KC Reporter

Five people from the Kansas City area have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The indictment includes charges related to the sale of drugs to an undercover agent, and one individual faces additional firearm charges.

Marcellus W. Anderson, 31; Tyra K. M. McGee, 37; Virgil D. Tillman, 41; and Martin A. Holloman, 40, all from Kansas City, Missouri; along with Ricky M. Bowie, 25, of Kansas City, Kansas, were charged in a 14-count superseding indictment issued by a federal grand jury on August 13, 2025. The indictment was unsealed after Bowie's arrest and initial court appearance earlier this week. Tillman and Holloman were also arrested this week.

The new indictment replaces an earlier version returned on June 27 that named only Anderson and McGee as defendants and now includes the three additional individuals.

Prosecutors allege that between December 1, 2023, and June 11, 2025, all five defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

Anderson faces further charges including three counts of distributing cocaine, one count of distributing methamphetamine, five counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment documents, Anderson allegedly possessed a Glock Model 27 .40 caliber pistol on January 29, 2025.

McGee is charged alongside Anderson with one count each for distributing fentanyl and distributing a fentanyl analogue. Bowie, Tillman, and Holloman are each charged with Anderson in separate counts for distributing fentanyl.

An affidavit supporting the original complaint against Anderson and McGee states that Anderson sold cocaine to an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agent on three occasions; methamphetamine once; fentanyl six times; and a fentanyl analogue once. McGee was involved in two transactions involving fentanyl or its analogue. During one transaction where drugs were exchanged for cash with an undercover agent from ATF—a federal agency focused on investigating illegal firearms offenses—Anderson reportedly had a loaded pistol in his lap for protection.

Federal law prohibits those convicted of felonies from possessing firearms or ammunition. Anderson has previously been convicted for receiving stolen firearms.

Authorities emphasized that “the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations,” adding: “Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings is prosecuting the case following investigations by ATF; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Kansas City Police Department; and Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force.

This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative designed to marshal resources from agencies such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) under the Department of Justice—to target organized crime groups involved in illegal drug trafficking operations across communities nationwide.