KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man was convicted this week of leading a criminal enterprise spanning the breadth of Missouri and connected to murders, violent assaults and the distribution of half a ton of methamphetamine.
Trevor Scott Sparks, 33, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, participating in a money-laundering conspiracy, possessing firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
The criminal enterprise distributed over 500 kilograms of methamphetamine, or about 1,100 pounds – at least a kilogram a day for nearly a year in the Kansas City, Springfield, St. Joseph and St. Louis areas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri said.
Sparks engaged in the drug trafficking enterprise from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 12, 2018, when he was arrested, and has since remained in federal custody without bond.
In August of 2018, James Hampton was kidnapped in St. Louis by members of the drug ring because Sparks believed Hampton could help locate drugs and money that had been stolen. When Hampton was of no help locating the stolen items, he was restrained and beaten. Hampton was then put in the trunk of his own car and transported to Kansas City along with Brittanie Broyles, who was with him initially and witnessed his beating.
On Aug. 6, 2018, Hampton’s body and car were found burning in Bates City, Missouri. Two days later on Aug. 8, Broyles’ body was found in a northeast part of Kansas City. She had been murdered by two gunshots to the head.
Although Sparks wasn’t charged in the murders, the trial jury heard evidence connecting his drug trafficking organization to them.
Sparks’ past felony convictions of robbery, assault and possession of a controlled substance led to his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and painted a picture of his repeated crimes.
The jury deliberated for about an hour before returning their guilty verdicts Nov. 1. Sparks’ 31 co-defendants have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the drug ring.
Sparks was ordered to pay a money judgment of up to $4.16 million. The amount represents the proceeds from his distribution of about 520 kilograms of methamphetamine with an average price of $8,000 per kilogram.
Under federal statutes, Sparks is subject to a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, and could be sentenced to up to life in prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
