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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Jan. 15, 2008
WICHITA MAN SENTENCED TO 4 YEARS IN DRUG CASE INVOLVING HIS FATHER, BROTHER
WICHITA, KAN. – Jose Ernesto Ceniceros, 24, Wichita, Kan., was sentenced Monday to four years in federal prison in a methamphetamine trafficking case in which his father and brother are charged, too.
In October, Ceniceros pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a telephone. In his plea he admitted that on March 7, 2007, he met with an undercover agent at El Zarpe Restaurant in Wichita. The agent was posing as a buyer in search of a pound of methamphetamine “ice.” Ceniceros used a phone to contact another person about obtaining the drugs.
Also charged in the case were Jose Ernesto Ceniceros’ father, Jesus Guadalupe Ceniceros, 43, Wichita, and Jose Ernesto Ceniceros’ brother, Jesus Rafael Ceniceros, 25, Wichita. In October, Jesus Rafael Ceniceros pleaded guilty to illegal use of a telephone. He is set for sentencing March 13, 2008.
In his plea, Jesus Rafael Ceniceros, admitted that on April 5, 2007, his father arranged to have two pounds of methamphetamine delivered to him. Jesus Rafael Ceniceros and his father did not know that the persons who agreed to sell them the drugs were agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On the same day, Jesus Rafael Ceniceros called the agents to tell them he and his father had obtained $15,000 to pay for the drugs, but needed more time to raise the remaining $10,000 of the purchase price.
In October, Jesus Guadalupe Ceniceros pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is set for sentencing Feb. 6. In his plea, he admitted that in February 2007 he began negotiating with a person in El Paso, Texas, in an effort to purchase several pounds of methamphetamine. He did not know he was bargaining with a person who was cooperating with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He made plans to meet the buyers April 5, 2007, in a hotel in Wichita. Jesus Guadalupe Ceniceros and Jesus Rafael Ceniceros were arrested when they attempted to pick up the drugs.
Melgren commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson for their work on the case.
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