KANSAS CITY. – A Kansas City man and a Crowder, Mississippi man were convicted in federal court for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy that included two murders.
Shawn Burkhalter, also known as “Deuce,” 35, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to life in a federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Joshua Nesbitt, also known as “T,” 30, was sentenced to life in a federal prison without parole.
On August 28, 2023, at trial, Burkhalter and Nesbitt were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, one count of robbery, two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and a drug trafficking crime, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, one count of possession of a firearm as a felon, one count of conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering, one count of murder of a prospective witness, and one count of evidence tampering. In addition, Burkhalter was found guilty of one count of witness tampering.
Burkhalter and Nesbitt were involved in a ten-year conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana from 2008 to February 20, 2018. Six other co-defendants pleaded guilty and were convicted for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Evidence at trial revealed that Burkhalter and Nesbitt stole cocaine from Danny Lamont Dean on September 10, 2015, and shot Dean with a 5.56 caliber Rock River Arms AR-15 semi-automatic rifle during the robbery.
On October 4, 2015, Nesbitt and others stole marijuana from Anthony Dwayne Johnson, and during the robbery, Nesbitt shot Johnson with the same Rock River Arms AR-15 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle, at the direction of Burkhalter (who was in custody at the time of the murder). Evidence at the trial showed that Johnson was murdered because Burkhalter suspected him of providing investigators with information about Burkhalter’s involvement in Dean’s murder.
Burkhalter and Nesbitt robbed a store in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 8, 2015, using the same AR-15 rifle.
The government also presented evidence at the sentencing hearing that Nesbitt repeatedly assaulted prison staff while in custody and on remand.
Co-defendants Sharika Hooker and Autry Hines, both of Kansas City, Missouri; Joslyn Lee, also known as “Bless,” and Nickayla Jones, both of Blue Springs, Missouri; Rachel Ryce of Raytown, Missouri; and Anthony Peltier, also known as “A-1,” of Lawrence, Kansas, have pleaded guilty and have already been sentenced.
