NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

MATT J. WHITWORTH

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

APRIL 8, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEXICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED FOR

LARGE-SCALE METH CONSPIRACY

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role as an “enforcer” for a drug-trafficking organization that distributed large amounts of methamphetamine in Jackson County, Mo.

Alfonso Cisneros-Gutierrez, 29, a citizen of Mexico who was residing in Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs this morning to 16 years and three months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 13, 2009, Cisneros-Gutierrez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine between Nov. 1, 2006, and July 24, 2007, and to possessing a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. The drug-trafficking conspiracy involved at least 42 kilograms (92.4 pounds) of methamphetamine.

Cisneros-Gutierrez admitted that his job was to safeguard the narcotics and money, as well as to weigh the drugs. Law enforcement officers recovered three assault-style rifles and a shotgun from his residence, as well as $162,937, which is forfeited to the government as the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Officers found 19 plastic bags containing methamphetamine that were hidden in the attic.

Cisneros-Gutierrez’s brothers, Alfredo Cisneros-Gutierrez and Gerardo Cisneros-Gutierrez, both 35, as well as co-defendant Salvador Jesus Velasco-Saldana, 33, all citizens of Mexico, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and await sentencing. Co-defendant Miguel Angel Garcia-Bobadilla, 26, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Justino Ruiz-Ramos, 35, was sentenced to five years and seven months in federal prison without parole.

Alfonso Cisneros-Gutierrez and Gerardo Cisneros-Gutierrez admitted that they worked for their brother, Alfredo Cisneros-Gutierrez.

Alfredo Cisneros-Gutierrez told law enforcement officers that he had received five shipments of methamphetamine, each totaling more than 20 pounds. He paid $17,000 per pound for the drugs and sold them for $18,000 per pound.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy B. Marcus and Cindi Woolery. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

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