TOPEKA, KAN. — A grim tale of crime and corruption has hit the heart of Topeka as Adolfo Barragan-Rodriguez, owner of Pronto Pizza at 1121 SE 6th Ave., has been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. According to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall, a 35-count indictment unsealed Thursday paints a chilling picture of a sophisticated operation that stretched from the Golden State to Kansas.
Barragan-Rodriguez, also known as ‘Big Mike’ among his conspirators, is accused of establishing a trafficking ring that imported methamphetamine from California and distributed it through a network of street dealers in Topeka. His restaurant served as a front for the operation, with packages of drugs coming and going under the radar.
The investigation revealed that Barragan-Rodriguez coordinated the logistics of purchasing pounds of meth from suppliers in California, arranging shipments to Topeka. He also utilized Federal Express as a tool for his trafficking endeavors, with seizures including a 4-pound package of meth and $14,900 in cash during the investigation.
But the extent of the corruption didn’t end there. The Prairie Band Pottawattamie Casino north of Topeka was used by conspirators to launder drug proceeds, while one defendant faces charges for unlawful possession of 92 firearms. Schools were not safe either, as some drugs were stored within 1,000 feet of Mater Dei Catholic School.
The indictment lists an array of charges against Barragan-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators, including conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, money laundering, and unlawful possession of firearms. The penalties are severe, with sentences ranging from a minimum of 10 years in federal prison to life imprisonment.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Topeka Police Department, supported by various local and federal law enforcement agencies. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs is leading the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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