Federal charges have been filed against three Emporians, a Texas resident and two Mexican nationals illegally living in Emporia as part of an alleged multi-national drug distribution operation conducted locally earlier this week.
The US Attorney’s Office says the following have been arrested:
• Troy Wagaman, 42, of Emporia
• Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, 28, of Emporia
• Elizabeth Benitez, 33, of Emporia
• Moises Cervantes Sanchez, 67, of McAllen, Texas
• Omar Villa Carranza, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia
• Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, 42, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia
Each have been charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.
The investigation started between March and April as US Customs and Border Protection saw a charter bus making several trips from the United States to Mexico with few or no passengers on board. According to the US Attorney’s Office, all the trips were to Emporia. A secondary CBP investigation allegedly found several “aftermarket anomalies,” including tampered fuel tank bolts, and authorities also say the bus destination was an unspecified rural property near Emporia.
The bus arrived at the US border on May 4, when a K-9 unit alerted to unspecified controlled substances and later determined a substance in the gas tank was liquid methamphetamine. The driver was allowed to continue, followed by Homeland Security Investigations agents, eventually arriving at the rural property where Emporia Police arrested all but Benitez. She was arrested at a different unspecified location.
Besides CBP, HSI and Emporia Police, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is also investigating this case.
The US Attorney’s Office says the arrests come as part of Operation Take Back America, designed to stop illegal immigration and to eliminate cartels and other transnational criminal organizations.
Court dates are pending against all six defendants.
