Kansas Men Sentenced in Drug Trafficking Case Dubbed ‘Camera Shy’
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 24, 2012 |
KANSAS CITY, KS—Two Kansas City, Kansas men who were part of a drug trafficking ring that operated in the neighborhood around 20th Street and Longwood Avenue have been sentenced to federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. The federal investigation that led to their arrest was named Operation Camera Shy.
Marcus L. Quinn, 30, Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced to 360 months. He was convicted in a jury trial on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine, one count of conspiracy to maintain a residence at 2636 N. 20th Street in furtherance of drug trafficking; one count of conspiracy to maintain a residence at 2632 N. 20th Street in furtherance of drug trafficking; one count of maintaining a residence at 2635 N. 20th Street in furtherance of drug trafficking; five counts of distributing crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Northwest Middle School; and one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Northwest Middle School.
Willie F. Ford, 30, Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced to 420 months. He was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine; one count of conspiracy to maintain a residence at 2632 N. 20th Street in furtherance of drug trafficking; one count of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Northwest Middle School; and, one count of using a cellular phone in furtherance of drug trafficking. In February 2001, Ford was sentenced to federal prison for possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. After serving his sentence, he was released in September 2004.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that a drug trafficking organization led by Quinn’s brother, Antonio Quinn, distributed crack cocaine in Kansas City, Kansas, mainly from houses the ring controlled around 20th and Longwood. The core members of the organization, including Marcus Quinn, had known each other since they were teenagers and had sold drugs together for many years. In January 2002, Marcus Quinn was convicted on a federal charge of distributing crack cocaine and sentenced to federal prison. After serving his sentence, he was released on May 20, 2005. The first controlled purchase from Marcus Quinn in this case took place Aug. 30, 2007.
Co-defendants in this case include:
- Mark A. Brooks, who was sentenced to 420 months.
- Antonio Quinn, who was sentenced to 300 months.
- Calvin D. Collins, who was sentenced to 292 months.
- Steven L. Quinn, who was sentenced to 240 months.
- Andrew J. Price, who was sentenced to 240 months.
- Daniel Cardenas Garcia, who was sentenced to 170 months.
- Keyaun C. James, who was sentenced to 168 months.
- Lavaughn J. Brown, who was sentenced to 121 months.
- Adrian A. Melendez, who was sentenced to 110 months.
- Rocquel Jones-Quinn, who was sentenced to 84 months.
- Janis Diggins, who was sentenced to 71 months.
Grissom commended the following agencies for their work on the case: the FBI; the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department; the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department; the Lee’s Summit Police Department; the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department; the Leavenworth Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt.