Kansas City, Missouri – Three Mexican nationals have been sentenced to federal prison for their part in a large-scale conspiracy involving the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin valued at almost $4.7 million, in what appears to be a blow to drug trafficking operations spanning Mexico to the Kansas City area.
Without the possibility of parole, 46-year-old Jesus Morales-Garcia, also known as “Don Jesus,” was the main defendant sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips sentenced Morales-Garcia last week for running a continuous criminal enterprise trafficking approximately 335 kg of methamphetamine and 22 kg of heroin between 2020 and 2022. His criminal activity did not stop with drug sales; after being deported twice in 2016, he also faced charges for illegally re-entering the United States.
Baltic Flores-Norzagaray, 53, was sentenced to 16 years and three months the day before. Charges against Flores-Norzagaray included gun possession in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. In particular, he had a pair Taurus handguns and a Hammerli.22 caliber rifle at the time of his arrest. His participation also included many times direct methamphetamine sales to a confidential informant.
Santiago Raul Mendieta-Sanchez, 43, is the third defendant and he got a seven-year term. Mendieta-Sanchez had entered a guilty plea to his participation in the drug distribution network, same as his co-defendants.
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This case highlights the extensive operation led by Morales-Garcia, who was a key local operative in a larger drug-trafficking organization. Sourced from Mexico, the drugs were sold at significant profit margins in the local markets; heroin as much as $1,500 per ounce and methamphetamine as high as $300 per ounce.
The successful conclusion of this case came after a large-scale law enforcement operation on June 8, 2022, coordinated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Including 140 officials from 14 different state, local, and federal agencies, this operation was among the largest of its type. Authorities issued 16 search warrants during the crackdown, resulting in the seizures of significant quantities of drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and Xanax along with a sizable amount of cash, weapons, and even a 3D printer used for creating ghost gun parts.
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In total, 24 individuals have now been sentenced in this broader case, which initially saw 44 defendants indicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker prosecuted the case, which was supported by a broad network of agencies including U.S. customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Agency, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and various local police departments across many states.
This case marks yet another victory for the combined efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies in their ongoing battle against organized crime and drug trafficking across the United States.
