Three Indicted on Federal Charge of Bank Robbery in Pomona

KANSAS CITY, KS—A federal grand jury returned indictments here today against three people who are charged with robbing a bank in Pomona, Kansas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Caleb Jeffcoat, 26, Quenemo, Kansas; Christel Collins, 37, Quenemo, Kansas; and Robert Martin, 39, Quenemo, Kansas, were charged with one count of bank robbery. The indictment alleged that on March 19, 2014, they robbed the Goppert State Service Bank at 118 East Franklin Street in Pomona.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa Police Department, the KBI, the Franklin County Attorney’s Office, and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.

Other Indictments

Luis Angel Sanchez-Cruz, 32, Baldwin Park, California; Daniel Flores, 34, Perris, California; and Evelyn Rose Cardenas, 23, Perris, California, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from April 1 to April 5, 2014, in Kansas City, Kansas.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Chester Bragg, 36, is charged with failure to register as required by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The crime is alleged to have occurred starting in December 2013 in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshal Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.

Scott Meinert, 49, Tonganoxie, Kansas, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 25, 2013, in Tonganoxie, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.

Javier Zambrano-Sanchez, 39, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, nine counts of distributing various amounts of methamphetamine and five counts of distributing various amounts of cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2012 and 2013 in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the conspiracy charge. Sentences on the other counts vary: not more than 20 years, not less than five years, or not less than 10 years, depending on the count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.

Miguel Lozoya-Serrano, 40, a citizen of Mexico who has been living in Wichita, Kansas, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found March 18, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Roberto Martinez-Bahena, 43, a citizen of Mexico who has been living in Liberal, Kan., is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found March 27, 2014, in Seward County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Vincente Diaz-Gomez, 21, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully transporting aliens who were in the United States illegally, and one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. The indictment alleges that on April 5, 204, he transported six such aliens in Seward County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the transportation charge, and a maximum penalty of two years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Oscar Sanchez-Valencia, 27, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of making a false statement to the government, three counts of misusing a Social Security number, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of making a false claim of U.S. citizenship, and one count of using false documents. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in Barton County, Kansas.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

• Making a false statement, misusing a Social Security number: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
• Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory consecutive two years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
• Making a false claim of citizenship: A maximum penalty of three years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Using false documents: A maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Howard D. Franks, 59, Osage City, Kansas, is charged with one count of theft of Social Security benefits. The crime is alleged to have occurred from 2010 to 2013 in Osage County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Ladonna I. Hensley, 44, Americus, Kansas, is charged with one count of Social Security benefits fraud. The crime is alleged to have occurred from 2007 to 2011 in Lyon County, Kansas.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.