January 7, 2010

FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENTS - LAS VEGAS MAN CHARGED WITH BANK ROBBERY

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Franklin Landavazo, 33, Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with one count of robbing by force, violence, and intimidation, Bank of the West, Lenexa, Kansas, on December 29, 2009. A federal criminal complaint filed on December 31, 2009, alleges that Landavazo entered the Bank of the West, Lenexa, Kansas, and demanded money claiming to have a bomb. He was arrested on December 30, 2009, at a hotel in Lyons, Kansas.

If convicted, Landavazo faces a maximum of twenty years. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lyons Police Department, Lenexa Police Department, Rice County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

The federal grand jury also returned the following indictments:

Robert L. Maxwell, 45, Topeka, Kansas, and Marcella D. Machado, 46, Olathe, Kansas, are each charged with conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft or receipt of stolen mail. The indictment alleges that Maxwell and Machado obtained information relating to the identity of other persons and attempted to negotiate stolen checks throughout Kansas using the stolen identities.

If convicted, each face a maximum of five years for conspiracy; a maximum of thirty years for bank fraud; a maximum of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for identity theft; and a maximum of five years for theft or receipt of stolen mail. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker.

Bruce M. Jones, 51, Kansas City, Kansas, is charged with manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants; using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of firearms, all on December 15, 2009.

If convicted Jones faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of forty years for manufacturing marijuana; a mandatory minimum of five years for using firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and a maximum of ten years for being a felon in possession of firearms. The case was investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead.

Christopher Fulton, 24, Lawrence, Kansas, is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 21, 2009.

If convicted Fulton faces a maximum of ten years in prison. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead.

Jeffrey Lichtenberger, 27, Kansas City, Kansas, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams (1.76 ounces) or more of methamphetamine from October 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams (17.64 ounces) or more of cocaine from October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009; distributing cocaine on November 12, 2008; distributing methamphetamine on November 25, 2008; attempting to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on January 12, 2009; distributing cocaine on July 6, 2009; and distributing cocaine on September 18, 2009.

If convicted, Lichtenberger faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum of life for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and attempting to distribute methamphetamine; a minimum of five years and a maximum of forty years for conspiracy to distribute cocaine; and a maximum of twenty years for distributing cocaine. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken.

Jose Juan Preciado-Tello, a/k/a Carlos Salas-Trejo, 39, Mexico, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on November 29, 2009; and with re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien.

If convicted, Preciado-Tello faces a minimum of ten years for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and a maximum of two years for re-entry by a previously deported alien. The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt.

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

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