KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a large crack cocaine conspiracy.
Lonnie Goodrich, also known as "Daniel Watkins" and "Verdell Goodrich," 58, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole.
Goodrich was convicted in two separate bench trials of participating in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and of maintaining a drug house at his residence for the use and distribution of crack cocaine.
Goodrich was found guilty before Judge Smith on April 4, 2012, of participating in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Jackson County, Mo., from Jan. 1, 2007, to Sept. 28, 2009. Nine co-defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
The drug-trafficking conspiracy primarily operated in the 4600 block of Chestnut Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. According to evidence introduced at trial, Goodrich sold crack cocaine from his residence on Chestnut Avenue. The conspiracy is estimated to have generated $300,000 in drug proceeds, which Goodrich and his co-defendants must forfeit to the government.
On April 27, 2012, Goodrich was also found guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner of maintaining a drug house at his residence from Dec. 14, 2006, to Sept. 23, 2009, for the use and distribution of crack cocaine. Goodrich awaits sentencing on this charge.
Law enforcement investigators became aware of sales of crack cocaine occurring on the 4600 block of Chestnut in Kansas City, Mo., and initiated an investigation that included surveillance and controlled drug buys. Numerous drug buys occurred each day, usually across the street from Goodrich's residence. At least 50 vehicles per day stopped to purchase crack cocaine from dealers. Dealers often returned to Goodrich's residence between sales. Customers sometimes entered Goodrich's residence to purchase crack cocaine and sometimes smoked their purchases inside the residence. Dealers used the residence to chop up and package their crack cocaine and get out of the weather.
Evidence introduced at trial indicated that dealers were required to pay Goodrich for the use of his residence. These payments were in the form of "dime rocks" of crack cocaine ($10 rocks) from dealers in the morning, as well as payments later in the day, depending on business. When Goodrich was arrested and incarcerated for several months in an unrelated case, he left instructions that his girlfriend would continue receiving those payments on his behalf.
Officers executed a federal search warrant at Goodrich's residence on Sept. 23, 2009. They found five different kinds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia, crack cocaine, marijuana and digital scales.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeTar Newbert and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Hershberger. It was investigated by the ATF and the NITRO Task Force
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