KC Reporter

Three residents of southwest Missouri are among five defendants indicted for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Federal agents seized 16 kilograms of cocaine while arresting two co-defendants in Texas. The individuals involved include Mario Jose Castillo, 55, of Springfield, Mo.; Christhian Eduardo Cruz-Pineda, 22, a citizen of Honduras residing in Springfield; Johnathan David Emerson, 47, a resident of Willard, Mo.; and Bryan Ramirez-Aguero, 33, a citizen of Honduras, and Erika Martinez Hernandez, 40, a citizen of Mexico both residing in Grand Prairie, Texas.

These individuals were charged in a 10-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. This indictment replaces one returned on April 10, 2024. It contains the same or similar charges as the original but increases the amount of cocaine allegedly distributed and lengthens the timeframe of the conspiracy to incorporate an additional drug seizure.

Federal agents arrested Ramirez-Aguero and Martinez Hernandez on April 11, 2024. At the time of their arrest for the original indictment, agents seized approximately 16 kilograms of cocaine and $145,123 from their residence. Today’s superseding indictment reflects that drug seizure.

The federal indictment alleges that all five defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Dec. 12, 2021 to April 11, 2024. In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy charges, several defendants face additional charges including firearm possession related to felon status and intent to distribute drugs.

It's important to note that these charges are accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting these charges must be presented to a federal trial jury whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon with investigations conducted by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. The OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven multi-agency approach.