A second defendant in a major drug bust with significant connections to Emporia has been temporarily released from detention — but he is scheduled to be back in court soon.
Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, like co-defendant Elizabeth Benitez, are set to return to federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, for hearings June 2.
Meanwhile, new hearing dates have not been posted to the federal Public Access to Court Electronic Records website for the remaining four defendants, Emporian Troy Wagaman, Texas resident Moises Sanchez and Mexican residents Omar Carranza and Tiburcio Rangel.
All six were arrested early this month after a lengthy investigation involving US Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Emporia Police. The investigation initially started with KBI work in the Kansas City metro area in January before pointing to suspicious bus activity between Emporia and Mexico, culminating with raids at a home in the 800 block of West Fifth and a rural home in the 1200 block of Road D. Authorities say they seized over 130 pounds of crystal meth, nearly 100 gallons of liquid meth, two conversion labs, over 70 guns and $20,000 as part of those raids.
