Federal prosecutors charge 12 Kansas City-area men in fentanyl trafficking sting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Twelve suspects made their initial appearances in federal court after they were charged in connection with a fentanyl trafficking investigation.

The United States District Attorney’s Office - Western District of Missouri announced on Friday that law enforcement seized 6,738 fentanyl pills, 11 firearms, including a machine gun, five stolen automobiles, and more than $75,000 in cash.

The following suspects were charged:

• Justin D. Rivera, also known as “JD,” 20
• Yael Figueroa, also known as “Grit,” 23
• Jose R. Lugo, Jr., also known as “El Wey,” 20
• Aaron Contreras-Jaquez, also known as “Van Kleefy,” 24
• Jose Lorenzo-Medina, 24
• Antonio R. Baeza-Brown, also known as “Tony,” 25
• Simon L. Figueroa, 26
• Jonathan Gonzales, 25
• Luis Calvillo-Ortiz, also known as “Loc,” 19
• Marcos Favian Alvarado, also known as “Baby Face,” 20
• Chad B. Green, also known as “Gso Yad,” 24
• Crencio Carbajal-Loya, 18

Rivera was charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim on May 7, 2023. The victim was only identified as M.M.

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He also was charged with eight counts of fentanyl distribution, three counts of using firearms during a drug trafficking crime, and one count of using and carrying a machine gun during a drug trafficking crime.

The following suspects were charged with the listed crimes:

• Alvarado - one count of distributing fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.
• Yael Figueroa - four counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.
• Medina - four counts of distributing fentanyl.
• Contreras-Jaquez - two counts of distributing fentanyl and two counts of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
• Calvillo-Ortiz, Gonzales, and Simon Figueroa - one count of distributing fentanyl.

Rivera, Yael Figueroa, Lugo, Contreras-Jaquez, Lorenzo-Medina and Baeza-Brown were from Kansas City, Missouri.

Simon Figueroa and Gonzales were Mexican citizens living in Kansas City, Missouri.

Calvillo-Ortiz was from Independence, Missouri, and Alvarado, Green and Carbajal-Loya were from Kansas City, Kansas.

A release stated all the crimes were alleged to have taken place since Dec. 1, 2022.

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