Two Topeka Men Indicted on Federal Carjacking Charge

TOPEK, KS—Two Topeka men have been indicted on a federal carjacking charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Tapoleon B. Hendricks, 18, Topeka, Kansas, and Leondray M. Sanders, Jr., 18, Topeka, Kansas, are charged with one count of carjacking. The indictment alleges that on January 14, 2014, in Shawnee County, Kansas, they carjacked a 2001 Chevrolet Impala from a victim identified in court records as S.P.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.

Other Indictments

Samuel L. Vliet, 21, Wichita, Kansas, is charged with one count of commercial robbery. The indictment alleges that on Februar 8, 2014, he robbed a Quick Trip at 2106 S. Rock Road in Wichita, Kansas

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

William A. Blacksmith, 26, Horton, Kansas, is charged with one count of assault occurring on the Kickapoo reservation in Brown County, Kansas. The indictment alleges that on December 2, 2013, he assaulted an Indian victim identified in court records as J.E.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kickapoo Tribal Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Crystal Zoe Amarillas-Norzagaray, 22, Tuscon, Arizona, and Pilar Angel Leon-Belran, 35, Tuscon, Arizona, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 103 kilograms (more than 227 pounds) of marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute 103 kilograms of marijuana, and one count each of interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking. In addition, Leon-Beltran is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. The crimes are alleged to have occurred December 30, 2013, in Ellis County, Kansas.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties: conspiracy: a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million; possession with intent to distribute: a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million; aggravated unlawful re-entry: a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000; interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking: a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.

Erick Corona, 23, Topeka, Kansas, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred January 24, 2014, in Shawnee County, Kansas.

The indictment seeks a criminal forfeiture money judgment of $42,544, representing the proceeds of the crime.

If convicted, he faces 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 Greg Hough is prosecuting.

George Madison Kitchen, IV, 36, Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred September 30, 2013, in Tonganoxie, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million. The Tonganoxie Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough is prosecuting.

Adam S. Taylor, 30, Wichita, Kansas, is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of body armor, and six counts of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in December 3013 in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

Upon conviction the crimes carry the following penalties: conspiracy: not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to 410 million; unlawful possession of body armor: a maximum penalty of three years and a fine up to $250,000; using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking: a maximum penalty of four years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting.

Antonio Vindiola, 41, Tuscon, Arizona, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred January 29, 2014, in Russell County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on each count. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough is prosecuting.

Aaron L. Streight, 25, McPherson, Kansas, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred December 1, 2013, in McPherson County, Kansas

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The McPherson County Sheriff’s Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

David D. Winchester, 54, Emporia, Kansas, is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred October 23, 2013, in Lyon County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Victor Hernandez, 31, Independence, Kansas, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred February 6, 2014, in Montgomery County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.

Darrell Durbin, 50, Wichita, Kansas, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred February 9, 2014, in Sedgwick County.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

Juvenal Bautista-Meza, 33, Garden City, Kansas, is charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person unlawfully in the United States. The Finney County Sheriff’s Department, the Garden City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.

Manuel Alex Munoz, 35, Chino, Calif., is charged with one count of distributing 25 pounds of methamphetamine and one count of traveling into Kansas in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred January 7, 2014, in Colby, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million on the distribution count and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count. The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.

Librado Hernandez-Flores, 37, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after having been deported. He was found January 7, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kansas

He faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations 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.