A federal grand jury indicted 10 area residents — including two from St. Joseph, two from Atchison, Kansas and one from Amazonia, for involvement in an alleged $5.4 million conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Those charged were Michaela Joeanne Hernandez, 36, of Raymore, Missouri; Brandy Michael Morgan, 44, of Kansas City; Anthony Dewayne Fifer, 46, of Mexico, Missouri; Sharmyn Leanne Shryock, 27, and Jeffery Allen Jennings, 31, both of St. Joseph; Charlsie Kim Harris, 33, of Garden City, Missouri; Eric Edward Ballard, 25, and Linda Kay Ballard, 65, both of Atchison, Kansas; Brian Joe Russell, 36, of Amazonia, Missouri; and Adrian Leon Madrigal, 27, address unknown.
The five-count indictment was returned under seal Nov. 16. The indictment has been unsealed following the arrests and initial court appearances of some of the defendants.
Federal authorities said all 10 co-defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 1, 2015, to Nov. 16, 2017. The indictment alleges the distribution of more than 321 kilograms of methamphetamine. The five co-defendants are charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
In addition to the conspiracy counts, Hernandez is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
