Wichita Man Sentenced To 7+ Years For Methamphetamine Trafficking

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced Tuesday to 92 months in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Michael Ortega-Alvarez, 46, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Ortega-Alvarez admitted that on April 29, 2014, he met a Wichita police officer, who was working undercover, at a Quick Trip at 6011 W. Central and sold him an ounce of methamphetamine for $1,100.

On May 6, 2014, Wichita police stopped Ortega-Alvarez’s truck at 3100 E. 31st South. Police found a pound of methamphetamine in a red and white cooler in the truck. In addition, they found two bags of methamphetamine that weighed about a pound each hidden in a brown pillow in the truck. An additional pound of methamphetamine was located at his residence.

Co-defendant Manuel Bencomo-Rodriguez is set for sentencing Jan. 5.

Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs for their work on the case.