Jury convicts eight who trafficked $20 million of marijuana

kansascity.com 4/29/11
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A federal jury in Kansas City, Kan., on Thursday convicted eight people related to the distribution of more than $20 million dollars worth of marijuana in the Kansas City area.

Gladstone McDowell, 60, of Kansas City, was the leader of the trafficking group, which had outposts in Kansas City, Kansas City, Kan., as well as in Jamaica, California, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Florida, prosecutors said today.

Jurors convicted him of one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, of conspiracy to commit money laundering, of money laundering and of attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana.

His group acquired marijuana from sources in Arizona and distributed it to cells by sending it through the mail, prosecutors said. They mailed money back to the suppliers in Phoenix and laundered money by using bank accounts in the United States and Jamaica, prosecutors said.

Also convicted Thursday of various drug charges were Dwight Rhone, Theodore McDowell, Sheldon McIntosh, Samora McIntosh, Ibrahima Kane, Stephen Blackburn and Delroy Buckley.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 12.