KC Conspirator Ronnie Barrett Gets 19 Years for PCP Distribution

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The grim reality of drug trafficking hit close to home as Ronnie Barrett, a 46-year-old Kansas City resident, was sentenced today to 19 years in federal prison without parole for his role in a conspiracy to distribute PCP.

According to Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Barrett pleaded guilty on Nov. 22, 2016, to participating in the distribution scheme from Jan. 1, 2014, to May 21, 2015. The mid-level dealer admitted to obtaining multiple-ounce quantities of PCP and distributing it through various means, including PCP-dipped cigarettes known as “sticks,” half-ounce bottles, and full ounce bottles.

Barrett’s sentence also included charges for aiding and abetting money laundering, as he admitted to assisting an uncharged accomplice in laundering proceeds from the drug trafficking. The illegal funds were used to purchase a 2006 Maserati Quattroporte at a Kansas City dealership, valued at $25,000, with the intention of concealing the true ownership of the unlawful earnings. The car was registered under the name of the uncharged accomplice.

This sentence marks the conclusion of a case that saw 11 defendants pleading guilty and being sentenced for their involvement in the PCP conspiracy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman prosecuted the case, while investigations were conducted by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

Barrett’s 19-year sentence stands as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who participate in serious drug trafficking operations in Missouri.

The grim details of this case once again highlight the persistent threat posed by PCP distribution in our community. The efforts of law enforcement agencies like the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI are crucial in combating such criminal activities.