Two Year ATF (NITRO) Task Force Investigation Ends with 20 Defendants Indicted

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Michael Boxler, and Bradley J. Schlozman, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, today announced the indictment by a federal grand jury of 20 defendants from the Kansas City metropolitan area for participating in an armed narcotics trafficking conspiracy.

This indictment is the result of an investigation conducted by ATF’s NITRO (Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation) Task Force. NITRO is a joint law enforcement effort by federal, state and local agencies in the 16- county region of northwest Missouri led by ATF’s Kansas City office.

ATF’s NITRO Task Force initiated a proactive narcotics trafficking investigation in May 2004 on a Kansas City based methamphetamine distribution organization. This case was developed from the investigation of a Cameron, Mo., based drug trafficking organization, which resulted in a previous indictment of 14 other defendants. Surveillance, numerous undercover contacts, search warrants and other enforcement actions resulted in the purchase and seizure of nearly five pounds of methamphetamine, several firearms, U.S. currency and numerous financial assets.

On Oct. 19, 2006, a federal grand jury returned a true bill on 40 counts for various violations of the Federal Firearms and Narcotics laws including but not limited to; conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute narcotics and drug user in possession of a firearm. The grand jury further indicted 15 vehicles, additional currency and three residences purchased with or used to facilitate the drug trafficking scheme.

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, nearly 100 law enforcement officers from area state, local and federal agencies assisted in the apprehension of 17 of the 20 defendants named in the indictment. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon those arrests and initial court appearance of several defendants. Those charged with various federal offenses are Francisco Felix-Moya, Guadalupe Melecio-Lopez, Elisa Bustamante, Eduardo Flores, Noah Salas, Gregory A. Esquivel, Jeffrey W. Singleton, Frank T. Hostetter, Pedro O. Montoya, Steven R. Dagnino, David A. Strain, Jeremy D. Anders, Troy M. Barney, Richard P. Abubo, Elisa Salas-Barraza, Aqua L. Prince, Dudley E. Cramer, Enrique V. Orquiz-Martinez, Brian E. Castroconde-DeLeon and Victor E. Ramos.

Boxler and Schlozman cautioned that the charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Assisting ATF in this investigation were North Missouri Drug Task Force, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Cameron and Independence, Mo. Police Departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Sheriff’s Offices from Daviess, Clinton, Caldwell and Dekalb Counties. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City.

For more information on ATF and its programs visit www.atf.gov. Contact: Special Agent Michael Schmitz Public Information Officer (816) 559-0756

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CONTACT: Special Agent Michael Schmitz, Public Information Officer of

the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, +1-816-559-0756

Web site: http://www.atf.gov/