NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

NOVEMBER 25, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONETT, ARKANSAS RESIDENTS INDICTED

FOR METH CONSPIRACY

            SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two residents of Monett, Mo., and two residents of Lowell, Ark., have been indicted by a federal grand jury for participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry County, Mo.

            Igancio Servin-Chavez, also known as “Naco,” 32, and Maria Guadalupe Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 26, both of Lowell, and Ricardo Grimaldo, also known as “Rico,” 38, and Joe L. Lizcano, 43, both of Monett, were charged in a 10-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Monday, Nov. 23, 2009. That indictment has been unsealed and made public upon the arrests and initial court appearances of all four defendants. Servin-Chavez and Rodriguez-Rodriguez remain in federal custody; Grimaldo and Lizcano were released on bond.

            The federal indictment alleges that all four of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Barry County and elsewhere from April 2009 to Oct. 15, 2009.

            In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Grimaldo is charged with seven counts of distributing methamphetamine. Servin-Chavez and Rodriguez-Rodriguez are also charged together with possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Lizcano is also charged with one count of controlling a residence in Monett for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine.

            The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Servin-Chavez to forfeit to the government any property used to commit the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy, or representing the proceeds of the alleged offense, including a 2003 Ford F-350 pickup truck and approximately $1,099 that was seized by law enforcement officers.

            Whitworth cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Rush. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Benton County, Ark., Sheriff’s Department.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html