31 indicted in Missouri for $1 million drug trafficking conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thirty-one defendants were indicted Tuesday for their roles in a $1 million drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as cocaine and marijuana.

These charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Jackson County Drug Task Force; the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Kansas State Highway Patrol; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Thirty-one defendants in Kansas City and Independence, Mo., and elsewhere, were charged in a 27-count indictment that was returned March 13 by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Several defendants have been arrested and remain in federal custody.

The federal indictment charges the following 11 defendants, all Mexican nationals residing in Kansas City, Mo.: Porfirio Almeida-Perez, aka "Cadena," "Flan," "Guarache" and "Pilo," 33; Sergio Almeida-Perez, aka "Checo," 27; Eric Medina-Medina, 21; Guadalupe Lara-Armenta, aka "Lupe," "Barbas," "El Barbas" and "Molleja," 21; Isidro Marrufo, aka "Junior," 22; Guadalupe Perez-Perez, aka "Pitorrin" and "Seis," 27; Ernesto Sandoval, aka "Guero," 53; Jose Isidro Marrufo-Rutiaga, 43; Isabel Gonzalez-Mendoza, aka "Chavela," 23; Angel De La Rosa-Garcia, 40; and Guzman Perez-Hernandez, 21.

Following are six additional local defendants: Abel A. Martinez, aka "Coco," 37, and Kevin D. Blum, 25, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Cosme Ortiz-Miranda, aka "Indio," 43, and Carlos Renteria, aka "Carlitos" and "Charlie," 35, both Mexican nationals residing in Independence, Mo.; Ramon Antonio Angulo-Sandoval, aka "Ramon Angulo-Rivera," "Tony" and "Carlos," age unknown, a Mexican national residing in Kansas City, Kan.; and Guillermo Ortiz-Iribe, aka "Memo," 38, a Mexican national residing in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

The indictment also charges the following defendants: Jesus Monjardin-Araujo, aka "Beco," 38, a Mexican national residing in California; Jose Alan Castro-Rojo, 33, a Mexican national residing in Montclair, Calif.; Norberto Antonio Dangla-Sanchez, 36, of Modesto, Calif.; and Jose F. Almeida-Olivas, 32, aka "Jesus Almeida-Olivas," "Chaparro" and "Chuy," 32, a Mexican national residing in St. Paul, Minn. Ten additional defendants are Mexican nationals whose addresses are unknown: Ignacio Salcedo-Baez, aka "Nacho," 32; Martin Tavizon-Nunez, aka "Guerro," 42; Fredy Almeida-Velazquez, aka "Cholito," 27; Arturo Aviles-Perez, aka "Charparrito," 22; Sergio Campos-Medina, aka "Checho," 31; Enrique Lara, 48; Esteban Acosta-Perez, aka "Cesar Palacios," 35; Bruno Tavizon-Nunez, 43; Gerardo Flores-Magallon, 46; and Jose Guadalupe Delgado-Delval, aka "Leonardo" and "Lupe," 49.

The federal indictment alleges that all of the defendants – with the exception of Perez-Hernandez – have participated in a conspiracy since Jan. 1, 2007 to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

In addition to the conspiracy, Martinez, Almeida-Perez, Medina-Medina, Dangla-Sanchez, Almeida-Velazquez and Flores-Magallon are charged in various counts related to distributing methamphetamine. De La Rosa-Garcia was also charged with possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Ortiz-Iribe, Perez-Perez and Perez-Hernandez are also charged with being illegal aliens unlawfully possessing firearms.

Perez-Perez and Perez-Hernandez are also charged with illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported, which is a felony.

Almeida-Perez, Ortiz-Iribe, Monjardin-Araujo, Martinez, Perez-Perez, Salcedo-Baez, Tavizon-Nunez, Ortiz-Miranda, Campos-Medina, Renteriaj, Angulo-Sandoval, Castro-Rojo, Sandoval, Marrufo-Rutiaga and Gonzalez-Mendoza are also charged with using a telephone to facilitate distributing methamphetamine.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government $1,070,000, which was allegedly received in exchange for the unlawful distribution of methamphetamine. According to the indictment, that money judgment is based on the distribution of 15 kilograms or more of methamphetamine with an estimated street price of $2,000 per ounce.

The forfeiture allegation would also require Castro-Rojo to forfeit $32,490, Angul-Sandoval to forfeit $3,236 and Tavizon-Nunez to forfeit $28,140, all seized by law enforcement officers and allegedly proceeds of the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

The public is reminded that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Marquez, Western District of Missouri, is prosecuting the case.