Four hearings, three decidedly different results.
That was the upshot of federal hearings held Monday in Kansas City, Kansas, after six people were arrested following a drug bust in and near Emporia last week.
One of the three Emporians accused in the case, Elizabeth Benitez, was actually released from detention hearings until her next hearing June 2. Another, Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, had a detention hearing delayed until May 19. However, Emporian Troy Wagaman and Texas resident Moises Sanchez were both detained until trial.
One of two defendants from Mexico, Omar Carranza, had already waived his detention hearing and remains detained pending trial. The other, Tiburcio Rangel, is detained until further notice.
All six 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.
