WICHITA, KAN. – One of four men who escaped from the Ottawa County Jail has been indicted on federal carjacking charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and Ray Roberts, Kansas Secretary of Corrections, announced today.

Eric Jerome James, 22, is charged with one count of carjacking. James was one of four inmates who escaped from the Ottawa County Jail April 18. He was arrested April 20 in Omaha, Neb. The indictment alleges that on April 18 James assaulted a driver and stole a 2002 Nissan Altima. The crime is alleged to have occurred in Ottawa County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Kansas Department of Corrections, the Ottawa County Sheriff and the Ottawa County Attorney worked on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Carlos Manuel Buten, 26, Dodge City, Kan., is charged with one count of bank robbery with a dangerous weapon. The indictment alleges that on April 17, 2012, he robbed the Western State Bank, 2121 14th Street in Dodge City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Dodge City Police Department, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

Darren M. Leon, 42, Derby, Kan., is charged with seven counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleges the crimes took place while Leon worked as a client services specialist for Kemp Construction Company in Derby. Leon’s job involved soliciting business, submitting bids on behalf of Kemp Construction and arranging for subcontractors to complete the work. On numerous occasions Kemp received contracts and performed work, but Leon sent bills to customers representing that another company with which he was associated, Pure Construction Consultants, had done the work. After an internal investigation, Kemp concluded that Leon had diverted business and money from Kemp on approximately 89 different jobs.

If convicted, Leon faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Attorney’s office is prosecuting.
Francisco Barrios, 29, Wichita, Kan., is charged with distribution of methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 30, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Thomas Griffen, Jr., 21, Wichita, Kan., and Jordan Smith, 22, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The crime is alleged to have occurred in 2010 and 2011 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

In addition, Smith is charged with seven counts of wire fraud, one count of possession of a stolen identification document, one count of misusing a identification document, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of unlawful possession of a driver’s license belonging to another person. Griffen is charged with five counts of wire fraud.

The indictment alleges the conspiracy involved selling stolen property on Craigslist.

Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Possession of a stolen identification document: A maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Misusing an identification document: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years consecutive to other sentences and a fine up to $250,000.

The Wichita Police Department investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s office is prosecuting.

Candido Hernandez-Montoya, 46, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 4, 2012, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Amy Renae Longbine, 36, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 12, 2010, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

She faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $10 million on the methamphetamine charge and a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million on the cocaine charge. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Benjamin Valdez-Martinez, 59, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The crime is alleged to have occurred Nov. 22, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years without parole and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Antonio Hernandez-Gutierrez, 46, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 18, 2012, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Martin Lopez-Ramos, 31, a citizen of Guatemala, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. She was found April 5, 2012, in Sedgwick County, Kan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson is prosecuting.

Joshua P. Harris, 37, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 14, 2012, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.

Ledon Williams, 29, Wichita, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 17, 2012, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s office 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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