Indictment: Former Cabela's EmployeeStole Merchandise, Ammo

WICHITA, KAN. – A former employee of Cabela’s in Wichita was indicted Tuesday on charges of stealing ammunition and other merchandise from the store, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Garrett T. Alley, 25, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of possession of stolen merchandise and one count of possession of stolen ammunition. The indictment alleges that from December 2012 to July 2013, Alley stole merchandise including clothing, optics and binoculars worth more than $5,000 from the Cabela’s store where he worked at 2427 N. Greenwich Road. It also alleges he stole 3,000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition, 1,000 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition, and 250 rounds of 28 gauge ammunition.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Deandre A. Freeman, 40, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. An affidavit filed in the case alleges that on April 14, 2014, Wichita police responded to a report of a disturbance in the street in the 6400 block of East Cottonwood. Witnesses said they saw Freeman beat a woman with a gun and fire shots at an unidentified man who tried to stop him.

If convicted, Freeman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

Kelly Tunnell, 42, Wichita, Kan., is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in February and April 2014 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each drug count and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm count. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

Ernesto Romo, 48, Wichita, Kan., is charged with eight counts of distributing methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2013 and 2014 in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million on each count. The Sedgwick County Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

Jose Ambriz-Lara, 20, El Monte, Calif., and Magellan Jimenez, 19, El Monte, Calif., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 11, 2014, in Thomas County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.

Jose Manuel Penuelas-Valenzuela is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 27, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan. The government is seeking forfeiture of $15,000 seized from the defendant.

 If convicted, the defendant faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting.

 Jose Macario Mendoza-Saldivar, 29, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 10, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Miguel Soltero-Marin, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of immigration documents, two counts of aggravated identity theft and two counts of misusing a Social Security number. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from 2002 to 2014 in Finney County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Unlawful possession of immigration documents: A maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory consecutive two-year sentence and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Misusing a Social Security number: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

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