K.C.K. crack ring member convicted

? A third member of a Kansas City, Kan., family has been convicted in connection with a multimillion dollar cocaine ring.

Sherie Johnson, 28, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute, and possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine; and maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing crack cocaine, the U.S. attorney’s office said Monday.

Johnson faces between 10 years and life in prison for the crimes.

Earlier this year, Johnson and six others were charged with distributing large quantities of cocaine, which was delivered from Texas to Kansas City, Kan.

Others charged included Johnson’s father, Donald Johnson Sr., 54, and her brother, Donald Johnson Jr., 32. Donald Johnson Sr. was convicted on three felony counts and is to be sentenced Nov. 3. Donald Johnson Jr. pleaded guilty in July to four felony counts and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21.

Donald Johnson Jr. admitted at his plea hearing that from 1997 through 2002 he bought 8.8 pounds to 17.6 pounds of powder cocaine every three weeks and converted it to crack cocaine for resale in the Kansas City, Kan., area.

Other defendants in the case were:

l Van Spears, 39, Kansas City, Kan., who was sentenced Monday to 13 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in June to two felony counts.

l Victor Sanabria-Adame, 29, Juarez, Mexico, who was sentenced in July to two years in prison. He pleaded guilty in March to one count of money laundering.

l James Gaskin, 53, of Kansas City, Kan., who is to be sentenced Oct. 20. He pleaded guilty to distributing crack.