11 Defendants Indicted for Drug-"Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting in Three Deaths

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Eleven defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges related to a drugtrafficking conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of three persons during a recent home invasion in Independence, Mo. Kevin M. Finley, also known as "Tubbs," 33, Antonio Cervantes, III, also known as "Taz," 32, and Bobbi Jo Phillips, 37, all of Independence; Raul Soto, also known as "Choch," 22, of Kansas City, Kan.; Carlos Zambrano, Jr., also known as "Los," 27, Paula K. Deardorff, 31, Martin Medrano, 22, and Amber R. Hart, 26, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Clayton J. Deardorff, 34, of Columbia, Mo., and Ryan J. Clayton, 30, and Stephanie K. Allinder, 30, addresses unknown, were charged in a 14count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. As a result of the federal indictment, related state charges against several of the defendants will be dismissed after they are transferred into federal custody. The federal indictment alleges that Finley, Soto, Cervantes, Zambrano and Phillips participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On Nov. 15 and 16, 2012, the five codefendants allegedly met and agreed to rob the residents of an Independence home of a large quantity of methamphetamine and cash. During the meeting, the indictment says, they discussed the quantities of drugs they expected to find in the home invasion robbery, and armed themselves with firearms. On Nov. 16, 2012, Finley and Soto assaulted Jesus HernandezCorona by pistolwhipping him, the indictment says, in an effort to force him to disclose the locations of cash and drugs. In addition to the drugtrafficking conspiracy, Finley and Soto are charged with three counts of aiding and abetting each other to use a firearm in relation to a drugtrafficking crime, resulting in the deaths of Maria Hernandez, her son, Antonio Hernandez, and her boyfriend, Martin DominguezGregorio, also known as "Tomas." Under federal statutes, the penalty for those violations is either life in federal prison without parole or the death penalty. The Department of Justice has not yet determined whether to seek the death penalty in this case. Finley and Soto are also charged with aiding and abetting each other to discharge a firearm and wounding Miguel Hernandez, Maria Hernandezs 12yearold son. Under federal law, the penalty for this violation is mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, to be served consecutively to any other sentence. Finley is also charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Finley was allegedly in possession of a Mac10 9mm pistol on Nov. 16, 2012, and a Lorcin 9mm pistol on Nov. 17, 2012. Zambrano and Cervantes were also charged with one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Zambrano and Cervantes were each allegedly in possession of a Mac10 9mm pistol on Nov. 16, 2012. Paula Deardorff, Hart, Clayton, Medrano and Allinder were each charged with assisting co-defendants by receiving and disposing of evidence in order to hinder and prevent their trial and punishment. Clayton Deardorff was charged with concealing what he knew about the drugtrafficking conspiracy and murders. This case was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.