in
relation to drug trafficking during the timeframe of the conspiracy. One
investigator testified that he recovered cocaine and three firearms from
Hamilton’s California residence.
PCP is an exceptionally dangerous and volatile hazardous
material requiring hazmat units or certified laboratories for proper
handling. PCP in the mail creates a
tremendous safety risk for postal employees and customers.
Hamilton was identified as the supplier in two additional
federal investigations that resulted in the convictions of 31 defendants in
separate cases.
In seeking the life sentence for Hamilton, the government’s
court filings refer to the serious nature of the crime and to Hamilton’s
extensive prior criminal record, which includes felony convictions for armed
bank robbery, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action
and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. A career
offender for violent crimes and narcotic offenses, Hamilton’s s interstate
distribution of large quantities of PCP began within three years of his release
from federal prison for armed bank robbery as a result of his second revocation
from supervised release.
Stanze joined the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department
following his service as a soldier in the United States Army. During his
20-year career as a police officer, Stanze has become a subject matter expert
in narcotics trafficking. As an undercover drug detective, Stanze purchased
nearly every type of illegal drug available on the streets of Kansas City. He
has used that experience to build long-term, federal investigations against
some of Kansas City’s most prolific and violent drug dealers. Stanze has been
sought out by federal investigators to lead or assist on multiple OCDETF
investigations due to his experience and work ethic.
Lewis has worked for the U.S. Postal Service almost his
entire adult life. He began working for the Post Office in college and spent
approximately eight years working as a clerk, branch supervisor, and in the
accounting department, before he became an inspector with the U.S. Postal
Inspection Service, where he has served for 15 years. As an inspector, Lewis
has focused his career on seizing illegal drugs and conducting investigations
for the successful prosecution of high-level drug dealers. Lewis is also one of
a select few postal inspectors who is qualified as a Dangerous Mail Specialist
and since 2003, Lewis is one of a select few inspectors trained to respond to
mail or parcels containing hazardous materials. Based on his extensive
experience, Lewis has been a subject matter expert in narcotics interdiction
and an instructor for drug interdiction for new U.S. Postal Inspectors for
approximately five years. Were it not for his focus and keen insight into
Hamilton’s use of the mail to facilitate his PCP shipments, the evidence to
prosecute the case may have never been discovered.
Guardian of Justice Award
The annual Guardian of Justice Award recognizes a state or
local officer as well as a federal agent for investigative excellence, selfless
collaboration, tireless trial support, commendable diligence and
professionalism, and noteworthy assistance to prosecution. The prestigious law
enforcement award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year during
the law enforcement training conference.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment