Ryan D. Wright Sentenced in Boone Co. Cocaine Conspiracy

Springfield man Ryan D. Wright, 39, was sentenced to four years and two months in federal prison without parole for his role in a crack and powder cocaine trafficking conspiracy that spanned Boone County, Missouri. Wright, along with co-defendants Marcus Dion Jordan, 36, and Kenneth Scott, Jr., 27—both of Columbia—faced federal judges this week after pleading guilty to charges tied to a sprawling drug network.

Wright pleaded guilty on March 2, 2015, admitting he conspired with Malcolm Desean Redmon, aka “Harp,” 33, of Columbia, to distribute cocaine while also exchanging prostitution services for drug supply advantages. In the spring of 2014, the two met to tour each other’s criminal enterprises—Redmon dealt cocaine; Wright profited from female prostitutes. Wright admitted to taking delivery of half a pound of powder cocaine from Redmon, which he converted into at least 112 grams of crack and pushed onto the streets.

On November 13, 2014, Wright was arrested in possession of a Taurus .357-caliber revolver, a Ruger .38-caliber revolver, and ammunition—leading to an additional conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms. He also pleaded guilty to using a telephone to promote the drug conspiracy, showcasing the calculated coordination behind the operation.

Marcus Dion Jordan, 36, of Columbia, was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty on April 5, 2016. His residence, shared with his mother, became a hub for drug activity—used for meetings, distribution of crack, powder cocaine, and marijuana, and even cooking raw cocaine into crack. Redmon once paid Jordan’s mother for utilities in exchange for access. Jordan received cocaine as payment and either used or dealt it.

A search warrant executed at Jordan’s home turned up bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. In the garage, investigators seized a Jennings .22-caliber pistol and a Phoenix Arms .25-caliber pistol—adding a dangerous edge to the operation. Authorities say Jordan’s home was a nerve center in the distribution ring, deeply embedded in the underground economy.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Scott, Jr., 27, of Columbia, received five years of probation after pleading guilty on April 26, 2016, to using a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking. His father, Kenneth Scott, Sr., 48, of Fulton, Mo., ran a cocaine distribution business. On June 13, 2014, the elder Scott arranged a drug sale and instructed his son to hide a key in the back of a truck—inside a gum box—so the buyer could retrieve the drugs. Scott, Jr., made the call confirming the drop, sealing his involvement. He is one of 17 defendants charged in the case, signaling the broad reach of the federal probe.