Kan. man admits role in meth conspiracy near elementary school

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas male and a few other defendants have pleaded guilty in federal court docket to their roles in a conspiracy that converted big amounts of liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine at a rented property inside of 1,000 feet of George Melcher Elementary School in Kansas Metropolis, according to the United State’s Attorney.

Jose Vieyra-Lopez, 37, a citizen of Mexico Magan Eubanks, 40, of Kansas Metropolis, Mo., and Victor Suarez-Gallardo, 33, of Kansas, each and every pleaded guilty in independent appearances ahead of U.S. District Choose Stephen R. Bough on Thursday, Feb. 3. Vieyra-Lopez and Suarez-Gallardo every single pleaded responsible to taking part in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in just 1,000 toes of a college from Jan. 1, 2014, to May 18, 2018. Eubanks pleaded responsible to taking part in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant Ruben Ortiz-Vieyra, 42, of Kansas Town, Mo., a lawful permanent resident of the United States from Mexico, pleaded responsible to his position in the drug-trafficking conspiracy within just 1,000 toes of a faculty on Jan. 12, 2022.

In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Vieyra-Lopez, Suarez-Gallardo, and Ortiz-Vieyra each pleaded guilty to 1 depend of aiding and abetting the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in 1,000 ft of a university. Suarez-Gallardo, Ortiz-Vieyra, and Eubanks every also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing or making use of firearms with drug trafficking. Ortiz-Vieyra also pleaded responsible to one count of conspiracy to have or use firearms with drug trafficking.

According to their plea agreements, Ortiz-Vieyra supplied methamphetamine to Eubanks. Vieyra-Lopez was the drug runner for Ortiz-Vieyra.

On April 26, 2018, a confidential informant purchased a single-50 percent pound of methamphetamine from Eubanks for $3,000 in a transaction that concerned Ortiz-Vieyra. On May possibly 2, 2018, the confidential informant obtained a person pound of methamphetamine from Eubanks for $5,000. Ortiz-Vieyra was also concerned in the transaction. On Might 8, 2018, the confidential informant ordered 1-50 percent pound of methamphetamine. Ortiz-Vieyra and Vieyra-Lopez ended up associated in the transaction.

On Could 15, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a lookup warrant at Eubanks’s home. Officers seized methamphetamine, marijuana, a Ruger .380-caliber pistol, a box of ammunition, a counterfeit $100 bill, and drug paraphernalia.

On May possibly 17, 2018, law enforcement officers executed a research warrant at a Kansas Metropolis, Mo., home controlled by Ortiz-Vieyra and Suarez-Gallardo. There had been no furnishings or other goods inside of the residence to make it look occupied. Instead, officers located a black cooking stand that experienced a pan sitting down on top that contained liquid methamphetamine. The residence is about 484 feet from George Melcher Elementary College.

Ortiz-Vieyra admitted that he rented residences exactly where he converted liquid methamphetamine into a crystallized type of methamphetamine for sale, together with about 5 pounds of methamphetamine about 1 7 days in advance of his arrest on May possibly 17, 2018. Ortiz-Vieyra admitted that he bought methamphetamine to Eubanks and some others. The following working day Suarez-Gallardo, who experienced also been observed at the residence the place methamphetamine was remaining converted, was arrested. Officers discovered acetone and a Berretta .45-caliber firearm at his residence. Suarez-Gallardo determined Ortiz-Vieyra as the conversion cook. Suarez-Gallardo admitted that he had distributed 10 to 15 lbs . of methamphetamine from the conversion lab.

Underneath the phrases of their plea agreements, the defendants have to forfeit to the govt $1,080,000, which was acquired for the unlawful distribution of methamphetamine, based on a sale price of $600 for each ounce and the distribution of 1,800 ounces (112.5 lbs .) of methamphetamine.

Underneath federal statutes, every single of the defendants is matter to a necessary least sentence of 10 many years in federal jail with no parole, up to a sentence of lifetime in federal prison with out parole. The maximum statutory sentence is recommended by Congress and is presented right here for informational applications, as the sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the courtroom dependent on the advisory sentencing tips and other statutory elements. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled right after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Business office.