KC Reporter

Thirteen individuals, including ten Mexican nationals, one Guatemalan national, and two U.S. citizens, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri. The charges include conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, illegal possession of machine guns, alien in possession of firearms, felon in possession of firearms, and illegal reentry of removed aliens.

The investigation began in January 2024 and continued through June 2025. During this period, authorities seized approximately 40 kilograms of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, and 11 firearms. Three of these firearms were equipped with machine gun conversion devices.

A law enforcement operation on June 18 resulted in nine arrests. Three defendants were already detained prior to the operation while one remains at large. The operation involved more than a dozen law enforcement agencies and led to the seizure of nine additional firearms.

The individuals charged are Uriel Lopez-Farias (31), Jesus Adrian Meza-Meza (42), Walter Fernandez (34), Carlos R. Lepe-Virgen (52), Pedro Ivan Roldan-Minjares (44), Joel Armando Guillen-Rodriguez (31), Jose Rodriguez-Vasquez (44), Jose Aroldo Troches-Reyes (33), Adalberto Meza-Meza (37), Maximiliano Oliva-Verdin (30), Osvaldo Chiapas-Aguilar (38), Jesus Alvarez-Giron (23) all Mexican nationals; and Kenneth Baez (25) from Kansas City.

Lopez-Farias faces multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and illegal possession of a machine gun. J. Meza-Meza is charged with similar offenses along with reentry as a removed alien. Fernandez is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Lepe-Virgen faces charges for distributing both methamphetamine and cocaine while Roldan-Minjares is accused similarly along with reentry as a removed alien. Guillen-Rodriguez is also charged with distribution-related offenses.

Rodriguez-Vasquez's charges include distribution-related offenses alongside reentry as a removed alien while Troches-Reyes faces attempted distribution charges for cocaine. A. Meza-Meza's charges focus on distribution-related activities while Oliva-Verdin shares similar accusations.

Chiapas-Aguilar's charges relate to conspiracy and distribution activities whereas Alvarez-Giron faces identical allegations regarding methamphetamine distribution only.

Baez is charged specifically for illegal possession of a machine gun among other firearm-related offenses carrying potential sentences up to 15 years without parole under federal statutes which are provided here solely for informational purposes; actual sentencing will be determined by court based on advisory guidelines alongside statutory factors during trial proceedings where evidence must substantiate any claims made within indictment itself beyond reasonable doubt via presentation before federal jury tasked determining ultimate guilt or innocence therein accordingly."

This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aiming at combating illegal immigration whilst eliminating cartels/transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts/resources stemming from Department Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces/Project Safe Neighborhood initiatives alike—prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys Megan A Baker/Heather Siegele following investigations conducted primarily Federal Bureau Investigation alongside numerous local/state/federal agencies such as DEA ATF HSI Jackson County Drug Task Force amongst others participating said operations jointly throughout duration thereof ultimately culminating recent arrest endeavors detailed hereinabove accordingly.”