Five individuals from the Kansas City area have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The indictment also includes firearm charges against one of the defendants.
Marcellus W. Anderson, 31, Tyra K. M. McGee, 37, Virgil D. Tillman, 41, and Martin A. Holloman, 40, all of Kansas City, Missouri; and Ricky M. Bowie, 25, of Kansas City, Kansas were named in a 14-count superseding indictment returned under seal on August 13 by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment was unsealed earlier this week following the arrest and initial court appearance of Bowie. Tillman and Holloman were also arrested this week.
The new superseding indictment replaces an earlier one from June that only charged Anderson and McGee but now includes three additional defendants.
According to the federal indictment, all five are accused of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine between December 1, 2023 and June 11, 2025.
Anderson faces additional charges including three counts of distribution of cocaine; one count each for distribution of methamphetamine; five counts for distribution of fentanyl; one count for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment states that Anderson had a Glock Model 27 .40 caliber pistol on January 29.
McGee is charged alongside Anderson with distributing fentanyl and distributing a fentanyl analogue. Bowie, Tillman and Holloman are each charged with Anderson in separate counts involving the distribution of fentanyl.
An affidavit filed with the original complaint against Anderson and McGee alleges that Anderson sold drugs—including cocaine on three occasions—to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He is also alleged to have sold methamphetamine once as well as fentanyl six times during these transactions while possessing a Glock pistol during at least one meeting which he reportedly stated was for protection purposes. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition; Anderson has previously been convicted for receiving stolen firearms.
Authorities emphasize that “the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations,” stating: “Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings is prosecuting the case which was investigated by ATF along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kansas City Missouri Police Department and Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at targeting illegal immigration activities as well as eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators through resources such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
