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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Jan. 30 , 2009
INDICTMENT: DRUG TRAFFICKERS HID CASH IN SECRET COMPARTMENTS IN AUTOS
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Drug traffickers hid large amounts of cash – $75,000 in one case and $95,000 in another – in secret compartments in automobiles, according to court records in a federal case charging 25 people with peddling methamphetamine in the Kansas City metro area.
A federal indictment unsealed this week in what investigators call Operation Press One seeks the forfeiture of more than $1.25 million prosecutors say the traffickers earned from March 1, 2008, to Jan. 27, 2009.
Most of the defendants were arrested Thursday by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration with help from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; the Overland Park Police Department; the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department; the Independence Police Department; the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department; the Ottawa Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“With all these agencies working together, we’ve derailed what the indictment charges is a significant criminal enterprise that was bringing methamphetamine into and taking cash out of Kansas City,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker.
The 16-count indictment alleges that traffickers operated from various local residences including 8336 Kansas Avenue, Kansas City, Kan., and 1750 N. 118th Street, Kansas City, Kan., which were used for distributing methamphetamine. The counts include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and the unlawful use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The indictment cites the use of cellular phones to facilitate drug traffickers’ business, as well as incidents in which members of the conspiracy were found with drugs in their possession.
Court records in the case include the following allegations:
– On Dec. 13, 2008, investigators found $75,000 in a hidden compartment in a white Mercury Villager that was stopped near Dearborn, Mo. Investigators had followed the van from a suspected drug house at 421 Brooklyn Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.
– On Dec. 30, 2008, investigators found $95,820 in a hidden compartment in the floor of a Dodge Caravan. They had followed the van from the suspected drug house at 421 Brooklyn Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.
– On Dec. 30, 2008, investigators seized more than 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine at 421 Brooklyn Avenue in Kansas City, Mo.
Charged in the indictment are:
Baltazar Quiroz, 27, Kansas City, Mo.
Uriel Lopez-Montejano, 41, Whitfield, Neb.
Hector Eduardo Garcia-Gallardo, 38, Las Vegas, Nev.
Araceli Lozano-Miranda, 29, Kansas City, Mo.
Luis Lozano-Miranda, 21, Kansas City, Kan.
Francisco Armando Lopez-Montejano, 28, South Sioux City, Neb.
Jorge Carrillo-Chavez, 33, Wakefield, Neb.
Javier Dozal, 28, Kansas City, Kan.
Secundino Arias-Garcia, 29, Kansas City, Mo.
Hugo Chavez-Cadenas, 39, Grand Prairie, Texas
Jose Jimenez-Alvarez, 44, Kansas City, Kan.
Maricela Naranjo, 34, Independence, Mo.
Guadalupe Ruiz, 42, Kansas City, Kan.
Marisela Ruiz, 21, Kansas City, Kan.
Francisco Javier Ruiz-Najera, 38, Kansas City, Kan.
Steven Luttrell, 49, Kansas City, Kan.
Vincent Ray Marez, 24, Ottawa, Kan.
Betty Sue Marcos, 36, Kansas City, Kan.
Servgio Mosqueda-Hernandez, 34, Kansas City, Mo.
Baynard Jack Sitlington, 45, Ottawa, Kan.
Kurtis Wall, 34, Richmond, Kan.
Robynn Woods, 36, Ottawa, Kan.
Jesus Monoz, 18, Kansas City, Kan.
Fabiola Uribe, 28, Kansas City, Kan.
Carlos Dozal-Alvarez, 29, Kansas City, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 gross grams of methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and not more than life in federal prison, and a fine up to $4 million.
– Unlawful use of a phone in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of 4 years and a fine up to $250,000.
– Maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $2 million.
– Distributing methamphetamine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
– Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 gross grams of methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million.
Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker commended the agencies and individuals who worked on the case including: the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; the Overland Park Police Department; the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department; the Independence Police Department; the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department; the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the Ottawa Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt.
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