Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Kansas
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Indictment: Wichita Woman Provided Gun To Man Charged with Murder
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita woman was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of providing a gun to a man who is charged with shooting and killing three people near Moundridge, Kan., U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Myrta M. Rangel, 31, Wichita, is charged with:
- One count of aiding and abetting possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (count one).
- One count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (count two).
- One count of conspiracy to carry a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (count three).
- One count of transferring a firearm to be used in drug trafficking (count four).
- One count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction (count five).
- One count of giving a firearm to a convicted felon (count six).
It is alleged that on Oct. 29, 2016, Rangel gave a .40 caliber handgun to Jereme Nelson. Nelson is charged in Harvey County District Court with killing three people: Travis Street, Angela May Graevs and Richard Prouty.
If convicted, she faces the following penalties:
- Count one: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
- Count two: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
- Count three: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
- Counts four, five and six: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jack E. Smith, 37, Scammon, Kan., is charged with unlawfully trying to dispose of dispose of hazardous waste by setting fire to it.
Smith is charged with one count of unlawfully transporting hazardous waste and one count of unlawfully disposing of hazardous waste in violation of the Resource Conservation Recovery Act.
The indictment alleges that Smith towed a panel truck containing polymers and paints used in the making of gymnasium floors to property owned by his uncle in Crawford County, Kan. Neither he nor his uncle had a permit to transport, store or dispose of hazardous waste. Smith is alleged to have attempted to dispose of the hazardous waste by setting fire to the truck.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Environmental Protection Agency investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Jeffrey Shock, 37, Wichita, Kan., is charged with escaping from federal custody at Mirror, Inc., 3820 Toben, Wichita. Kan. The crime occurred on April 2, 2017.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Verlarina Ruth Collins, 50, Winfield, Kan., is charged with one count of failing to report to serve a 45-month federal prison sentence. The crime occurred April 7, 2017.
If convicted, she faces a penalty of up to five years and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Serafin Alegria-Zamora, 35, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported, two counts of misusing a Social Security number and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was found April 11, 2017, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to two years and a fine up to $250,000 on the re-entry charge, up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each Social Security count and a mandatory two years (consecutive) on the identity theft count. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Sergio Roberto Garcia-Buezo, 31, a citizen of Honduras, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Feb. 19, 2017, in Grant County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Juan Flores-Rivera, 34, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found April 17, 2017, in Butler County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting
Darnell Wilks, 48, Garden City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 18, 2017, in Finney County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
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