KANSAS CITY, MO – A ring of alleged gunrunners is facing federal charges after an ATF investigation uncovered a conspiracy to illegally traffic in machineguns and other firearms, some of which have surfaced at the scenes of violent crimes across the Kansas City metro area. Authorities unsealed an indictment today following the arrest of Antonio Manning, 21, of Kansas City, Missouri, marking the first public step in a case that promises to expose a dangerous flow of weapons into criminal hands.
The indictment names Manning, his brother Sheron Lamont Manning, 20, also of Kansas City, Michael Dewayne Hardy, 20, of Kansas City, and Dejohuan Mietz Huntley, 25, of Independence, Missouri. All four are accused of conspiring to illegally traffic firearms between May 24, 2022, and April 20, 2023. The illicit inventory included five Glock 9mm handguns, five Glock .40-caliber handguns, nine Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 style, multi-caliber pistols, a Romar/Cugir Mini Draco 7.62 x 39 caliber pistol, a Century Arms 7.62 x 39 caliber pistol, and a Glock .45-caliber pistol. Crucially, investigators allege that nine of these firearms were illegally converted into fully automatic machineguns.
The case deepened with the revelation that several of the trafficked weapons have been directly linked to previous shootings through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). According to a detention motion filed by federal prosecutors, a Glock .45-caliber pistol sold by Sheron Manning to a confidential informant was traced back to a shooting at the Winnwood Skate Center, 4426 N.E. Winn Road in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 13, 2022. Further investigation revealed that another Glock .40-caliber pistol, also sold by Sheron Manning, was used in a shooting at an occupied residence on February 5, 2022, and yet another Glock .40-caliber pistol was connected to a shooting in Kansas City, Kansas, on January 20, 2023, at North 59th and Cemech Road.
The trail of destruction doesn’t end there. A Glock 9mm pistol sold by Huntley to the confidential informant was linked to a homicide that occurred on April 9, 2019. Witnesses described a brutal attack where two or three individuals armed with handguns and an AK-47-type rifle opened fire on people sitting on the front steps of a house, resulting in one fatality. The same firearm was also used in a vehicle shooting on October 16, 2019. This demonstrates a clear pattern of these illegally obtained weapons fueling violence in the region.
The charges against each defendant vary. Antonio Manning faces three counts of trafficking firearms and one count of possessing an unregistered machinegun. Sheron Manning is charged with five counts of trafficking firearms and four counts of possessing unregistered machineguns. Hardy is charged with one count of trafficking a firearm and one count of possessing an unregistered machinegun. Huntley is facing two counts of trafficking firearms, two counts of possessing unregistered machineguns, and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford is prosecuting the case, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives leading the investigation.
It’s crucial to remember that these are accusations at this stage. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial. However, the evidence presented so far paints a disturbing picture of a brazen operation that put dangerous weapons into the hands of criminals and contributed to the escalating violence on the streets of Kansas City. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth about the criminal underworld operating within our communities.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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