2 Suspects Convicted in Drug Ring Run from Oklahoma Prison

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The last two of 23 defendants charged in a drug trafficking ring in Kansas that was run from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary have been convicted, federal prosecutors said.

A federal jury convicted two Wichita men, Kevin Lewis, 58, and Travis Vontress, 45, on several conspiracy and drug-related charges the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Both men will be sentenced June 22.

Travis Knighten, 49, an inmate at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, used a cell phone at the prison to coordinate the drug distribution in Kansas, federal prosecutors said. He is serving a 90-year sentence for killing a prison guard in 1993.

One other Oklahoma State Penitentiary inmate was involved. The other defendants were all from Wichita, prosecutors said.