A federal jury in Topeka Tuesday delivered guilty verdicts against four defendants charged with trafficking crack cocaine in the Junction City and Manhattan areas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that in late 2012 and early 2013 agents of Kansas Bureau of Investigation and detectives from the Junction City Police Department investigated a large crack cocaine trafficking organization in Junction City and Manhattan. The organization was led by defendants Albert Banks and Anthony Thompson, who acquired the drugs from three different suppliers and sold the drugs to distributors who resold them on the streets.
The jury returned guilty verdicts against:
Albert Dwayne Banks, 33, Junction, City, Kan, count one (conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine), count eight (distributing crack cocaine, count 11 (distribution crack cocaine), count 12 (distributing crack cocaine), count 15 (distributing crack cocaine) count 16 (distributing crack cocaine), count 17 (distributing crack cocaine).
Johnny Lee Ivory, III, 29, Topeka, Kan., count one (conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine), count 19 (possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine), count 20 (unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction).
Martye Madabuti Madkins, III, 34, Junction City, Kan., count two (distributing crack cocaine), count four (distributing crack cocaine).
Anthony Caryle Thompson, 33, Junction City, Kan., count one (conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine), count three (distributing crack cocaine), count five (distributing crack cocaine), count six (distributing crack cocaine), count seven (distributing crack cocaine), count eight (distributing crack cocaine), count nine (distributing crack cocaine), count 10 (distributing crack cocaine), count 13, distributing crack cocaine).
Defendants Zachary Carlyle Patmon and Otis Dean Ponds were acquitted.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 28.
The crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.
Distribution: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Grissom commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Junction City Police Department, the Geary County Attorney’s Office and and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi for their work on the case.
