Seven Defendants Indicted, Connected to Two Murders

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that seven defendants have been indicted on charges related to two murders.

Shawn Burkhalter, also known as “Deuce,” 29, Sharika Hooker, 29, and Autry Hines, also known as “Bud,” 26, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Joslyn Lee, also known as “Bless,” 26, and Nickayla Jones, 22, both of Blue Springs, Mo.; Rachel Ryce, 30, of Raytown, Mo.; and Joshua Nesbitt, also known as “T,” 23, of Crowder, Miss., were charged in a 14-count indictment returned under seal on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests of Lee and Hooker. The remaining defendants are already in state custody on related charges.

The federal indictment contains four capital counts related to the murders of two individuals.

Murder of Danny Lamont Dean

The indictment alleges that Burkhalter and Nesbitt shot and killed Danny Lamont Dean on Sept. 10, 2015, while robbing him of cocaine. Burkhalter and Nesbitt are charged together in one count of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. They allegedly used a Rock River Arms AR-15 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle.

Lee is charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact. She allegedly assisted Burkhalter and Nesbitt after the murder in order to hinder and prevent their apprehension, trial and punishment.

Murder of Anthony Dwayne Johnson

The indictment alleges that Nesbitt shot and killed Anthony Dwayne Johnson on Oct. 4, 2015. Burkhalter and Nesbitt are charged together in a second count of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to a drug-trafficking crime; the indictment alleges that the murder occurred while they were robbing marijuana from an apartment. Burkhalter and Nesbitt are also charged in one count of murdering a potential witness; the indictment alleges that the murder occurred in order to prevent the victim’s testimony and to prevent him from communicating with law enforcement. They allegedly used the same AR-15 rifle.

Burkhalter, Nesbitt, Lee, Jones, Hines and Ryce are charged together with participating in a witness and evidence-tampering conspiracy. Their objectives were to kill or at least intimidate and threaten Johnson, the indictment says. Nesbitt, Lee, Jones, Hines and Ryce allegedly stashed the AR-15 rifle at a residence.

Lee, Jones, Hines, Ryce and Hooker are charged together with being accessories after the fact. The indictment alleges that they assisted Burkhalter and Nesbitt by, anmong other things, taking steps to hide or destroy evidence pertaining to the murder. Hooker allegedly assisted Burkhalter and Nesbitt by providing Nesbitt with sanctuary and money after the murder.

Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy

    Six of the seven defendants – Burkhalter, Nesbitt, Lee, Jones, Hines and Ryce – are charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana from 2008 to Feb. 20, 2018.

In addition to the conspiracy, Burkhalter and Nesbitt are charged together with one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute on Sept. 10, 2015.

Burkhalter and Nesbitt are charged together with one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, related to the discharge of the AR-15 rifle in furtherance of the drug-traffficking conspiracy and the possession of cocaine to distribute.

Burkhalter, Nesbitt, Lee, Jones, Hines and Ryce are charged together with possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute on Oct. 4, 2015. The indictment alleges that they intended to sell a quantity of the marijuana they robbed on that date. They are also charged together in one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Armed Robbery

    Burkhalter and Nesbitt are charged together in one count with robbing a Kansas City, Mo., business on Sept. 8, 2015, and in one count with brandishing a firearm (the same AR-15 rifle) in furtherance of a crime of violence. Burkhalter and Nesbitt are also charged together in one count of being felons in possession of a firearm.

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Raskin and Adam Caine. It was investigated by the FBI and the KansasCity Police Department.