Jamiesfeast– A 20-year-old Kansas City resident and known gang member, Ban N. To, has been sentenced to a significant 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and comes after To pleaded guilty to charges of fentanyl trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, and possession of a machine gun. This case intertwines drug trafficking with violent crime.
He got a harsher sentence than the government guidelines allowed because of how bad his crimes were, including his role in a fatal shooting in the Westport Entertainment District on April 15, 2023. For To, who wasn’t officially charged with murder, the sentencing stressed his alleged role in the killing, with surveillance footage showing him taking part in the fatal encounter. When Judge Kays gave the 240-month sentence, she took into account the proof that To had a direct hand in the killing.
The authorities launched an investigation into To’s activities shortly after the Westport shooting. This investigation led to the discovery of his involvement in the distribution of fentanyl. On June 21, 2023, To confessed to possessing fentanyl with the intention to distribute it, as well as carrying firearms during his drug-trafficking activities. Additionally, he admitted to possessing a machine gun. During To’s arrest, law enforcement officers searched a red Toyota Highlander that was associated with him. This search revealed a collection of weapons, including a stolen Taurus .45-caliber handgun, a Glock 9mm, a Polymer80 9mm handgun without a serial number, and a Glock .40-caliber handgun that had been modified for automatic fire.
Nine more guns linked to To were found during more investigations. One of them was a Romarm/Cugir Mini-Draco 7.62x39mm pistol that was used in the April 15 murder, as proven by ballistics analysis. To’s DNA was also found on the gun’s trigger, which made his link to the crime even stronger.
An associate of the Money Gang, a notorious violent gang in the metropolitan area, is now facing the repercussions of his actions in a case that highlights the connection between drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, and gang violence. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther, while the investigation was spearheaded by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.