Jury Convicts Kansas City, Kansas Man for Shooting at Law Enforcement

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A federal jury convicted a Kansas man for taking part in a retaliatory shooting that injured two people, including a federal task force officer.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, G’Ante Butler, 24, of Kansas City, Kansas, was found guilty of one count of forcible assault on a federal law enforcement officer and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

On August 3, 2020, Kansas City, Kansas police officers responded to a “shots fired” call on Farrow Avenue, where the defendant’s parents lived. Later that evening, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agents and federally deputized Task Force Officers (TFOs) went to North Allis Street and arrested one of the individuals responsible for the earlier Farrow Avenue residence shooting. After executing a search warrant at the North Allis Street residence, and as the officers were returning to their vehicles, multiple shooters began firing at them. The officers tried to immediately take cover, however, not before an officer and a civilian bystander were struck by gunfire.

Based on evidence gathered during the subsequent investigation, ATF agents learned the shooting was orchestrated by G’Ante Butler and other individuals in retaliation for the earlier incident on Farrow Avenue. Their plan was to shoot at the North Allis Street home and any individuals they encountered there. Officers later recovered approximately 101 casings and two live rounds (including 9mm, .40 caliber, .45 caliber, 5.56 caliber, and 7.62 caliber casings) from an alley west of the targeted North Allis Street home.

Co-defendants Nadarius Barnes, 24, Chase Lewis, 23, and Donnell L. Hall, 28, all of Kansas City, Kansas, each pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault on a federal law enforcement officer and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

A fifth defendant is scheduled to stand trial in February 2024.

“Gang members and their reckless violence are threats to the entire community, including those sworn to protect us. We are fortunate that the officer and the innocent bystander in this case didn’t lose their lives or suffer more serious injuries,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Those who think they can orchestrate gun battles in our streets without the U.S. Department of Justice pursuing severe legal consequences against them are mistaken.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra and Trent Krug are prosecuting the case.

OCDETF Strike Force Cases

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Western District of Missouri and District of Kansas. The OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Kansas City, Missouri, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Missouri (USAO-WDMO), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation Division (IRS/CID), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the United States Postal Inspection Service and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.

Three Kansas City Men Charged with Northland Bank Robbery

KANSAS CITY, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three Kansas City, Missouri men were charged in federal court with robbing the Bank of America today.

Edward L. Green, 24; Robert Lowe, 26; and Rolando Winters, 24, all of Kansas City, were charged with stealing $5,863 from Bank of America in a criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri. All three men remain in federal custody.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on Green, Lowe, and Winters as the men were apparently casing several banks in North Kansas City, Missouri, and in Kansas City-North. They eventually parked in the parking lot at the Sycamore Hills apartment complex, on a hill overlooking Bank of America, 661 N.W. 55th Terr. in Kansas City.

Lowe and Winters got out of the Pontiac G5 and walked to the bank, the affidavit says, while Green moved the vehicle into position to pick them up after the robbery. Green and Lowe allegedly pulled scarves up over their faces and ran into the bank at about 10:35 a.m. According to the affidavit, Winters announced, “This is a robbery,” and he demanded money from one of the tellers, telling her that her life depended on it. Lowe allegedly took money from another teller.

When Lowe and Winters ran out of the bank, law enforcement officers ordered them to stop. Green was arrested without incident, but Lowe and Winters continued to run around the apartment complex. They ran into an undercover law enforcement truck around the corner of a building and were taken into custody. Winters was transported to North Kansas City Hospital for treatment of injuries he received from running into the vehicle.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Clark. It was investigated by the FBI.

FBI Seeks Public’s Assistance Concerning Recent Fire at Islamic Center of Joplin

Announces $15,000 Reward for Information

KANSAS CITY—Eric K. Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kansas City Division, announced today a combined reward of $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the recent fire at the Islamic Center of Joplin. The combined $15,000 reward is comprised of $10,000 from the FBI and $5,000 from the ATF.

On the morning of July 4, 2012, at approximately 3:30 a.m., reports were received regarding a fire on the roof of the Islamic Center of Joplin. The fire, which was extinguished by the Jasper County Fire Department, was a surface fire, contained on the roof of the building, that did not penetrate the building or cause any interior damage.

A review of the surveillance video showed an unidentified white male walking up to the building and throwing an ignited object onto the roof. Below is a full-face image, taken from the surveillance video, of the individual who threw the object onto the roof of the building.

Federal law criminalizes arson and vandalism against houses of worship committed either because of the race or ethnicity of the group using the property or, in certain circumstances, because of the religious nature of the property.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the ATF, and the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.

Law enforcement is requesting the assistance of the public in this matter. Anyone with information regarding this fire or the individual depicted in the surveillance video and the photo above is requested to contact any of the investigating agencies listed.

FBI Joplin Field Office: (417) 206-5700

Jasper County Sheriff’s Office: Detective Tim Williams (417) 358-8177, ext. 1223

ATF: (417) 837-2100

Missouri Division of Fire Safety Arson Hotline: 1-800-392-7766

Additional photos and surveillance video of the suspect attempting to start the fire at Islamic Center will be distributed to members of the media at a scheduled press conference in an effort to seek the public’s assistance in identifying this individual.

Sugar Creek Man Charged with Bank Robbery

KANSAS CITY, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Sugar Creek, Missouri man was charged in federal court today with robbing Metcalf Bank in Kansas City, Missouri.

Raymond F. Paris, 71, of Sugar Creek, was charged with bank robbery in a criminal complaint that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri. Paris remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

According to an affidavit that was filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, Paris entered Metcalf Bank, 4668 Blue Ridge Blvd., on Thursday, July 5, 2012. While he was standing at the teller counter, Paris allegedly pulled a mask (a nylon stocking with holes) down over his face. Paris allegedly approached the teller counter and pulled two large manila folders from under his shirt. He handed one of the folders to the teller in front of him and tossed the other folder to another teller, the affidavit says, stating, “Why don’t you fill that up.”

When one of the tellers hesitated, Paris allegedly said, “What do you think this is?” while he lifted up his shirt. The teller did not see a gun, the affidavit says, but assumed there must have been one there. According to the affidavit, Paris later told law enforcement officers that he had a BB gun in his waistband. One of the tellers was able to activate a silent alarm. The tellers put a total of $8,497 in the envelopes and gave them to Paris, who left the bank.

Kansas City police officers located Paris at his residence in Sugar Creek later the same day and surrounded the house. Paris, who refused to come out of the house, asked for a cigarette, and officers placed it on the deck outside. When Paris went to get the cigarette he was placed into custody.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the FBI.

KC Man Sentenced to 87 Years in Prison for Two Armed Bank Robberies, Resulting in Death of Security Guard

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced today for his role in two armed bank robberies in 2006 in which he shot and killed a security guard.

Iralee E. French, Jr., 25, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 87 years in federal prison without parole.

On July 22, 2011, French was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery in connection with two robbery attempts at United Missouri Bank, 7901 Wornall Road in Kansas City, in February 2006. During the second robbery attempt at the bank on Feb. 24, 2006, French shot 70–year–old security guard Dwight W. Mayhugh, Sr., who died the next day.

French’s co–conspirator, Thirplus Moose, 24, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty on July 8, 2011, to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, armed bank robbery with forcible restraint and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death. Moose is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, June 29, 2012. Under the terms his plea agreement, Moose could be sentenced to 22 to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

French and Moose used a shotgun to rob United Missouri Bank on Feb. 9, 2006. During that robbery, they confronted a bank teller in an underground parking garage as she was about to enter the bank at approximately 6:40 a.m. French pointed a shotgun at the teller, who was forced to give the robbers $8,263 from her teller station. After returning to the parking garage, the teller was ordered at gunpoint to get into the trunk of her vehicle, which she repeatedly refused to do. When she began screaming and crying, the robbers left the bank with the teller’s vehicle, which was recovered the next day after being abandoned by the robbers.

French and Moose returned to the bank on Feb. 24, 2006. Using a shotgun, the robbers confronted Mayhugh when he drove into the same underground parking garage. French shot Mayhugh in the right shoulder and neck from approximately 10 feet away through the driver’s side window of his vehicle. The robbers then forced Mayhugh out of his vehicle and into the bank. They demanded access to money, but Mayhugh responded that he did not have access to bank money. The robbers then stole Mayhugh’s 2002 Geo Tracker and drove it away from the parking lot. The vehicle was recovered later the same day.

Mayhugh, bleeding from severe chest and neck wounds, walked to the convenience store across the street from the bank and told the store clerk he had been shot. The clerk immediately called 911 for an ambulance. Another store clerk, seeing Mayhugh’s blood–soaked shirt and wounds in the neck and throat area, got a chair for him to sit on. The clerks placed towels over the wounds until paramedics arrived at the store. Mayhugh was transported to a hospital for treatment, but died the next day.

Law enforcement officers were unable to develop substantial leads or investigative progress in the bank robberies throughout the remainder of 2006, 2007 and a portion of 2008. On Aug. 12–13, 2008, law enforcement officers conducted a large scale re–canvas of the area around 23rd Street and Oakley in Kansas City. Nearly 500 houses were targeted to be canvassed in this operation. As a result of the publicity related to this re–canvas, a Yellow Cab taxi driver came forward and provided information related to the investigation. The taxi driver told investigators that, on the morning of the bank robbery, he picked up two men in the area of 5609 E. 23rd (the same area where the stolen vehicles were recovered) and drove them to the area of 79th Street and Brookside (a block east of United Missouri Bank), where he dropped them off.

Law enforcement investigators connected the telephone number that was used to call the taxi company with the telephone number provided by Moose, who had been contacted during the original canvas of the 23rd Street area on the day of the fatal bank robbery attempt.

This case is being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Missouri Woman Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Vandalism and Arson of Biracial Man’s Home

WASHINGTON—A Missouri woman was sentenced today to 63 months in prison for her role in the vandalism and arson of a biracial man’s home in Independence, Missouri, the Department of Justice announced.

Teresa Witthar, 43, of Independence, was sentenced in the Western District of Missouri by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple.

On February 2, 2012, Witthar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the Fair Housing Act, and one count of obstruction of justice. Witthar’s co-conspirators, Charles Wilhelm and David Martin, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2012, and March 7, 2012, respectively, to one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of the victim and one count of violating the Fair Housing Act for their roles in vandalizing and burning down Nathaniel Reed’s home in Independence.

According to the plea agreement filed with the court, Witthar, Wilhelm, and Martin conspired to intimidate and scare Reed, a biracial man, into moving out of the Highland Manor Mobile Home Park in Independence, in part because of his race. On or about June 6, 2006, Witthar, along with Wilhelm and Martin, entered Reed’s mobile home, without his permission, and vandalized it by writing at least 15 racially derogatory slurs on the walls of his trailer.

Two days later, on or about June 8, 2006, Witthar drove Martin and Wilhelm to a neighborhood behind Reed’s home so that they could set fire to his home without being detected. Witthar waited in her vehicle for Wilhelm and Martin to set the fire and then provided them a ride back to the Highland Manor Mobile Home Park.

The investigation further revealed that in spring 2011, Witthar unsuccessfully attempted to persuade another individual to testify falsely in front of a grand jury about her role in the vandalism and fire.

“Violent and destructive acts such as the arson of this man’s home seek to undermine the guarantees of equal justice and equal opportunity that are central to our laws,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to act aggressively to ensure that every American enjoys the right to occupy a home free of racially motivated intimidation and violence.”

“Today’s tough sentence makes it clear that our community will not tolerate racially motivated violence and intimidation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri David M. Ketchmark. “We are satisfied that this defendant is being held accountable for the arson, vandalism, and threats that violated Mr. Reed’s civil rights. By defending one victim’s right to live freely in his own home, we are upholding Constitutional freedoms for all citizens.”

Sentencing for Wilhelm is scheduled for July 24, 2012. Sentencing for Martin is scheduled for July 26, 2012.

These guilty pleas were the result of a cooperative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. This case was investigated by the Kansas City Division of the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Sheldon L. Beer of the Civil Rights Division.