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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
April 17, 2008
FEDERAL INDICTMENT CHARGES MAN WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING IN KANSAS TOWN OF 200
TOPEKA, KAN. – Jason D. Hetherington, 28, who is in custody in the Jackson County Jail, is charged with one count of maintaining a residence within 1,000 of a school for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 7, 2008, in Delia, Kan.
According to the indictment, Hetherington was responsible for drug trafficking activities at a residence at 403 Delia Ave., which is within 1,000 feet of the Delia Charter Grade School. The city of Delia, which is located about 30 miles northwest of Topeka, has a population of less than 200.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the charge of maintaining a residence for drug trafficking, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge, and a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $2 million on the methamphetamine charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Potawatomie Tribal Police and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
A grand jury meeting Wednesday in Topeka also returned the following indictments:
Jose Angel Monsivais-Castillo, 37, Hampton, Iowa, is charged with possession with intent to distribute approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 22, 2008, in Lyon County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of 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 James Brown is prosecuting.
Leonel Martinez-Lopez, 19, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of possession of false documents to be employed in the United States, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of using false documents to defraud the United States. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 30, 2008, in Finney County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Possession and use of false documents to be employed in the United States: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Aggravated identity theft: A minimum of 2 years in federal prison without parole, consecutive to other sentences, and a fine up to $250,000.
– Possession of false documents to defraud the United States: A maximum penalty of 5 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Juan Lara-Pena, 41, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported, one count of making a false claim of U.S. citizenship, and two counts of making a false written statement to the U.S. government. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times in 2004, 2007 and 2008 in Saline County, Kan.
According to the indictment, he falsely represented himself to be a citizen in order to be employed at A. Lee Masonry in Tescott, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Unlawful re-entry after deportation: A maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Making a false claim of U.S. citizenship: A maximum penalty of 5 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Making a false written statement to the U.S. government: A maximum penalty of 5 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Domingo Baltazar-Baltazar, 26, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of using false documents to be employed in the United States, three counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of making a false written statement to the U.S. government, and one count of using false documents to defraud the United States. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 30, 2008, in Seward County, Kan.
– Possession and use of false documents to be employed in the United States: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Aggravated identity theft: A minimum of 2 years in federal prison without parole, consecutive to other sentences, and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
– Making a false written statement to the U.S. government: A maximum penalty of 5 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Possession of false documents to defraud the United States: A maximum penalty of 5 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Miguel Alarcon-Vargas, 35, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of using false documents to be employed in the United States, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of using false documents to defraud the United States. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 13, 2008, in Haskell County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Possession and use of false documents to be employed in the United States: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
– Aggravated identity theft: A minimum of 2 years in federal prison without parole, consecutive to other sentences, and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
– Possession of false documents to defraud the United States: A maximum penalty of 5 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Ivis Hernandez-Martinez, 26, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person who not a U.S. citizen. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 28, 2008, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million on the methamphetamine charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Smith is prosecuting.
Carlos Armando Molina, 34, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found March 18, 2008, in Wyandotte County, 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 David Zabel 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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