KANSAS CITY, MO – A sprawling fentanyl trafficking operation snaking through northwest Missouri has landed ten individuals in federal court, with three new indictments unsealed this week. The bust, a joint effort between the ATF and multiple local law enforcement agencies, reveals a sophisticated network allegedly distributing deadly fentanyl while simultaneously laundering profits back to Mexico.
The latest defendants named in a second superseding indictment are Kaden Bernard, 22, of St. Joseph, Mo.; Raymundo Felix-Perez, 31, a Mexican citizen residing in Bethany, Mo.; and Joshua Stramel, 26, of Kansas City, Kan. They join seven previously indicted co-defendants: Craig Austin Troester, 24, and Cassidie Bumgarner, 21, both of Spickard, Mo.; Troy Lee Palmer, 24, of Trenton, Mo.; Dallas Hughs, 27, of St. Joseph; Jessica Nicole Moody, 30, of Bethany; Dakota Morris, 25, of Liberty, Mo.; and Lucas Ryan Coltrain, 23, of Newtown, Mo.
Federal prosecutors allege that Troester and Felix-Perez were the ringleaders, orchestrating the fentanyl distribution conspiracy that began as early as October 27, 2020. The indictment details a pattern of drug trafficking coupled with a deliberate attempt to conceal the source of the funds. Troester, Felix-Perez, Bumgarner, Coltrain, and Moody are all facing charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, accused of funneling drug proceeds – estimated to be in the thousands – to Sinaloa, Mexico between March 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022.
The indictment goes further, outlining specific firearms connections to the drug trade. Kaden Bernard is charged with possessing an FNH .45-caliber pistol, an FNH 9mm pistol, and a Century Arms 7.62×39 pistol on March 17, 2022, allegedly while intending to distribute fentanyl. Troy Lee Palmer, on December 8, 2020, allegedly possessed a cache of firearms including a Cricket .22-caliber bolt-action rifle, a Rossi .22-caliber rifle, a Rossi .410-gauge shotgun, a Ruger .410-gauge shotgun, a Hiawatha 12-gauge shotgun, and a Ruger .223-caliber rifle, all linked to the fentanyl operation. Dallas Hughs faces three counts of distributing fentanyl, while Joshua Stramel is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Brackett is leading the prosecution. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Grundy County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Trenton, Mo., Police Department, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Mercer County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Grundy County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and IRS-Criminal Investigation. This indicates the scale of the operation and the coordinated response required to dismantle it.
It’s crucial to remember that these are allegations at this stage. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal court of law. The evidence will be presented to a jury, who will ultimately decide the fate of these individuals and whether they were, in fact, involved in flooding Northwest Missouri with deadly fentanyl and attempting to hide their profits through international money laundering schemes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
Related Federal Cases
- Marco A. Sosa-Perea, Kidnapping Conspiracy, Missouri 2024 · Kansas
- Russell Hopkins, Securities Fraud Conspiracy, Kansas City MO, 2023 · Kansas
- Barry M Johnson, Interstate Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, Kansas 2024 · Nebraska
- Kiana Scott Clark, Marijuana Smuggling Conspiracy, CA 2024 · Missouri
- Delmar Dixon, Marriage Fraud Conspiracy, MO 2016 · Kansas
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
