NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

JULY 15, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KC MAN SENTENCED FOLLOWING HIGH-SPEED CHASE,

SHOOT-OUT IN BROOKSIDE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing marijuana and a firearm following a high-speed car chase and shoot-out in the Brookside area.

Trae L. Winn, 23, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays this morning to 10 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On April 1, 2009, Winn was found guilty at trial of possessing with the intent to distribute marijuana and of possessing a firearm during and in relation to that drug-trafficking crime.

Winn was involved in a high-speed chase on 63^rd Street from Swope Parkway to Brookside Boulevard on Thursday, March 20, 2008. Winn was driving a red Camaro while being pursued by a maroon Chevrolet Impala and a purple Pontiac Bonneville. The cars were traveling in excess of 60 miles per hour westbound on 63^rd Street, with at least one of the pursuers leaning out the passenger-side window of his vehicle and shooting at Winn. The Camaro driven by Winn broadsided a pick-up truck at the intersection of 63^rd and Brookside Boulevard.

After the collision, Winn got out of the car and, pulled out a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol from the holster on the belt he was wearing, and began shooting at the Pontiac. A passenger in the Pontiac got out of the car and began firing at Winn with what appeared to be an assault rifle. Numerous shots were fired, leaving 14 bullet holes in Winn’s vehicle and striking nearby parked cars and businesses. The Pontiac and Impala left the area, and Winn placed his pistol on the hood of his car and waited for the police to arrive.

While searching Winn’s vehicle, police officers found three plastic bags of marijuana, totaling 161.53 grams, under the passenger seat, as well as a digital scale and multiple clear plastic baggies.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

****************

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at