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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
April 30, 2008
FEDERAL CHARGES FILED IN SEIZURE OF 13+ KILOS OF COCAINE
WICHITA, KAN. – Ricardo Villabos-Rodriguez, 23, El Paso, Texas, and Jorge Martinez Soto, 30, El Paso, Texas, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 13.15 kilograms (more than 28 pounds) of cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute 13.15 kilograms of cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 18, 2008, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million on each count. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
A grand jury meeting Tuesday in Wichita also returned the following indictments:
Luis Martin Diaz, 46, Brookline Station, Mo., and Stephen Demalleo Jr., 26, Chula Vista, Calif., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 27, 2008, in Thomas County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million on each count. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Oakley is prosecuting.
Ernesto Saenz, 36, Zapata, Texas, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 8, 2008.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.
Glen A. Parker, 44, Emporia, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Feb. 4, 2008, in Chase County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.
Jose Flores-Adalid, a citizen of Honduras, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 20, 2008, in Wichita.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Jose Tostado-Flores, 25, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of possession of fraudulent documents in order to be employed in the United States, one count of making a false statement to an agent of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, one count of possession of a false U.S. government document, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 18, 2008, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Possession of fraudulent documents to be employed: A maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Making a false statement to the government: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Possession of a false U.S. government document: A maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory 2 years to run consecutively to other sentences and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Leopoldo Lopez-Lopez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found April 25, 2008, in Wichita, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
As in any criminal case, a person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
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