KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Another Excelsior Springs resident has been sentenced for his role in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.
Steven Lee Schreier, Jr., 33, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays April 10, 2018, to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole. Schreier pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In 2010, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA initiated an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Gregory Bullock, 49, Jose Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 39, his brother, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 35, all of Kansas City, Mo., have admitted to being the primary sources that supplied co-conspirators with large amounts of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Co-conspirators then distributed the methamphetamine throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties in Missouri.
According to court documents, conspirators sold $4,359,600 worth of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015. That estimate is based on a conservative street price of $1,200 for an ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a conservative street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin and an overall conspiracy distribution of approximately three pounds.
Schreier is among 21 co-defendants who have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Jason Lee Kirtley, 45, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison without parole and ordered to forfeit to the government $28,800, which represents the proceeds of drug trafficking. Jackie R. Love, 61, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison without parole.
In prior court proceedings, the following Excelsior Springs residents were sentenced: Anthony Ray Stevenson, 46, was sentenced to 22 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Paula Rae Scott, 48, four years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. Marion Eugene Brammer, 54, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison without parole. Rodney Earl King, 52, was sentenced to five years and two months in federal prison without parole. Darin Gene Berry, 52, was sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison without parole.
Five co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. In addition to Jose Ruiz-Salazar, co-defendants William Dean Campbell, 37, of Excelsior Springs; Joshua Keith Bowers, 34, of Polo; Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 41, of Kearney; and Caleb Dean Hayes, 37, of Kansas City, Mo., are among 26 defendants indicted in this case who have pleaded guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades, Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Matt Moeder. It was investigated by the Clay County Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA.