Press Release
Brazilian National Sentenced for Meth Trafficking
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri
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.
Updated April 10, 2019
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component