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Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Missouri

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Tammy Dickinson
, United States Attorney
Contact: Don Ledford

Independence Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting in Two Deaths

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the shooting deaths of three persons during a home invasion in Independence and the shooting of a 12-year-old boy in the home.

Kevin M. Finley, also known as “Tubbs,” 36, of Independence, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 27 years in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 10, 2015, Finley pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, causing the deaths of two persons.

Finley admitted that he and several co-defendants planned to steal as much as three pounds of methamphetamine by robbing the residence of Martin “Tomas” Dominguez-Gregorio in Independence. During the robbery attempt, in the early morning hours of Nov. 16, 2012, Martin “Tomas” Dominguez-Gregorio, his girlfriend, Maria Guadalupe Hernandez-Corona, and her son, Antonio Hernandez, were killed; Miguel Hernandez, Maria Hernandez’s then-12–year-old son, was wounded.

Finley met with co-defendants Raul Soto, also known as “Choch,” 25, of Kansas City, Kan., Carlos Zambrano, Jr., also known as “Los,” 30, of Kansas City, Mo., and Antonio Cervantes, III, also known as “Taz,” 34, of Independence, to plan the robbery on Nov. 15, 2012. Finley and Soto were both in possession of firearms.

Finley and Soto entered a shed behind the house. Finley admitted that they bound and beat two occupants inside the shed. One of those occupants was Antonio Hernandez. Finley and Soto then dragged Antonio Hernandez into the main house. Finley and Soto demanded drugs and money from the occupants, but the victims denied having any drugs or money. Finley and Soto both fired their weapons inside the house. Finley was responsible for the deaths of Dominguez-Gregorio and Hernandez-Corona, who were both killed by the gunfire. Soto was responsible for the death of Antonio Hernandez, who was killed by the gunfire. Miguel Hernandez was wounded as a result of the gunfire.

Following the robbery, a motorcycle and a TV were removed from the residence and placed into the back of Phillips’ truck.

Soto was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison without parole. Cervantes was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Zambrano was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Edwards. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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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

http://www.justice.gov/wdmo

Twitter:

@USAO_WDMO

Facebook:

http://www.Facebook.com/USAOMOW

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Kansas City Field Division