Wichita Man Sentenced To Five Years For Marijuana Trafficking

WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man has been sentenced to federal prison for marijuana trafficking, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

James Kasinger, 38, Wichita, Kan., was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. In his plea, he admitted that he and other conspirators distributed more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. Specifically, he helped other conspirators break down loads of marijuana, distribute the marijuana and pack U.S. currency to send to Mexico to pay for the marijuana.

One of Kasinger’s co-defendants, Osbaldo Garcia Garcia, was sentenced in November to 41 months. In his plea, Garcia Garcia admitted using a telephone on Dec. 12, 2011, to talk with another conspirator about a problem with a shipment of marijuana. The caller asked Garcia Garcia to find out what had happened. In fact, the Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration had served a search warrant and seized a significant quantity of marijuana from hidden compartments in tractors.

Grissom commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.