United States Attorney Eric Melgren

District of Kansas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News releases are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks/press.html

Contact: Jim Cross
PHONE: 316-269-6481
FAX:      316-269-6420

Oct. 4, 2007

TOPEKA MAN INDICTED ON BANKRUPTCY FRAUD CHARGE

Other federal grand jury indictments:
2,000-plus pounds of marijuana,
escape from federal custody,
immigration violations

TOPEKA, KAN. – Milton Richard McClung, 60, Topeka, is charged with one count of bankruptcy fraud. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 10, 2002, in Shawnee County, Kan.

According to the indictment, on May 16, 2002, McClung filed a bankruptcy petition in federal court. Subsequently, he received approximately $42,000 from the sale of his deceased mother’s house. McClung was required to file amendments with the court disclosing that he had received the money, which he failed to do.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Trustee investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

A grand jury meeting in Topeka Wednesday also returned the following indictments:

Luis E. Romano, 30, Kansas City, Kan.; Cesar O. Lopez, 32, Shawnee, Kan.; Thomas Solis, 35, Kansas City, Kan.; Felipe Holguin, 28, Kansas City, Kan.; Manual Ortiz; Austraberto Portillo, 27, El Paso, Texas; and Aaron D. Martinez, 37, El Paso, Texas, are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, more than 1,000 kilograms (more than 2,200 pounds) of marijuana. The crime is alleged to have occurred from March 1, 2005, to September 2007, in Kansas.

In addition:
– Romano, Lopez, Solis, Holguin and Ortiz are charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 25, 2007.
– Ortiz is charged with one count of money laundering in the amount of $145,700. According to the indictment, he assisted another person in concealing the money in a semi trailer truck. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 25, 2007.
– Lopez is charged with one count of distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 25, 2007.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Conspiracy: Not less than 10 years and not more than life, and a fine up to $4 million.
– Possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million.
– Money laundering: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.
– Possession with intent to distribute cocaine: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting.
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Fritz Denis, 30, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Louis Chouloute, 33, Brooklyn, N.Y., are charged with possession with intent to distribute 2,842 pounds (1,291.8 kilograms) of marijuana. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 14, 2007, in Shawnee County, Kan.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life in federal prison and a fine up to $8 million. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

Guadalupe D. Pizarro, 34, Kansas City, Kan., Genaro Villa-De Larosa, 48, Kansas City, Kan., and Antonio P. Carranza, 26, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from Sept. 6, 2007, to Sept. 19, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

– Conspiracy: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million.
– Possession with intent to distribute cocaine: Not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Jose Hernandez-Lopez, 31, Holton, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. He was found June 24, 2007, in Jackson County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot is prosecuting.

Gustavo G. Penaloza is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm while he was an alien illegally in the United States. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 19, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

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. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Sergio Ubaldo Dominguez-Alvarez, 45, who is a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Sept. 7, 2007, in Kansas City, Kan.

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

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