Man Who Built Secret Compartments for Drug Smugglers
Sentenced to 24+ Years in Federal Prison
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A California man who specialized in building secret compartments in autos used by a drug traffickers who operated in Kansas has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
The case was one of the first in the nation against a specialist who served drug traffickers but didn’t directly handle drugs, Grissom said.
“Evidence showed the defendant installed sophisticated hidden compartments in dozens of vehicles,” Grissom said. “He knew he was working for drug traffickers.”
Alfred Anaya, 40, San Fernando, Calif., was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison and forfeiture of $3.2 million. He was convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, as well as methamphetamine and marijuana, and two counts of attempting to intimidate a witness.
Also sentenced in the same case were:
James Anthony Clark, 29, Overland Park, Kan., who was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison and forfeiture of $3.2 million. He was convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine as well as methamphetamine and marijuana.
Curtis Crow, 30, Leawood, Kan., who was sentenced to 147 months. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and posse
In February 2011, a jury convicted Anaya and Clark on the charges. Crow pleaded guilty. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence they were members of a California-based drug trafficking organization that from June 1, 2008, through Sept. 22, 2009, operated a drug distribution center in Kansas that distributed cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in Kansas and Missouri.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Anaya installed secret compartments including a 20-kilogram compartment in a Ford F-150, a 10-kilogram compartment in a Honda Ridgeline, a 3-kilogram compartment in a Toyota Camry and a 10-kilogram compartment in a Toyota Sequoia.
Grissom commended the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; the Kansas Highway Patrol; the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department; the California Highway Patrol, the Utah Highway Patrol, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken for their work on the case.
