MEXICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR METH CONSPIRACY, ILLEGAL FIREARM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Mexican national in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Victor Manuel Ortega-Escobedo, 40, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 15 years in federal prison without parole.
On March 14, 2012, Ortega-Escobedo pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ortega-Escobedo also pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
Ortega-Escobedo distributed between 1.5 kilograms and five kilograms of methamphetamine to co-conspirators, including buyers in Cameron, Mo., and Independence, Mo. During the investigation of this conspiracy, law enforcement officers recovered approximately 125 grams of methamphetamine from several controlled purchases from Ortega-Escobedo (including purchases in Cameron and Independence) and from searches of his car and apartment. During a search of his apartment, officers located a loaded Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a closet inside a hamper on top of clothing.
Ortega-Escobedo is the ninth co-defendant to be sentenced after pleading guilty in this case.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jalilah Otto. It was investigated by NITRO (the Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation Task Force), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff's Department and the Cameron, Mo., Police Department.
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