Prosecutors announced on Tuesday that a man from Kansas City has been sentenced to life in federal prison for the murder of a rival marijuana dealer. The victim was shot while protecting his then-8-year-old daughter from a hail of bullets in 2018. The killer was found guilty of tracking down and carrying out the deadly attack. This tragic incident highlights the dangers and violence that can arise from illegal drug trafficking.
Lester E. Brown, who is 36 years old, was sentenced to life imprisonment with an additional 15 years by Judge Greg Kays of the U.S. District Court. Brown was found guilty of three felonies, which included cyberstalking that resulted in the death of 30-year-old Christopher Harris. This sentence was handed down five months after the conclusion of a jury trial, as reported here.
According to prosecutors, Brown and two other individuals placed GPS trackers on Harris’ vehicle and monitored his movements while simultaneously sending him intimidating messages. Prosecutors have alleged that there was a long-standing rivalry between the parties involved, which dates back to the 2013 abduction and murder of Ryan Cobbins. Cobbins was a dear friend and business associate of Harris, and the pair were involved in the distribution of high-grade, potent marijuana.
According to the prosecutors, Harris had once paid a ransom of $20,000 to Brown for the release of Cobbins. However, Brown did not stop there and kept on threatening Harris. At the time of Harris’ murder, Brown was demanding a monthly payment of $10,000, warning Harris that he would meet the same fate as Cobbins if he failed to comply.
In March of 2018, Harris did what any loving father would do and picked up his daughter from her dance class at a studio in Raytown. Afterward, he drove her to her mother’s home in Independence. Unfortunately, that’s when things took a turn for the worse. Brown, along with his passengers, Michael Young and Ronell Pearson, allegedly followed them and intentionally blocked them in the driveway.
According to reports, after Harris fell, the young girl was able to escape unharmed. However, Brown is said to have approached Harris and fired two more shots directly into his face. This senseless act of violence highlights the need for stricter gun control laws and the importance of addressing the root causes of such heinous crimes.
Upon the discovery of the GPS device hidden underneath Harris’ vehicle following his death, investigators were able to trace it back to its manufacturer located in New York. Further investigation led them to an account that was registered under the username “LesterBROWN87”, which is believed to belong to someone born in 1987 with the name Brown.
According to a witness who was familiar with Harris, they informed the authorities that Harris and Brown had a confrontation some weeks prior to the homicide.
In March of 2018, Brown faced his initial charges and was subsequently arrested. He was one of three individuals who were ultimately found guilty.
In the current year, Young and Pearson have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to their purported involvement. As per the sentencing, Young has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Pearson has received a five-year sentence.
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