FBI Agent, Detective for KCK Police Receive Guardian of Justice Awards

TOPEKA—Two law enforcement officers wholed major federal drug trafficking investigations are the winners of thisyear’s Guardian of Justice Awards, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Grissom presented the awards to FBISpecial Agent Tim Swanson and Kansas City, Kansas Police Detective PamelaBennett during a meeting Wednesday of the Kansas Association of Chiefs ofPolice in Topeka.
Swanson led Operation Camera Shy, whichtargeted crack cocaine traffickers who took over a two-block area of KansasCity, Kansas. Bennett led an investigation of a heroin trafficking organizationthat operated in Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Franklin Counties.
“Outstanding work by both of theseinvestigators led to successful prosecutions,” Grissom said. “Tim Swanson andPamela Bennett are shining examples of how dedicated and resourceful lawenforcement officers are helping keep Kansans safe.”
The Guardian of Justice Awards recognizethe contribution of state and local law enforcement officers, as well asfederal agents, who worked on significant cases and successful prosecutions bythe U.S. Attorney’s Office in the past year.
Operation Camera Shy targeted a drugtrafficking organization led by Antonio Quinn and his brothers, Steven Quinnand Marcus Quinn. They were among 17 defendants convicted. The investigationbegan after neighborhood residents complained about drug activity nearNorthwest Middle School in Kansas City, Kansas School officials and parentswere so concerned that they arranged for children to be bused to and fromschool so they would not have to walk through the area where drug traffickingwas concentrated.
The other investigation targeted aheroin trafficking organization led by defendant Verdale Handy. In that case,two heroin users died and five were seriously injured from overdoses. Themajority of the Handy organization’s customers were teens to young adults whobecame addicted to oxycodone and then graduated to buying heroin. During theinvestigation, Handy shot another member of the conspiracy who he believed wascooperating with the government. Nine defendants, including Handy, wereconvicted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel andAssistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt prosecuted Operation Camera Shy and nominatedSwanson for the award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken prosecuted theHandy case and nominated Bennett.