Kearney Woman Sentenced for $4.3 Million Meth, Heroin Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kearney, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.

Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 41, of Kearney, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to nine years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Morgan to pay the government a money judgment of $1,490,000 based upon her drug responsibility.

On June 9, 2017, Morgan pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and maintaining a premises for the purpose of storing, distributing and using methamphetamine.

In 2010, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA initiated an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Gregory Bullock, 49, Jose Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 39, and his brother, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 35, all of Kansas City, Mo., have admitted to being the primary sources that supplied co-conspirators with large amounts of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Conspirators distributed methamphetamine throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties in Missouri.

Morgan admitted that she was among the conspirators who received large amounts of methamphetamine from the Ruiz brothers and others. She distributed the methamphetamine to others, who in turn re-distributed it. Morgan was responsible for the distribution of more than five kilograms of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers recovered a pink pump-action shotgun from Morgan’s residence after her arrest.

Bullock was sentenced to 15 years and five months in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay the government a money judgment of $365,000 based upon his drug responsibility. Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Jose Ruiz-Salazar awaits sentencing.

According to court documents, conspirators sold $4,359,600 worth of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015. That estimate is based on a conservative street price of $1,200 for an ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a conservative street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin and an overall conspiracy distribution of approximately three pounds.

Morgan is among 21 co-defendants who have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

Elgin Eugene Dothage, also known as “Butch,” 41, of Kearney, Mo., was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court ordered the federal sentence to be served consecutively to a nine-year sentence for his conviction in an unrelated state case. Ryan A. Battagler, 39, of Kearney, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

Jason Lee Kirtley, 45, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government $28,800, which represents the proceeds of drug trafficking. Steven Lee Schreier, Jr., 33, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole. Jackie R. Love, 61, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison without parole. Anthony Ray Stevenson, 46, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to 22 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Paula Rae Scott, 48, of Excelsior Springs, four years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. Marion Eugene Brammer, 54, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison without parole. Rodney Earl King, 52, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to five years and two months in federal prison without parole. Darin Gene Berry, 52, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison without parole.

Bryan D. Carroll, 29, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison without parole. Franklin Charles Carter, also known as “Frankie,” 29, of Grandview, Mo., was sentenced to eight years in federal prison without parole.

Jason Daniel Davis, 44, of Liberty, Mo., was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Taylor Lee Syas, 25, of Polo, Mo., was sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole. Ronald Louis Roberts, 55, of Lathrop, Mo., was sentenced to 10 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

Brian Michael Bowers, 35, of Richmond, Mo., was sentenced to 12 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Jay Harrison Lee Carder, 31, of Cowgill, Mo., was sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole. Gary Dewayne Brown, 38, of Cowgill, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Brittney James Brehm, 39, of Bland, Mo., was sentenced to six years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. 

Four co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. In addition to Jose Ruiz-Salazar, co-defendants William Dean Campbell, 37, of Excelsior Springs; Joshua Keith Bowers, 34, of Polo; and Caleb Dean Hayes, 37, of Kansas City, Mo., are among 26 defendants indicted in this case who have pleaded guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades, Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Matt Moeder. It was investigated by the Clay County Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA.