NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NITRO UPDATE

MEXICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED FOR METH CONSPIRACY

IN CHILLICOTHE AREA

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Kan., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Chillicothe, Mo., area.

Adan Perez-Patino, 36, a Mexican national residing in Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs this morning to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Perez-Patino to forfeit to the government $23,778, a 1999 Jeep, a 1999 Chevrolet truck, a 2001 GMC truck and a 2000 Nissan Maxima, all of which represent proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy or were used to commit the drug-trafficking offense.

On May 14, 2009, Perez-Patino pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Chillicothe area from Jan. 1, 2006, to March 14, 2008. Perez-Patino admitted that he conspired to sell five to 15 kilograms of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy. Perez-Patino also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting others to distribute methamphetamine.

Eight co-defendants who also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy have been sentenced. David Gagnon, 51, of Dearborn, Mo., was sentenced on Aug. 20, 2009, to four years in federal prison without parole. William L. Allen, 50, of Maryville, Mo., was sentenced on Aug. 7, 2009, to two years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Robert H. Studer, 46, of Beattie, Kan., was sentenced on July 23, 2009, to one year and one day in federal prison without parole. George Kitchin, 56, of Chillicothe, was sentenced on July 2, 2009, to 22 months in federal prison without parole. Allen O. Anderson, 47, and David W. Boley, 50, both of Chillicothe, were each sentenced on July 1, 2009, to five years in federal prison without parole. Michael Weiser, 26, of St. Joseph, Mo., was sentenced on July 1, 2009, to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Sheila Marie Best, 44, of Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced on July 10, 2009, to two years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

Seven additional co-defendants, who have pleaded guilty and await sentencing, are Glenna Weers, 48, of Dearborn, Gary D. Fobair, Jr., 30, of St. Joseph, James M. McCarthy, 46, of Sarcoxie, Mo., Kenneth Thompson, 51, of Kansas City, Kan., Ronald G. Boyd, 46, and Marco W. Montgomery, 40, both of Kansas City, Mo., and Russell W. Willett, 46, of Mountain Home, Ark.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Ambrose, Jr. It was investigated by the NITRO Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cameron, Mo., Police Department.

NITRO

NITRO, the Northwest Missouri Team Response Operation, is a task force led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. NITRO is a joint law enforcement effort by federal, state and local agencies in the 16-county region.

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