Brazilian National Sentenced for Meth Trafficking

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Brazilian national who has repeatedly transported large amounts of methamphetamine to the Kansas City, Mo., area was sentenced in federal court today.

Evandro DaCruz-Mendes, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to nine years and seven months in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 24, 2018, DaCruz-Mendes pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, DaCruz-Mendes arrived aboard a bus from Dallas, Texas, at a Kansas City, Mo., bus station on Feb. 3, 2015. He was stopped by Kanas City police detectives as he was about to get into a taxi. When the detectives questioned him, DaCruz-Mendes was acting in a nervous manner; his hands were shaking, and he was breathing heavily. Detectives searched his carry-on bag and found two plastic-wrapped containers that contained a total of nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, DaCruz-Mendes has traveled six times from Dallas to Kansas City, transporting a total of nearly 12 kilograms of methamphetamine.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Clark. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.