Grand jury indicts Kansas man for drug trafficking

WICHITA, KAN. - A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with drug trafficking.

Vicente Rodriguez, 45, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

John J. Hicks Jr, 38, Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.

Robert D. Veales, 31, of Wichita was indicted on one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and two counts of prohibited person in possession of ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.

Jacob Navarrette, 34, of Wichita was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography. Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.

Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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