Trenton Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Meth Conspiracy in Northern Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Trenton, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in north central Missouri.

Faron Wayne Lawrence, 52, of Trenton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

NITRO (the Northwest Inter-agency Team Response Operation) initiated an investigation in Grundy County, Mo., in December 2014 that focused on methamphetamine distribution in the north central region of Missouri, with sources of supply in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area.

On Nov. 21, 2017, Lawrence pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Lawrence admitted that he purchased methamphetamine from co-defendants Ryan Peter Trombley, 33, of Trenton, and Christopher John Vaccaro, 42, of Kansas City, Mo. Trombley and Lawrence traveled to the Kansas City area multiple times each week to acquire ounce-quantities of methamphetamine. Lawrence then distributed the methamphetamine to co-defendant Alicia Marie Grimes, 50, and others in Trenton.

Lawrence admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Lawrence is the seventh and final defendant to be sentenced in this case.

Trombley was sentenced to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Grimes was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of methamphetamine. Vaccaro was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to possessing firearms in relation to a drug-trafficking crime.

Robert Ryan Hicks, 36, of Belton, Mo., was sentenced to 17 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Crystal Renee Breshears, 27, of Belton, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Allen Ray Watson, 45, of Blue Springs, Mo., was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and NITRO (the Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation).