Federal court proceedings are set to resume in mid-August for an alleged drug bust involving residents of Emporia and Mexico.
The five remaining defendants in the case — Emporians Troy Wagaman and Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, Texan Moises Sanchez and Mexican residents Omar Carranza and Tiburcio Rangel — will have a status conference before Judge Holly Teeter on Aug. 19 following a request developed by Carranza’s defense team.
Carranza, Rangel and Sanchez remain in custody, while Wagaman and Rodriguez are on release at this time. All are now charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent to distribute, as part of an alleged drug 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 southwest of Emporia. 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.
Previous co-defendant Elizabeth Benitez has been dismissed from the case.
