Warrant details what cops found in Wichita home connected to prisoner-run drug ring

Federal court documents released last week detail what investigators found when searching the Wichita home of a man connected to an alleged drug ring operated from a prison cell.

The search warrant records filed in U.S. District Court are for Robert Lee Richmond’s house in the 1300 block of North Pennsylvania, which is just off I-135 near 13th and Hydraulic in Wichita. Several guns — including three semi-automatic rifles — and hundreds of pieces of drug packaging with drug residue were among the items seized by the FBI.

Richmond is one of 24 people charged in a 55-count indictment unsealed two months ago. Federal prosecutors allege that a Wichita drug ring was operated by a Kansas killer from his prison cell in Oklahoma. The FBI and Wichita Police Department investigated the case.

Richmond, 48, who also goes by “Shot,” is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine powder and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Both charges carry penalties of not less than 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $8 million. He also faces a charge of unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries penalties of up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

He has been in and out of state prisons between 1994 and 2014, Kansas Department of Corrections records show. His convictions include five felonies related to drugs and one misdemeanor drug crime.

The search warrant application for Richmond’s home was filed on March 4 after he was arrested while trying to flee from officers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the indictment later that day.

An FBI special agent wrote in the application that law enforcement officers armed with an arrest warrant knocked on Richmond’s door at around 6:35 a.m. They saw a shadow of a man approach the front door, then the man turned around and ran out the back.

Investigators forced their way in through the front door as additional officers arrested Richmond in his back yard.

During the arrest, officers found a bag with about an ounce of suspected cocaine in Richmond’s front pocket. Investigators found a Ruger handgun and a cellphone in the area of the back yard where Richmond had been. They also saw “an assault style rifle and a white Wal-Mart type bag, tied shut,” in the neighbor’s back yard.

Officers also saw guns and drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the house.

The investigators then went to a judge, asking for a search warrant granting them permission to seize money, guns, drugs, drug paraphernalia and digital devices from the property. The FBI agent alleged that the evidence seized could support additional charges for drug, gun and financial crimes.

Another document details what was seized when the agents returned to the house with the warrant and raided it at around 10:10 a.m.

Here is what they seized, according to court records:

Guns:

• a loaded Beretta Nano pistol

• a loaded Derringer FIE two-shot pisto

• a Ruger P89 pistol

• a loaded Palmeto PA-15 with a 30-round magazine

• a loaded STAG-15 with a 30-round magazine

• a loaded DPMS A-15

• a Crosman Fury II Blackout air rifle with a 4 by 32 scope

Suspected drugs:

• a plastic bag with a white powder from Richmond’s pocket

• a plastic bag with a brown powder
• another bag with brown powder

• a plastic shopping bag with three heat-sealed bags containing a white powder

• more white powder

• a bag with a white “rock-like” substance

• a green leafy substance with packaging

• 55 pieces of drug packaging with residue
  
  

• about 158 pieces of drug packaging with residue

• about 64 pieces of drug packaging with residue

• about 60 pieces of drug packaging with residue

Electronic devices:

• six cellphones

• a computer tablet

• a security camera

Paraphernalia:

• plastic bags

• boxes of sandwich bags

• boxes of Mr. Clean latex gloves

• a box of baking soda, which the agent said is used to mix with cocaine

• two Pyrex cups with a white residue

• two plastic spoons with residue

• two plastic containers with a white substance

• four digital scales with residue

• a money counter

Money:

• three bags of an unknown amount of money
  
  
• an additional $650 in cash