A Kansas City, Missouri man has been convicted by a federal jury for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Brandon R. Haywood, 47, was found guilty on September 24, 2025, of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, law enforcement officers responded to a store in Independence, Missouri on February 4, 2023 regarding a sexual assault. The suspect was identified as Brandon Haywood. On February 15, 2023, Haywood returned to the same store and was arrested by officers. His vehicle was towed from the scene while police awaited a search warrant. When investigators executed the warrant on his vehicle, they found a Glock Model 23 .40 caliber firearm, Haywood’s wallet, and about 30 grams of cocaine in the center console. Prior to this incident, Haywood had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Jackson County Circuit Court.
After two days of trial and presentation of evidence in U.S. District Court in Kansas City before Judge D. Greg Kays, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges.
Federal law allows for sentences up to life imprisonment without parole for these offenses. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory guidelines and other statutory factors after completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh Ragner and Jessica Jennings are prosecuting the case. The Independence Police Department conducted the investigation.
