KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges related to heroin and methamphetamine trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.
Brian K. Tice, 58, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, one one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of firearms in pursuit of a felony drug trafficking, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. fire.
In pleading guilty today, Tice admitted receiving an Express Mail package from California on February 18, 2022, containing 393.26 grams of heroin. The package was intercepted by a postal inspector, who learned that Tice had received 20 similar packages from the same person in California in the previous year. Law enforcement arranged a controlled delivery of the package to Tice’s residence. When he brought the package inside and opened it, officers executed a search warrant at his home.
Officers found a loaded Springfield Armory handgun, which was later found to be stolen, and a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun on the bed where the controlled delivery package was located. Officers also found a Springfield Armory handgun and a .380 caliber Bryco handgun, which was later stolen, in the same bedroom closet. Officers also seized 115 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of crack cocaine, four cell phones and drug paraphernalia.
On March 5, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Tice as he left a residence they were guarding. Officers searched Tice and the vehicle he was in and seized 84 benzodiazepine tablets, 69 alprazolam tablets, 108 zolpidem tartrate tablets, 24 hydrocone tablets and a vial containing fentanyl.
Tice had previously been arrested by a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy, which is the basis of one of the heroin distribution counts. At around 11 p.m. on September 5, 2019, Tice was driving a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta and turned left onto Broadway from West 39e Kansas City Street. The deputy braked to avoid a collision with the Jetta, which continued to travel north on Broadway in the middle of the street. The deputy stopped the vehicle and performed a series of field sobriety tests, which Tice failed. The deputy arrested Tice for driving under the influence; during a search, the deputy found two plastic bags containing a total of 25 grams of heroin and $3,762 in cash in Tice’s pockets. The deputy also searched Tice’s vehicle and found a bag of groceries under the driver’s seat which contained a plastic bag containing approximately 91 grams of heroin.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Tice has previous felony convictions for selling a controlled substance and conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Tice faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes. It has been investigated by the US Postal Inspection Service, the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
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