May 6, 2010

FEDERAL DRUG TRAFFICKING, FIREARMS CHARGES FILED AGAINST WICHITA MAN

TOPEKA, KAN. – Dan Alan Sanchez, 31, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 18, 2010, in Sedgwick County, Kan.

Sanchez initially was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed April 29, 2010. According to the complaint, on Feb. 18, 2010, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department stopped Sanchez, who was driving a white Cadillac Escalade. Investigators found $5,600 in Sanchez’s pocket and a black duffle bag in the back seat containing more than $23,000 in cash. They also seized methamphetamine and a .40-caliber handgun.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession in furtherance of drug trafficking, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,0000 on the charge of unlawful possession by a felon, and a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the methamphetamine charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Sublet is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A federal grand jury meeting in Topeka, Kan., also returned the following indictments:

Justino Cruz-Chavez, 39, Kansas City, Kan., and Marcellino Toscano-Burgueno, 28, Midvale, Utah, are charged with possession with intent to distribute approximately three kilograms of cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 6, 2010, in Wabaunsee County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

Julian Saucedo, 24, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Central Middle School in Kansas City, Kan. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 15, 2010.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge and a penalty of not less than one year and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the drug charge. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

Dustin Ray Mendez, 24, Salina, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and one count of attempting to tamper with a federal witness. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in October 2009, December 2009 and April 2010 in Saline County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and fine up to $250,00 on each of the firearms charges and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the witness tampering charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

Willie D. Stamps, 19, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm while under indictment for a federal crime. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 22, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the shotgun charge and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other charge. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.

David Louis Craig, 30, Salina, Kan., is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Jan. 28, 2010, in Shawnee County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

Antwon D. Walker, 27, Leavenworth, Kan., is charged with escaping from custody at the Grossman Community Corrections Center in Leavenworth, Kan. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 19, 2010.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.