KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Kansas City, Missouri, men have been charged in federal court with robbing a family in their home at gunpoint.

Cameron E. Scott, 19, and Chase M. Murphy, 19, were charged in a five-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, Sept. 14. Murphy was recently charged in a separate complaint involving business robberies.

The federal criminal complaint charges Scott and Murphy together with one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, one count of armed robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of stealing a firearm, and one count of possessing a stolen firearm.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Scott and Murphy (along with an unidentified third man) robbed a group of three juveniles and four adults at gunpoint on March 22, 2020. The affidavit says the three men forced their way into a residence in the 8100 block of Wayne Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., and pointed firearms at multiple victims (mostly members of the same family). They held one of the victims at gunpoint while demanding money and marijuana.

The three men stole $450, a rifle, and a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol then left the residence. Officers saw a car matching the description a witness gave of the robbers’ vehicle. Three men got out of the vehicle and ran into a residence in the 9200 block of Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. Soon afterward, the driver of the vehicle returned to the car and left. Officers attempted to follow the vehicle but lost sight of it. Scott and Murphy were seen leaving from the back of the residence. When officers announced themselves, they fled into a wooded area. A short time later, Scott and Murphy were seen walking in the tree line near 93rd Street and Grandview Road. Officers tried to approach them, but they fled on foot again. Officers gave chase and ultimately found Scott and Murphy hiding in a creek bed.

Officers searched the residence on Indiana Avenue. In the attic, they found a black suitcase with a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol (which matched the description of the firearm taken during the robbery) and a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

The charges contained in this complaint 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. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

Operation LeGend

Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced today that 288 arrests have been made by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend.

Among those arrested since the launch of the operation, 61 are federal defendants. Among the remaining 227 arrests, 24 were homicide cases and 72 were fugitives with either state or federal warrants for their arrest. The remaining 131 non-fugitive arrests were referred for prosecution in state court.

In addition to the arrests, agents and officers have seized 89 firearms during Operation LeGend.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is not able to track cases that are referred for prosecution in state court. In addition to the arrests of federal defendants charged in other districts, or who were arrested for violating their supervised release, the following 38 defendants have been charged in federal court in the Western District of Missouri:

Edward Latimore, felon in possession of a firearm;

G’aunte Butler, drug user in possession of a firearm;

Chase Lewis, drug user in possession of a firearm;

Romeny Aubrey, felon in possession of a firearm;

Robert Jordan, felon in possession of a firearm;

Harun Rimson, felon in possession of a firearm;

Anthony Meneses, felon in possession of a firearm;

Lance Saenz, felon in possession of a firearm;

Scott Yount, drug trafficking;

Crystal Smith, drug trafficking;

Aurora Page, felon in possession of a firearm;

Crystell Smith, drug trafficking;

Devonte  Bowman, arson;

Jamahl Jones, felon in possession of a firearm;

Michael Moore, felon in possession of a firearm;

Tylor Lack, felon in possession of a firearm;

Dominic McDaniel, felon in possession of a firearm;

Cameron Smith, felon in possession of a firearm;

Charles Bai, felon in possession of a firearm, drug trafficking;

Federico Yanez-Saldivar, felon in possession of a firearm, drug trafficking;

Manuel Vazques, felon in possession of a firearm, drug trafficking.

Previously reported federal defendants:

Terrell L. Releford, felon in possession of a firearm;

Dustin M. Jordan, felon in possession of a firearm;

Zackory Phillips, felon in possession of a firearm;

Travis J. Pipes, heroin trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime;

Dylan Pruett, felon in possession of a firearm;

Chase M. Murphy, armed robbery conspiracy, armed robbery, brandishing firearms during a crime of violence. 

Monty Ray, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm;

Steven Younce, felon in possession of a firearm, meth trafficking, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime;

Daniel Briscoe, methamphetamine trafficking, heroin trafficking;

Leamandreal Dorsey, felon in possession of a firearm;

Shannon Walz, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition;

Maricela Lozano, carjacking, using a firearm during a crime of violence;

Gary Dorch, felon in possession of a firearm;

Patricia Nelson, felon in possession of a firearm;

Bobby Lynn King, felon in possession of a firearm;

Logan Tanner Laws, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm;

Michael Glen Zeigers, felon in possession of a firearm;

Nelson, King, Laws, and Zeigers are co-defendants also charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, money laundering, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Operation LeGend

Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced today that 59 additional arrests have been made in the past week by local and federal law enforcement officers in Operation LeGend, for a total of 156 arrests since the start of the operation.





Pastor Darron Edwards welcomed U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison to a meeting with about 20 local pastors at United Believers Community Church to discuss Operation LeGend.







Among those arrested since Aug. 1, new federal charges have been filed against six defendants, for a total of 17 new federal cases in Operation LeGend. All of the new federal defendants were charged with firearms-related crimes. Four of the six new defendants were charged with being felons in possession of firearms. One defendant was charged with heroin trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm. One defendant was charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit armed robberies at several local businesses.

Among the remaining 53 arrests in the past week, 35 were fugitives with either state or federal warrants for their arrest. The remaining 18 non-fugitive arrests were referred for prosecution in state court. Seven arrests were for homicides, for a total of 12 homicide arrests under Operation LeGend. Other offenses cited in the arrests included assault (including non-fatal shootings), drug trafficking, illegally possessing firearms, robbery, bank robbery, child molestation, sexual assault, possessing stolen property and possessing stolen firearms.





U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison met with a group of pastors this week to discuss Operation LeGend, listen to their concerns, and respond to their questions.







In addition to the arrests, in the past week agents and officers seized 17 firearms (for a total of 52 firearms seized during Operation LeGend); a number of stolen vehicles and motorcycles; 210 THC cartridges; quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana; and $52,000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is not able to track cases that are referred for prosecution in state court. The following defendants have been charged in federal court in the past week:

Terrell L. Releford, felon in possession of a firearm;

Dustin M. Jordan, felon in possession of a firearm;

Zackory Phillips, felon in possession of a firearm;

Travis J. Pipes, heroin trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime;

Dylan Pruett, felon in possession of a firearm;

Chase M. Murphy, armed robbery conspiracy, armed robbery, brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.

Previously reported federal defendants:

Monty Ray, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm;

Steven Younce, felon in possession of a firearm, meth trafficking, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime;

Daniel Briscoe, methamphetamine trafficking, heroin trafficking;

Leamandreal Dorsey, felon in possession of a firearm;

Shannon Walz, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition;

Maricela Lozano, carjacking, using a firearm during a crime of violence;

Gary Dorch, felon in possession of a firearm;

Patricia Nelson, felon in possession of a firearm;

Bobby Lynn King, felon in possession of a firearm;

Logan Tanner Laws, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm;

Michael Glen Zeigers, felon in possession of a firearm;

Nelson, King, Laws, and Zeigers are co-defendants also charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, money laundering, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Operation LeGend

Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.





A group of local pastors met with U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison this week at United Believers Community Church to discuss Operation LeGend.







 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man has been charged in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit at least seven armed robberies of local businesses, primarily fast food restaurants.

Chase M. Murphy, 19, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Aug. 4. That complaint was unsealed and made public today upon his arrest and initial court appearance. Murphy remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

The federal criminal complaint alleges that Murphy participated in a conspiracy to commit a series of armed robberies of local businesses from May 28 to July 12, 2019. Murphy is also charged with one count of robbing the Taco Bell at 5925 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo., at gunpoint on May 28, 2019. The complaint also charges Murphy with brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, a brick was thrown through the drive-through window of the Taco Bell on May 28, 2019, shattering the glass. Murphy and a co-conspirator, both carrying handguns, allegedly entered the restaurant through the broken window. They pointed their guns at the heads of two employees, the affidavit says, and ordered one to open the cash register. They took $300 from the register and fled through the broken window.

The affidavit cites six additional armed robberies, including

•    Burger King, 1102 E. 47th St., Kansas City, Mo., on June 18, 2019; 

•    Family Dollar, 1201 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., on June 25, 2019;

•    McDonald’s, 6996 Eastwood Trafficway, Kansas City, Mo., on June 26, 2019;

•    McDonald’s, 6701 E. Front St., Kansas City, Mo., on June 28, 2019;

•    Taco Bell, 5925 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo., on July 1, 2019;

•    Taco Bell, 4017 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Kansas City, Mo., on July 1, 2019.

On July 12, 2019, police officers in Raytown, Missouri, responded to a suspicious vehicle that was parked with its lights off. When officers arrived, the driver of the 2003 Ford Escape turned on the vehicle’s lights, placed the vehicle in drive, and accelerated toward and then around the patrol vehicle. Officers pursued the vehicle until it struck a wall and became disabled. The driver and two passengers – one of whom was Murphy – attempted to flee on foot. They were arrested by officers, who also searched the Escape and found two handguns.

The charges contained in this complaint 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. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Raytown, Mo., Police Department.

Operation LeGend

Operation LeGend is a federal partnership with local law enforcement to address the increase in homicides and violent crime in Kansas City, Mo., in 2020. The operation honors the memory of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, one of the youngest fatalities during a record-breaking year of homicides and shootings. Additional federal agents were assigned to the operation from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.