Kansas City, MO – Efren Torres-Rodriguez, 34, of Olathe, Kansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury for disrupting airport operations and possessing a firearm and methamphetamine.
In a high-speed chase, Torres-Rodriguez drove a Dodge Charger at speeds up to 100 miles per hour down the runway at the downtown airport in February 2022. He crashed through the gate to the airfield, evading officers in pursuit.
When officers finally apprehended Torres-Rodriguez, they found a clear plastic bag containing methamphetamine in his pants pocket and a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, empty of ammunition, under the driver’s seat.
Torres-Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm with a prior violent offense, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for robbery, making it illegal for him to possess any firearm or ammunition under federal law.
He was charged with one count of damaging and interfering with an air navigation facility, one count of damaging and disrupting an international airport, one count of being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing methamphetamine.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford, and it was investigated by the Kansas City, MO, Police Department and the FBI as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime.
Prosecutors emphasized that the charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Torres-Rodriguez’s case is part of the larger effort to combat violent crime and ensure public safety in the region. The outcome of the case will be determined by the courts.
Related Federal Cases
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- Sean LaDue, Armed Bank Robbery Attempt, Missouri 2016 · Kansas
- Emily Johnson, Methamphetamine Distribution, Missouri 2024 · Kansas
- Matthew Allen Hampton, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Missouri 2024 · Indiana
- John Smith, Illegal Firearm Possession, Missouri 2023 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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