The lead defendant in a federal case involving allegations of distributing drugs between Emporia and Mexico last year is awaiting sentencing this month.
Omar Villa Carranza accepted a guilty plea on a count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine between March and May 5, 2025. Sentencing is Aug 18 at 9 am. The tentative agreement has Carranza serving 12 years in federal prison with 5 years of supervised release. Asset forfeiture would be as ordered by the court and deportation is possible.
Federal prosecutors have said Homeland Security Investigations and Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents worked with US Border Patrol and, later, Emporia Police officers after a commercial charter bus had made trips from Mexico to the United States with minimal passengers on board. The investigation then led to co-defendant Troy Wagaman’s property in rural Lyon County southwest of Emporia, where authorities say they found close to 100 gallons of liquid meth, 75 guns, $20,000 and a conversion lab. Another 130-plus pounds of crystal meth and a second conversion lab were then found in the 800 block of West 5th in Emporia.
Wagaman and the other defendants, Jesus Cruz Rodriguez, Moises Cervantes Sanchez, and Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, are still awaiting decisions on trials. A status conference is tentatively set for Sept 15 to allow time for defense counsel to review discovery items and brief the defendants.
