KANSAS CITY, MO – Michael B. Becher, 41, of Raytown, Missouri, is facing two decades behind bars after being sentenced in federal court for a sprawling $10 million methamphetamine conspiracy and a separate fraud scheme that preyed on Johnson County, Kansas government employees. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays handed down the 20-year sentence today, combining a 20-year term for drug trafficking with a concurrent five-year sentence for the fraud.
Becher, a key figure in a drug-trafficking organization led by Mirza Alihodzic, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri, admitted to distributing at least 185 kilograms of methamphetamine. The operation, active from September 1, 2018, to November 5, 2019, saw Becher purchasing “multiple pounds” of the drug daily. He profited handsomely, buying meth for $5,000 per kilogram from Alihodzic and flipping it for $6,300.
The bust came on November 5, 2019, when Becher attempted to finalize a deal for 40-50 kilograms of meth in California. Law enforcement, conducting surveillance, overheard what sounded like a violent confrontation – firearms and screaming – inside a residence where the transaction was planned. Becher, along with others, was arrested. A search of his BMW 650i revealed approximately 205 grams of pure methamphetamine hidden in a backpack. He also admitted to previously stealing 23-27 pounds of meth from another source, and once transporting over 80 pounds in his vehicle.
But Becher wasn’t just a drug kingpin. He simultaneously ran a fraudulent operation exploiting stolen identities of Johnson County, Kansas employees. Using the pilfered information, he made illicit credit card purchases, racking up a total of $189,378 in losses. The court ordered Becher to pay $189,378 in restitution to the victims of this fraud, along with $1,165,500 as a money judgment representing the proceeds from the drug conspiracy – based on the sale of 185 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The search of a storage unit rented by Becher yielded a disturbing cache of weapons: two M20 Super Bazooka rockets (one live, one a training version), an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 5.56mm semi-automatic rifle with a 21-round magazine, and additional ammunition. Becher claimed he received the rockets from Alihodzic. Jesus Banuelos, Jr., 24, of Kansas City, Missouri, was also identified as a source for one pound of methamphetamine Becher purchased the night before his arrest.
Becher is one of twelve defendants already sentenced in this sprawling case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not commented on potential further investigations or charges related to the remaining individuals involved in the drug trafficking organization or the identity theft scheme. The case serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of seemingly separate criminal enterprises and the lengths to which criminals will go to profit from illegal activities.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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