KC Reporter

A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy linked to the deaths of three individuals. Luis Manuel Morales, 24, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark without the possibility of parole.

Morales had previously pleaded guilty on May 8, 2024, to charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He admitted to supplying fentanyl pills to co-defendant Tiger Dean Draggoo, also 24 and from Kansas City. The two exchanged roles as suppliers at times, with Morales introducing Draggoo to additional sources.

Between January 17 and October 29, 2022, Morales sold Draggoo at least 1,764 fentanyl pills over 15 transactions for $2,320 via Cash App and additional cash payments. He also bought at least 100 pills from Draggoo for $750. These transactions involved approximately 205 grams of fentanyl.

To disguise their financial exchanges through Cash App, Morales and Draggoo labeled payments as “rent,” “food clothes,” “clothes,” “food and beer,” “food,” “apt rent,” “reimbursement for mechanic,” and “reimbursement car payment.”

At the time of these activities, Morales was on probation following a state court guilty plea for attempted armed robbery involving a gunpoint theft.

Morales is the first among several defendants in this case to be sentenced. On October 16, 2024, Draggoo pleaded guilty to his part in the conspiracy and three counts of distributing fentanyl resulting in death. Five other defendants have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Jackson County Drug Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Belton Police Department, Raymore Police Department, Cass County Sheriff's Department, and the FBI.