Feb. 26, 2010

INDICTMENT: LOADED GUNS WERE IN EASY REACH AT KANSAS CITY HOUSE WHERE METH WAS SOLD

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Adrian Mata-Rodriguez, 28, Kansas City, Kan., and Javier Ponce-Acedo, 20, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from Nov. 2, 2007, to Feb. 3, 2010, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

The defendants initially were charged in a criminal complaint filed Feb. 11, 2010. According to the complaint, the defendants sold methamphetamine to informants working for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department. On Feb. 3, 2010, investigators served a search warrant at a residence maintained by the defendants at 4631 Greeley in Kansas City, Kan. In addition to methamphetamine, investigators found a loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic Glock pistol behind a mirror on the mantle in the living room, and a loaded Bryco Arms .380 caliber pistol on the top shelf of a cabinet.

In addition to the other charges, Adrian Matta-Rodriguez is charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine and one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after have been deported.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than 5 years and not more than life, consecutive to other sentences, and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy: Not less than 10 years and not more than life in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million.
Distributing methamphetamine: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Possession with intent to distribute: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million.
Maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful re-entry: A maximum penalty of 2 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A federal grand jury meeting in Kansas City, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

John Fitzgerald Maxwell, 47, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances and one count of maintaining a premise in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 28, 2010, in Wyandotte County, Kan.

According to the indictment, Maxwell maintained a premise in the 2000 block of North 67th street in Kansas City, Kan., in furtherance of drug trafficking.

He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million on each count of distributing methamphetamine; a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances; and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000 on the charge of maintaining a drug involved premise.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Brian Singleton, 44, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances, one count of unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and one count of maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 27, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

According to the indictment, he maintained a residence in the 400 block of South 82nd Street in Kansas City, Kan., in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Singleton faces a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge; not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substance; a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the shotgun charge; and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000 on the charge of maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Lavia T. Forbes, 26, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felon conviction, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 3, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, not less than 5 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $2 million on the charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Roderick B. Sanders, 19, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 31, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

John R. Shead, Jr., 24, Kansas City, Kan., and Christopher M. Ramirez, 24, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 29, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Sean D. Dixon, 39, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 20, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty 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 Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Gary J. Quirk, 51, Louisburg, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 24, 2008, in Louisburg, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Kenneth G. Lain, Jr., 29, Lees Summit, Mo., is charged with transferring a firearm out of state. According to the indictment, Lain, who is not a licensed firearms dealer, transferred a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver to a person who did not live in the state where Lain was residing. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 1, 2009, in Shawnee, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Donald Milton Steele, 50, Lawrence, Kan.; Randy Jay Dyke, 50, Lawrence, Kan.; and Anythony Wayne Sims, 57, Lawrence, Kan., are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 20, 2009, in Douglas County, Kan. They initially were charged in a criminal complaint filed Feb. 18, 2010.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000. Agencies that took part in the investigation include the Lawrence Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting.

Hector Aceves-Chavez, 27, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Jan. 17, 2010, in Wyandotte County.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments filed merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.