KCK man pleads guilty to dealing drugs in Wichita

U.S. Department of Justice

A Mexican citizen has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in Wichita, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today. 

Juan Arellano Padilla, 36, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of distributing methamphetamine.

Beginning in late 2009, the Wichita Police Department began conducting an investigation into suspected drug trafficking involving a number of persons, some of who had ties to Mexico.

During the investigation:

• Oklahoma City Police stopped a van in Norman, Okla., and seized 137.5 pounds of marijuana bound for Wichita.

• Investigators obtained wiretaps to monitor traffickers’ phones.

• Investigators monitored global positioning devices on specified cell phones.

• Investigators arranged to buy drugs from conspirators.

In his plea, Padilla admitted that in 2010 he was part of the trafficking organization and conspired with others to distribute drugs.

Co-defendants include:

• Carlos Ramirez, who was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison.

• Alejandro R. Hernandez, who was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison.

• Ponciano Munoz-Meraz, who was sentenced to 70 months.  

• Guillermo Amparan, who was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.

Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.