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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Sept. 29 , 2009
DRUG TRAFFICKER’S GIRLFRIEND SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN OPERATION LOADRUNNER
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The girlfriend of the leader of a drug trafficking ring targeted by federal investigators in Operation Loadrunner has been sentenced to prison, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.
Erica Barajas, 34, Kansas City, Kan. was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison. In February 2009, she pleaded guilty to one count of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking. In her plea, she admitted that in 2006 and 2007 she was the girlfriend of co-defendant Rene Garcia-Rodriguez, who investigators identified as the head of a drug trafficking ring that distributed more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than 5 kilograms of cocaine in Kansas City, Kan. Barajas admitted that investigators intercepted phone calls in which she and Garcia-Rodriguez discussed the daily details of drug trafficking and she gave him advice. When Garcia-Rodriguez was out of town he directed his drug customers to deliver cash to Barajas.
Operation Loadrunner, an 18-month investigation lead by the Drug Enforcement Administration, was announced Aug. 28, 2007, with the indictment of 22 defendants. Loadrunner targeted a trafficking organization that distributed more than $13 million worth of marijuana and cocaine on the streets of Kansas City. The organization included a network of conspirators operating from Kansas to Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, Florida and Virginia.
Co-defendants in US v. Garcia-Rodriguez include:
– Rene Garcia-Rodriguez, who is set for sentencing Dec. 14, 2009.
– Hector Contreras, who was sentenced to 46 months.
– Johnny Sanchez, who was sentenced to 37 months.
– Ziad Mousa Mussallet, who is set for sentencing Nov. 9, 2009.
– Kevin Chism, who is set for sentencing Nov. 30, 2009.
– Milo Santana Sanchez, who is set for sentencing Oct. 20, 2009.
– Yehia Hassen, who is set for sentencing Oct. 13, 2009.
– Carlos Cervantes-Samaniego, who is set for sentencing Nov. 16, 2009.
– Julio Cesar Loya-Contreras, who is set for sentencing Nov. 16, 2009.
– Manuel Gerardo Terrazas, who is set for sentencing Nov. 23, 2009.
– Cesar Osbaldo Armendariz Soto, who is set for sentencing Dec. 7, 2009.
– Mayra Vanessa Gandara Escarcega, who is set for sentencing Nov. 16, 2009.
– Jessie Dickinson, who is set for sentencing Nov. 2, 2009.
– Jaime Ricardo Dominguez-Calderon, who is set for sentencing Nov. 2, 2009.
– Luis Arturo Castro-Quezada, who is set for sentencing Oct. 5, 2009.
– Trinidad Marquez-Martinez, who is set for sentencing Oct. 5, 2009.
– Richard A. Sanchez, who is set for sentencing Oct. 5, 2009.
– Leonardo Escalante, who is set for sentencing Oct. 5, 2009.
In another case filed as a result of Operation Loadrunner, Johnathan Kohrs, 23, Overland Park, Kan., was sentenced to 78 months. In his plea, he admitted that on April 18, 2007, he was arrested with more than 320 pounds of marijuana from a stash house operated by the traffickers at 936 Lafayette in Kansas City, Kan.
Co-defendants with Kohrs in US v. Maldonado include:
– Jammaal D. Blacknoll, who was sentenced to 120 months.
– Jesus Gabriel Gandara-Escarga, who is set for sentencing Oct. 5, 2009.
Welch commended agencies and agents who took part in Operation Loadrunner including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Overland Park Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Independence Police Department, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt for their work on the case.
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