KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The owner of the Rockstar Burgers restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, has pleaded guilty in federal court to allowing his former restaurant building to be used in a drug conspiracy that allegedly distributed more than 150 kilograms of methamphetamine and more than 10 kilograms of heroin , worth more than $1.7 million.
Brian Douglas Smith, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Wednesday, December 12. 21. Maintain drug-related premises.
In pleading guilty, Smith admitted that he constructed the building in the city’s West End, which housed Rock Star Burgers, his part-time residence, a loft and related spaces, for use by drug trafficking organizations. Smith knew drug trafficking organizations used the building to store and distribute methamphetamine, collect methamphetamine for sale, and other methamphetamine distribution activities, including possession, storage and use of firearms.
According to the plea agreement, Smith’s role was only to maintain the building for use by drug trafficking organizations.
Smith is one of 17 defendants in the case who have pleaded guilty or have arranged to plead guilty. Two of the co-defendants have been sentenced and the remaining defendants are awaiting sentencing. A co-defendant is scheduled to appear in court on June 5, 2023.
Matthew John Fabulae, 33, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced on March 14, 2022 to 15 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The court also ordered Fabulae to forfeit $44,000 from the government for distributing at least 5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Fabulae pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy; he also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm to facilitate a drug trafficking offence, one count of possessing a firearm by a drug addict and one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute .
Amy Leann Nieman, 51, of Mooresville, Missouri, was sentenced in February. 25, 2022, will serve nine years in federal prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to her role in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking offense.
Under federal statutes, Smith will be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Under the terms of his plea agreement, the government and Smith will recommend to the court that he pay a $15,000 fine in lieu of a monetary judgment or other financial assessment or forfeiture.