January 5, 2010

DEFENDANT ENTERS GUILTY PLEA TO POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 24 ½ POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINE

TOPEKA, Kan. – United States Attorney Lanny Welch announced that Miguel Bugarin, 47, Pacoima, California, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Richard D. Rogers to one count of possession with the intent to distribute approximately 11.15 kilograms (approximately 24.58 pounds) of methamphetamine.

Welch said that Bugarin admitted at his plea that on June 3, 2009, he was stopped by a Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office deputy for failing to signal a lane change on Interstate 70 in Shawnee County, Kansas. Following a search of the Dodge Durango, the deputy found twenty bundles of methamphetamine in a hidden compartment under the floor of the vehicle. The methamphetamine was packaged and concealed consistent with it being transported for later processing and distribution.

Bugarin faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison, without parole. He is in custody. Sentencing is set for April 9, 2010, at 9:30 a.m.

Welch commended the excellent work of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration in this investigation and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard in this prosecution.

– 30 –