A preliminary hearing is coming later this month in a new criminal case against an Emporia woman charged — along with seven others — of charges ranging from illegal drug use to illegal dentistry to human smuggling.
Iris Sandoval-Flores had her first appearance Thursday on charges of theft and unlicensed practice of dentistry or dental hygiene. Sandoval-Flores is accused of stealing dental supplies and prescription drugs from CareArc between August 2024 and this past May, as well as practicing dentistry or dental hygiene without a license between January 2023 and this past May. Her prelim will be Aug. 12.
The new charges against Sandoval-Flores were filed July 11 and are connected to the larger case that was announced in May. Sandoval-Flores was initially accused of human smuggling, identity theft, dealing in false ID documents and unlawful practice. Lyon County Attorney Amy Aranda tells KVOE News the initial unlawful dentistry charge was dropped to be refiled with the new case but the remaining counts are still active. The original case against Sandoval-Flores has a preliminary hearing Sept. 15.
Seven other defendants are included:
*Francisco Pichardo-Machado, Martin Pichardo-Machado and Hugo Cardona-Argueta all have hearings Aug. 15. Both Francisco and Martin Pichardo-Mchado are charged with making false information, marijuana possession and paraphernalia possession; Hugo Cardona-Argueta has been charged with identity theft, interference with law enforcement, marijuana possession and paraphernalia possession
*Martha Lopez-Alvarado, charged with identity theft, interference with law enforcement, marijuana possession and paraphernalia possession, will have a pretrial conference Aug. 22. Lopez-Alvarado is both a defendant and witness in this case
Also:
*Rigoberto Sandoval-Sandoval and Ana Raquel Figueroa were supposed to have separate hearings in June on charges of unlicensed practice of dentistry or dental hygiene and unlawful obtaining a prescription-only drug
*Edwar Benavidez-Sanchez, listed on the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal as Jerlin Jeovanny Cerna-Arguello, was supposed to have a preliminary hearing last month on charges of identity theft, identity fraud, making false information and dealing in false ID documents
Warrants have been issued for these three individuals.
