TOPEKA, KAN. – A former employee of the Topeka Correctional Facility has been indicted on federal charges of drug trafficking and firearms violations, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Anastacio D. Gallardo, 33, Topeka, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 8, 2012, in Topeka.

Gallardo, who formerly taught classes on plumbing at the Topeka Correctional Facility, was convicted in 2008 in Shawnee County District Court on two felony counts of trafficking in contraband in a penal institution and one felony count of unlawful sexual relations with an inmate.

If convicted on the federal charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million on the methamphetamine charge, a penalty of not less than five years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The Topeka Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Catherine M. Seward, 24, Lincoln, Neb., formerly an employee of the United States Postal Service, is charged with stealing mail. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 27, 2011.

Seward was a highway contract route carrier delivering mail from outlying post offices to Salina.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.The U.S. Postal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.

Manuel Gutierrez-Vargas, 45, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found Aug. 29, 2012, in Shawnee 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 investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

William Arthur Sheldon, Jr., 49, Overland Park, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and one count of failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The drug and firearms crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 24, 2012, in Douglas County, Kan. The sex offender registration violation is alleged to have occurred Aug. 5, 2009.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the methamphetamine charge, not less than five years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the sex offender registration charge. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.

Jael Bravo, 25, Alberto DeBustos, 59, Juan Jimenez Huato, 19, Samuel Jimenez, 21, Jose Martinez, 22 and Juan M. Martinez, are charged with distributing methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 14, 2012, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $4 million. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blair Watson 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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