Fourteen Indicted in Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Fourteen defendants, all residents of the Kansas City, Mo., area, have been indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Several of the defendants face multiple charges in the eighty-count indictment.

Antwan L. Fayne, also known as "Twelve," 43, Aaron T. James, 37, Timothy E. Murphy, 59, James E. Barton, 46, Allison R. Shea, 30, Rodney Vaughn, 60, Charles E. Hall, 40, Brad Akins, 38, Joshua A. Kisner, 38, Devion R. McDonald, 31, Ida M. Gates, 41, Cora E. Fayne, 69, Walter L. Brown, 61, and Marcus L. Whitley, 54, were charged in an eighty-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, July 16.

The indictment was unsealed on Thursday, July 17, after the arrest of several defendants. This indictment replaces three criminal complaints that were filed against six of the defendants earlier this month.

In addition to the conspiracy, there are six defendants charged with maintaining drug involved premises. There are sixteen counts related to distributing controlled substances within 1,000 feet of public playgrounds within Kansas City. Additionally, there are firearms offenses charged, to include felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm while under an order of protection, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges 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 Ashleigh Ragner and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; IRS-Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); with support from Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).