Indictment: Troopers Found 50+ Pounds Of Meth Hidden in Car

WICHITA, KAN. – A California man was indicted Tuesday on a federal charge of smuggling more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine into Kansas, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Jesus Antonio Garcia-Maldonado, 36, Panorama City, Calif., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 23 kilograms of methamphetamine. Garcia-Maldonado was stopped for a traffic violation in Clark County, Kan. Officers found the drugs under the seats and hidden in rear quarter panels of the car. The car was rented in San Diego, Calif.

If convicted, he faces not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Mona Furst is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Edgar Santiago, 31, Fontana, Calif., and Alyssa Kysha Gomez, 29, Adelanto, Calif, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Jan. 16, 2019, in Geary County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.

Keayon M. Hadley, 41, Independence, Kan., is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 19, 2019, in Wichita, Kan.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

Daniel Wood, 29, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 23, 2019, in Wichita, Kan.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

 Simon Rochel-Cervantes, 46, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found March 5, 2019, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement HSI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting.

Jacob E. Silcott, 29, Wichita, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in May and December 2018 in Wichita, Kan.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

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