January 22, 2015

Kansas City Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Cocaine Conspiracy That Resulted in Murder, Attempted Murder

KANSAS CITY, MO—Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a $7.5 million conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, which resulted in a murder and an attempted murder for which state charges are pending.

Garron T. Briggs, also known as “Guice,” 29, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

On June 5, 2014, Briggs pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of crack cocaine between Jan. 1, 2006, and Nov. 13, 2013. Briggs also pleaded guilty to one count of distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine on July 27, 2011.

In addition to the drug-trafficking charges, the court found in rendering the sentence that Briggs also participated in the drug-related murder of Edward Ewing, II, in August 2011. Briggs believed that Ewing had stolen $40,000 and nine ounces of cocaine from him in a burglary. Testimony during the sentencing hearing was that there is no evidence to indicate that Ewing, who was employed full-time and did not have a felony criminal record, was responsible for the burglary.

Briggs and two other men waited outside Ewing’s residence until Ewing’s girlfriend arrived, then confronted her at gunpoint and forced their way into the residence. They pistol-whipped Ewing, who told them he didn’t know anything about the burglary, then repeatedly shot and killed him. Briggs shot Ewing’s girlfriend in the throat and she pretended to be dead, but actually survived the shooting.

Briggs is charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with first degree murder, first degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action. The state case is pending.

Briggs is among 16 defendants charged in the federal indictment, all of whom have pleaded guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.