Upcoming hearing dates are not posted to the federal court records system, but defendants in a major methamphetamine bust earlier this month in Emporia are advancing in the court system.
Last week, Judge Angel Mitchell found enough probable cause to move forward with the cases against Emporian Troy Wagaman and Mexican resident Omar Carranza. Meanwhile, Mexican resident Tiburcio Rangel, initially listed as temporarily detained, is now detained pending trial after a related order by Judge Mitchell last week.
All three are detained pending trial.
An update for co-defendant Moises Sanchez of Texas has not posted. Emporians Elizabeth Benitez and Jesus Cruz Rodriguez are set to appear in federal court June 2 but are not currently detained. Benitez had a preliminary hearing last week while Rodriguez waived that hearing.
All six face single counts of distributing methamphetamine. All defendants in this case are accused of varying involvement in a methamphetamine distribution ring that involved trips from Mexico to Emporia and back over at least the last several months. The alleged operation worked out of a home in the 800 block of West Fifth and a shipping container in the 1200 block of Road D. Authorities say they seized close to 100 gallons of liquid meth, 75 guns, $20,000 and a conversion lab at the Road D location, as well as over 130 pounds of crystal meth and another conversion lab at West Fifth.
