Sixteen Men Indicted in Murder-for-Hire, Drug Trafficking Conspiracies

KANSAS CITY, MO—Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that several Kansas City, Missouri area residents are among 16 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a large drug trafficking conspiracy and in an unsuccessful conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

Andre Taylor, also known as “Dre,” 47, and his relatives, Harlan Taylor, also known as “Bub,” 35; Raymond Taylor, 30; and Darryl Taylor, also known as “Cash Image” or “Cash,” 35, all of Kansas City, Missouri; Carl Taylor, also known as “Biggs,” 34, of Leavenworth, Kansas; and Kenneth Vaughn Cooper, 30; Eric Union, also known as “E,” 29; Bryant Willis, also known as “Spaghetti,” 33; Daniel Howard, also known as “Saw,” 39; and Tyrone A. Rock, 41, all of Kansas City, Missouri; Robert Taylor, also known as “R,” 32, of Grandview, Missouri; Marlon M. Minton, also known as “M,” 40, of Raymore, Missouri; Gregory Johnson, also known as “G,” 34, of Kansas City, Kansas; Allen L. Sanchez, also known as “Homey,” 25, of Overland Park, Kansas; Ruben Machiche, also known as “Cowboy,” 53, of Tucson, Arizona; and Richard Schoen, also known as “Steve” or “White Guy,” 51, of Cortez, Colorado, were charged in a 10-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri.

Today’s indictment alleges that most of the defendants—with the only exceptions of Cooper and Union—have participated in a conspiracy to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and five kilograms or more of cocaine since February 1, 2010.

Andre Taylor, Cooper, and Union are charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Today’s indictment alleges they conspired in August 2012 to murder Billy Brown for a payment of $10,000, although the murder was not carried out.

Andre Taylor and Cooper are also charged with possessing a machine gun during a crime of violence. The indictment alleges that they were in possession of a .45 ACP M10-type machine gun on August 21, 2012, in furtherance of the conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Cooper is also charged with being an unlawful drug user in possession of ammunition. The indictment alleges that Cooper, a user or addict of marijuana, was in possession of 18 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition on August 21, 2012.

In addition to the drug trafficking conspiracy, Andre Taylor and Howard are charged together in one count of distributing cocaine and Howard is charged with two additional counts of distributing cocaine. Andre Taylor and Ray Taylor are also charged together in one count of distributing cocaine, and Raymond Taylor is charged with one additional count of distributing cocaine.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged violations, including residential property in Kansas City, Missouri.

Dickinson cautioned that 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 Stefan C. Hughes. It was investigated by the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Jackson County Drug Task Force; the Lee’s Summit; Missouri Police Department; and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.