WICHITA, KAN. – A prison inmate has been indicted on federal charges of sending letters threatening to kill Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston, two Sedgwick County judges, a deputy and FBI agents, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Virgil Dillon, 48, currently in custody at the state prison in Lansing, Kan., is charged with five counts of sending threatening communications through the U.S. mails. The indictment alleges he threatened to kill Sedgwick County District Judge Benjamin Burgess, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Officer Robert Clark, District Attorney Nola Foulston, Sedgwick County District Judge David Kaufman and FBI agents. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2009, 2010 and 2011, including time while Dillon was in custody in the Sedgwick County Jail.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of sending a threatening communication through the U.S. mail, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on one count of sending a threat against a federal official through the U.S. mails. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

 

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A grand jury meeting in Wichita, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Tylor Lack, 23, Dodge City, Kan., and Ricardo Lima, 24, are charged with one count of unlawful possession of a Ruger model AC556 machine gun, one count of unlawful possession of firearms after felony convictions and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in December 2010 and January 2011 in Dodge City, Kan.

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

Esteban Ochoa-Almendariz, 25, Wichita, is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, three counts of distributing methamphetamine, two counts of counterfeiting identification documents to work in the United States, four counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of counterfeiting a Social Security card and one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2009, 2010 and 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien: A maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
Distribution of methamphetamine: A maximum penalty of 20 years without parole and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
Counterfeiting identification documents: A maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years to run consecutively to other sentences and a fine up to $250,000.
Counterfeiting a Social Security card: A maximum penalty of five years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful re-entry after deportation: A maximum penalty of two years without parole and a fine up to $250,000.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Mariano Castillo, 33, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 24, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Disney is prosecuting.

Pedro Garcia-Montoya, 46, Wichita, Kan., is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 12, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Wichita Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Disney is prosecuting.

Roberto Solorzano-Ahumada, 33, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of a felony and deported. He was found April 11, 2011, in Ford County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Disney is prosecuting.

Antonio Castillo-Polina, 44, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found Feb. 20, 2009, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Disney is prosecuting.

Luis Montes De Oca-Martinez, 26, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of a felony and deported. He was found June 26, 2010, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Disney is prosecuting.

Karl Burgdorf, 55, Derby, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of marijuana and methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2010 and 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearms charge, not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million on the methamphetamine charge and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the marijuana charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

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

 

 

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