Sept. 18, 2006

 

TWO DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO SPEND LIFE IN FEDERAL PRISON

Methamphetamine “ice” flowed into Kansas
as vacuum sealed packages of cash flowed out

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two men from Kansas City, Kan., have been sentenced to life in federal prison after being convicted of leading a drug trafficking organization that employed human “mules” to carry drugs and cash between Kansas and California.

Fidencio Verdin-Garcia, 32, and Miguel Romero, 31, were sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge John W. Lungstrum in Kansas City, Kan.

“These two defendants were the organizers of a widespread drug trafficking conspiracy that encompassed numerous states and cells of drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren. “They took the lion’s share of the profits and lavished money on themselves while directing low level couriers who assumed the risk of being arrested with drugs.”

The investigation began in southern California when investigators intercepted a cellular phone call in which Verdin-Garcia talked about shipments of drugs coming from Michoacan, Mexico, through California to Kansas and paying for the drugs through fraudulent wire transfers. Throughout 2004, investigators intercepted hundreds of calls in which the traffickers managed details of their business. For example:

– On March 17, 2004, Verdin-Garcia was taped on the phone ordering 12 pounds of methamphetamine.
– On Aug. 20, 2004, Verdin-Garcia was taped on the phone talking to associates in California about a load that had not arrived and he how to explain it to his customers.
– A tape of a phone conversation was played at trial in which Verdin-Garica and Romero talked about a dispute over drugs and Verdin-Garcia advised Romero to carry a gun with him. Both men regularly were armed when doing business, according to court testimony.

Evidence at trail

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence on the scope of the trafficking operation:

– On Sept. 1, 2004, the DEA seized 8 pounds of 100 percent pure “ice” methamphetamine sealed in vacuum packages, and $112,900 in cash sealed in vacuum packages. The shipment was bound for the Verdin-Garcia organization.
– A man who testified at trial said he was a mule, carrying drugs from California to Kansas and returning to California with money concealed in his vehicles to pay suppliers.
– The same man testified that the Verdin-Garcia organization had trouble keeping mules because they paid too little, even though the traffickers were selling methamphetamine for $13,000 to $16,000 a pound.

Jury verdict

Verdin-Garcia and Romero were convicted March 21, 2006, after a jury trial. The jury found Verdin-Garcia guilty on 13 counts including one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 10 counts of using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Romero was found guilty on 6 counts including one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of using a phone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.

Three other defendants in the case already pleaded guilty and were sentenced.

– Graciela Reynoso pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony because she knew about the drug trafficking operation and did not report it to authorities. She was sentenced in April to 14 months in federal prison.
– Maria Verdin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine. She was sentenced in April to 48 months in federal prison.
– Brandy Walter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. She was sentenced in July to 18 months in federal prison.

Melgren commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, which investigated, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken, who prosecuted.

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