Belton Man Faces Possible 40-Year Sentence for $5.4K Fentanyl Deal

Raimon Martez Gilliam pleaded guilty to selling fentanyl to an informant in Kansas City.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:20am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a small plastic bag containing white powder, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the investigation and evidence collection surrounding a fentanyl drug bust.The seizure of a large quantity of fentanyl highlights law enforcement's ongoing battle against the deadly synthetic opioid crisis.Kansas City Today

A 27-year-old Belton man named Raimon Martez Gilliam has pleaded guilty to selling 73 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Kansas City for $5,400. Gilliam, who is also known by the street names 'Ray Money,' 'Money,' and 'Money Mike,' now faces a mandatory sentence of between 5 and 40 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

Why it matters

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that has fueled the nationwide overdose crisis, with law enforcement and public health officials working to crack down on the distribution of the deadly drug. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to disrupt the fentanyl trade and hold dealers accountable for their role in the overdose epidemic.

The details

In October, a Jackson County Drug Task Force informant contacted Gilliam to arrange a fentanyl purchase. Gilliam directed the informant to meet him near Indiana Ave. in Kansas City, where the informant handed Gilliam $5,400 in exchange for two baggies of fentanyl - one purple, one white. Testing confirmed the bags contained a combined 73 grams of fentanyl.

  • In October, a confidential informant contacted Gilliam to arrange a fentanyl purchase.
  • On the day of the transaction, Gilliam met the informant near Indiana Ave. in Kansas City.

The players

Raimon Martez Gilliam

A 27-year-old Belton man who pleaded guilty to selling 73 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $5,400. Gilliam is also known by the street names 'Ray Money,' 'Money,' and 'Money Mike'.

Jackson County Drug Task Force

The law enforcement agency that coordinated the controlled fentanyl purchase from Gilliam using a confidential informant.

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What’s next

Gilliam's sentencing date has not yet been set, pending a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. He faces a mandatory sentence of between 5 and 40 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to disrupt the distribution of fentanyl, a highly potent and deadly synthetic opioid that has fueled the nationwide overdose crisis. The significant quantity of fentanyl involved and the potential for a lengthy prison sentence underscores the gravity of these types of drug trafficking crimes.