Shooting at Drug Deal in Redwood City Results in More Than Seven-year Prison Sentence for Stockton Man
Khari Moore Sentenced in Connection With Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Weapons Charges; Meanwhile, Codefendant Malik Lott Receives 12-month Sentence for His Role in Drug Distribution Conspiracy
SAN FRANCISCO– Khari Moore and Malik Lott were sentenced today to 87 months and 12 months and one day in prison for their respective roles in a scheme to obtain marijuana from a Redwood City drug dealer for distribution, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge, San Francisco Field Division, Patrick Gorman. Moore also sentenced after pleading guilty to brandishing a weapon during the attempted drug deal. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Susan Illston, Senior U.S. District Judge.
On July 9, 2021, Lott pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D). On July 20, 2021, Moore pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and, in addition, to one count of brandishing of a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). The facts underlying the convictions were set out in the defendants’ plea agreements.
According to the plea agreements, Moore made contact on the Internet with a person who agreed to sell marijuana. Lott admitted that in the days before April 8, 2018, he communicated with the seller of the marijuana via text message and settled the details of the drug transaction. Lott and Moore admitted that on April 8, 2018, they both travelled with others from Stockton, Calif., to Redwood City and with the purpose of purchasing four pounds of marijuana for the agreed-upon price of $4,000. Further, Moore and Lott acknowledged that the purpose of obtaining the marijuana was to resell the drugs for a profit. At the time of meeting, Moore and Lott met with the seller of the marijuana and another individual in a pickup truck that was parked in the parking lot of a liquor store in Redwood City. At some point during the meeting in the pickup truck, Moore brandished a .45 caliber handgun and fired it multiple times. The driver of the pickup truck was shot multiple times in the face and back, causing extensive injuries. Moore and Lott then fled the scene and returned to Stockton without the marijuana from the seller.
On July 13, 2021, Moore was charged with the drug distribution conspiracy and weapons charge. He pleaded guilty to both counts. Lott was charged by indictment on October 1, 2020, with the conspiracy charge, as well as additional drug trafficking, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery charges. As part of his plea agreement, Loot pleaded guilty to the drug distribution conspiracy charge and the other charges were dismissed.
The defendants both will begin serving their prison terms immediately. In addition to the prison terms, Senior District Judge Illston ordered the defendants to serve five years and three years of supervised release and ordered Moore to pay restitution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Linda Love. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF and Redwood City Police Department.
