Two Lawrence Men Sentenced On Counterfeiting, Drug Trafficking Charges
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Lawrence men have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to counterfeit U.S. currency, drug trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Sentenced were:
Donald Milton Steele, 52, Lawrence, Kan., 300 months in federal prison. A jury convicted Steele on one count of conspiracy to commit counterfeiting; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, hydrocodone, methadone and marijuana; two counts of distributing marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
Randy J. Dyke, 52, Lawrence, Kan., 235 months in federal prison. A jury convicted Dyke on one count of conspiracy to commit counterfeiting; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, hydrocodone, methadone and marijuana; one count of distributing hydrocodone; two counts of distributing methadone; and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that in 2009 Steele developed a plan to pay for a large shipment of marijuana with counterfeit cash. He and Dyke set up a residence he owned in Topeka for the purpose of counterfeiting. In February 2010, Dyke passed what he believed to be one of the counterfeit bills at Harper Corner Square Liquor in Lawrence. On Feb. 17, 2010, Steele directed Dyke and another man to retrieve $10,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine Steele and Dyke had conspired to have manufactured, from the house in Topeka.
Grissom commended the Lawrence Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt for their work on the case.
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