Two Kansas City, Missouri, men were sentenced in federal court on March 12 for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Donnique H. Kelley, also known as “Banks,” age 36, received a sentence of 200 months in federal prison without parole from U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark for participating in a conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl. Eugene Thomas, also known as “Texas,” age 55, was sentenced the previous day by Judge Ketchmark to 135 months in federal prison without parole for his role in distributing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Kelley, Thomas, and others sold fentanyl pills, fluor-fentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), cocaine, and methamphetamine to law enforcement between October 19, 2022, and December 13, 2023. Law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases from both men during the investigation. On September 12, 2023, after a car stop on East 63rd Street in Kansas City, Missouri, a co-conspirator who supplied fentanyl and methamphetamine was found with over four kilograms of methamphetamine, two kilograms of marijuana, and more than $14,000.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh and investigated by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the Jackson County Drug Task Force; police departments from Kansas City and Overland Park.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159. The task force is described as a partnership among multiple government agencies dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels and transnational criminal organizations operating within the United States.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri supports community outreach programs aimed at addressing violent crime and drug trafficking according to the official website. The office has locations in Kansas City, Jefferson City and Springfield according to the official website, is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Justice according to the official website, handles federal prosecutions across sixty-six counties according to the official website, covers an area stretching from Iowa to Arkansas borders according to the official website, and collaborates with various law enforcement partners according to the official website.
