St. Louis, MO – Kathleen Marie Hydar, 31, of Jefferson County, pled guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and sentencing has been set for July 9, 2019.

According to court documents, in the evening hours of October 10, 2017 and into the early morning hours of October 11, 2017, Hydar invited co-defendant Courtney Brown to come from the City of Saint Louis to Jefferson County, Missouri.  Hydar had informed Brown that she knew of a way for them to “make some money” that evening.  Brown picked up Hydar in a vehicle being driven by Ramone Thomas.  Also in the car were co-defendants Paris Devine, Raymond Seay, and an unindicted subject.

When Hydar got into the vehicle, she informed Devine and other members of the group that she knew of a location where they could steal large amounts of methamphetamine, United States currency, and firearms.  Hydar instructed the driver, Ramone Thomas, to make a stop at another residence prior to going to the aforementioned target location.  While at this residence, Hydar described, in detail, where Brown, Devine, Seay, and Ramone Thomas could locate a large amount of methamphetamine, firearms, and currency within a trailer owned by victim Chad Coffman.  After describing where the others could locate these items, Hydar got back into the vehicle and proceeded to direct the driver, Ramone Thomas, to the victim’s residence.  Hydar also made a phone call to victim Chad Coffman to ensure he would not be home when the group arrived to burglarize his trailer.

When they arrived at the victim’s residence shortly before 4:00 a.m. on October 11, 2017, Brown, Devine, Seay, and Thomas exited the vehicle, kicked in the main door, and made entry.

Shortly after Seay, Brown, Devine, and Ramone Thomas entered, victim Chad Coffman arrived home and interrupted the burglary.  Hydar jumped into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and fled the scene. 

While in the trailer, Thomas, Seay, Devine, and Brown heard victim Chad Coffman arrive home.  Ramone Thomas passed off a firearm he had brought to the residence to co-defendant Courtney Brown, and they all attempted to flee from the trailer.  As Brown exited the residence, he turned the corner, raised the firearm, and discharged it one time, believing he was shooting at victim Chad Coffman.  The projectile struck Ramone Thomas in front of the residence, killing him.

Chad Coffman pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to 96 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Paris Devine pleaded guilty on February 11, 2019 and is set for sentencing on July 9, 2019.  Raymond Seay pleaded guilty on March 13, 2019 and is set for sentencing on June 11, 2019.  Courtney Brown pleaded guilty on March 29, 2019 and is set for sentencing on June 25, 2019.

Hydar faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Major Case Squad and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office.

St. Louis, MO –Paris John Earnest Devine, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts – carjacking; brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence; and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.  Devine appeared today before U.S. District Henry Autrey who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for May 14, 2019.

According to the plea agreement, in the late evening hours of September 28, 2017, J.J. was getting off work as a pizza delivery driver when he drove to a MetroLink station in search of marijuana.  After inquiring from several people, Paris Devine and Ramone Thomas, who were strangers to J.J., informed J.J. that they could assist him in procuring marijuana.  J.J. invited Devine and Ramone Thomas into his vehicle, a black 2013 Kia Forte, before J.J. drove them around for between 30 and 45 minutes.

After stopping at a gas station in the area of 5415 Virginia Avenue, Devine produced a handgun and demanded that J.J. exit his car and surrender it to Devine and Thomas.  J.J. surrendered the Kia Forte and then contacted police.  After J.J.’s Kia Forte was recovered, having been used in the herein referenced home invasion, J.J. was shown two photographic lineups containing photographs of Devine and Ramone Thomas.  J.J. positively identified both and stated that Devine was the subject who brandished the firearm at him. 

In the evening hours of October 10, 2017 and into the early morning hours of October 11, 2017, co-defendant Kathleen Hydar invited co-defendant Courtney Brown and his associates, including defendant Paris Devine, to come from St. Louis City down to Jefferson County, Missouri.  Hydar had informed Brown that she knew of a way for them to “make some money” that evening.  Brown picked up Hydar in a vehicle being driven by Ramone Thomas.  Also in the car were Paris Devine, Raymond Seay, and an unindicted subject.

When Hydar got into the vehicle, she informed Devine and other members of the group that she knew of a location where they could steal large amounts of methamphetamine, United States currency, and firearms.  Hydar instructed the driver, Ramone Thomas, to make a stop at another residence prior to going to the aforementioned target location.  While at this residence, Hydar described, in detail, where Brown, Devine, Seay, and Ramone Thomas could locate a large amount of methamphetamine, firearms, and currency within a trailer owned by Chad Coffman.  After describing where the others could locate these items, Hydar got back into the vehicle and proceeded to direct the driver, Ramone Thomas, to 765 Chancellor Drive, the address of the trailer belonging to Coffman.  Hydar also made a phone call to Coffman to ensure he would not be home when the group arrived to burglarize his trailer.

When they arrived at Coffman’s trailer shortly before 4:00am on October 11, 2017, Brown, Devine, Seay, and Thomas then exited the vehicle and kicked in the main door to the trailer and made entry.

Shortly after Seay, Brown, Devine, and Ramone Thomas entered the trailer, Coffman arrived home on his motorcycle and interrupted the burglary.  Hydar jumped into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and fled the scene with the unindicted subject in the back seat. 

While in the trailer, when Thomas, Seay, Devine, and Brown heard Coffman arrive home, Ramone Thomas passed off a firearm he had brought to the residence to co-defendant Courtney Brown, and they all attempted to flee from the trailer.  As Brown exited the residence, he turned the corner, raised the firearm, and discharged it one time, believing he was shooting at Coffman.  The projectile struck Ramone Thomas in front of the residence, killing him.

Officers arrived on scene and obtained a search warrant for the trailer.  A search of the trailer revealed that Coffman was in possession of what lab analysis confirmed to be approximately five (5) pounds of methamphetamine.  Devine was apprehended by investigators in Jefferson County, Missouri, several hours after the burglary.

Chad Coffman pled guilty last year and was sentenced to 96 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

If convicted, the charge of carjacking carries a penalty of imprisonment of not more than 15 years and a $250,000 fine; brandishing a firearm carries a penalty of imprisonment of not more than life and a $250,000 fine; and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine carries a penalty of imprisonment of note more than life, a $10,000,000 fine.  In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Major Case Squad and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office. 

 

 

           

St. Louis, MO – Kathleen Marie Hydar, 30; Courtney Anarian Brown, 36; Paris John Earnest Devine, 25; and Raymond Christopher Seay, 39; were indicted today on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine.

According to the indictment, Brown and Devine were further charged with discharging a firearm that resulted in the death of Ramone Thomas, of St. Louis, on October 11, 2017.  Ramone Thomas had been a participant in an attempted burglary of a trailer located at 765 Chancellor Lane in Jefferson County, Missouri when he was killed. Devine is further charged with an armed carjacking that occurred on September 28, 2017 in the City of St. Louis.

The owner of that trailer, Chad Coffman, 36, has been charged separately for possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Hydar is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Brown is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death; Devine is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of carjacking; and Seay is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

If convicted, the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine; the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death carries a penalty of death or life in prison and a $250,000 fine; the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a minimum penalty of 7 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and the charge of carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Major Case Squad and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Angie Danis is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As is always the case, charges set forth in the complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.