Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that three co-defendants were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and powder cocaine in Boone County, Mo.

 

Ryan D. Wright, 39, of Springfield, and Marcus Dion Jordan, 36, and Kenneth Scott, Jr., 27, both of Columbia, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough. Wright was sentenced to four years and two months in federal prison without parole. Jordan was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole. Scott was sentenced to five years of probation.

 

Wright pleaded guilty on March 2, 2015, to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Wright also pleaded guilty to using a telephone to promote the conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of firearms.

 

Wright admitted that, in the spring of 2014, he traveled to Columbia to meet with co-defendant Malcolm Desean Redmon, also known as “Harp,” 33, of Columbia. They had each agreed to show the other parts of his business. Redmon explained the drug-trafficking business to Wright, and asked Wright to supply him with a prostitute for his own business. Prior to that time, Wright had purchased quantities of cocaine from Redmon and knew that Redmon sold and distributed cocaine to others. Redmon knew that Wright supplemented his regular income with revenue from female prostitutes.

 

Wright admitted that, over the time charged, he received approximately half a pound of cocaine powder from Redmon, and that he had it converted into at least 112 grams of crack cocaine, which he distributed. When Wright was arrested on Nov. 13, 2014, he was in possession of a Taurus .357-caliber revolver, a Ruger .38-caliber revolver and ammunition.

 

Jordan pleaded guilty on April 5, 2016, to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Jordan admitted that his residence, where he lived with his mother, was used as a meeting place, and a location from which crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana were distributed. Conspirators also cooked cocaine into crack at that location. On at least one occasion, Redmon gave Jordan’s mother money for utilities in return for use of the premises. Jordan was also given some cocaine for allowing the use of his home, which he either used or distributed.

 

When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jordan’s residence they found bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. In the garage, officers found two handguns, a Jennings .22-caliber pistol and a Phoenix Arms .25-caliber pistol.

 

Scott pleaded guilty on April 26, 2016, to using a telephone to facilitate a drug-trafficking crime. Scott’s father and co-defendant Kenneth Scott, Sr., 48, of Fulton, Mo., was in the business of distributing cocaine. Scott, Jr., was not a significant distributor but was a trusted member of the drug-trafficking conspiracy who admitted that he assisted his father with acts that facilitated the conspiracy.

 

One of the ways which Scott, Sr. would get cocaine to his customers was to arrange to have a key left in a car or truck, and once the customer had ordered and paid for the cocaine, the customer was told where the key was located. The customer could then use the key on the car or truck they were directed to, and pick up the cocaine. On June 13, 2014, Scott Sr. agreed to sell a person powder cocaine and told the person he would have Scott, Jr., take a key to him so that he could have access to what he was purchasing. Immediately afterward, Scott Sr. called his son on the phone and instructed him to go and get a key and hide it in the back of a truck so that a person could pick it up and use it. Once Scott, Jr., had complied with his father’s request to hide the key, he called him and told him that he had hidden the key in the truck in a gum box.

 

Wright, Jordan and Scott, Jr., are among 17 defendants in this case who have been sentenced; nine defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

 

Scott was sentenced on Sept. 29, 2016, to 10 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, to being a felon in possession of firearms and to money laundering. Scott admitted that he was a major distributor of cocaine to various persons in the mid-Missouri area, including Columbia and Fulton. Scott was responsible for distributing more than six kilograms of cocaine, some of which had been converted into many pounds of crack cocaine.

 

Redmon was sentenced on Sept. 29, 2016, to 24 years and four months in federal prison without parole. Redmon pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of powder cocaine and crack cocaine in Boone County from November 2011 to August 2014.

 

According to court documents, Redmon – the leader of the criminal conspiracy – and those working for him received a total of four kilograms of powder cocaine over the course of the conspiracy. During the investigation, law enforcement purchased 216.78 grams of crack cocaine and 46.04 grams of powder cocaine from members of the conspiracy. Law enforcement also seized 55.5 grams of crack cocaine and 93.63 grams of powder cocaine. The interception of telephone calls and statements made by co-defendants reflected a substantial number of additional transactions between members of the conspiracy. Court documents also cite Redmon’s involvement in numerous shooting incidents and his history of criminal activity, including violent crimes and drug use.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, MUSTANG (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group), the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Boone County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.