Mexican national sentenced to 11 years for possessing meth, firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Mexican national was sentenced Friday in federal court in the Western District of Missouri for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and for illegally possessing a firearm. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Sergio Mendoza-Medina, 41, a Mexican national residing in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Jan. 7 to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole.

On Aug. 3, 2010, Mendoza-Medina pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and to being an illegal alien possessing firearms.

Federal law enforcement officers seized a brick-sized package of methamphetamine, which weighed more than 300 grams, from Mendoza-Medina when he was arrested on Dec. 31, 2009. In a search of Mendoza-Medina's residence, officers recovered an additional 424 grams of methamphetamine, $2,600 in cash, and three handguns.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeTar Newbert, Western District of Missouri, prosecuted this case.