Gary A. Aquerrebere, Methamphetamine Smuggling, Missouri 2019

California Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Methamphetamine

Kansas City, Mo. – A shocking case of methamphetamine smuggling has come to light in Kansas City, Missouri. Gary A. Aquerrebere, 63, of Desert Hot Springs, California, pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to the plea agreement, Aquerrebere was traveling through Kansas City on April 15, 2019. Members of the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN) utilized a drug-sniffing dog, which alerted to a suitcase in the luggage compartment of the bus. Initially, none of the passengers on the bus claimed ownership of the luggage, which had a baggage claim ticket with Aquerrebere’s name, but eventually Aquerrebere admitted the suitcase was his.

When officers searched the suitcase, they found 10 bundles inside a cardboard box. The bundles, wrapped in clear cellophane and black electrical tape, contained a total of 4.356 kilograms of pure methamphetamine.

Under federal statutes, Aquerrebere is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Michael Green. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Aquerrebere’s guilty plea is a significant blow to the methamphetamine trade in the region. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating the flow of illicit substances into our communities.

Gary A. Aquerrebere, 63, is scheduled to be sentenced after a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

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