Leaders of $28.5 million drug conspiracy sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison

Two Missouri men who were leaders of a $28.5 million drug trafficking organization in the Kansas City metro area were sentenced Tuesday to 13.5 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Eduardo Perez-Alcala, 32, Independence, Mo., and Hector Aguilera, 36, Sugar Creek, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In their pleas, they admitted they were part of a drug trafficking organization that in October 2010 became the target of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Aguilera was the recipient of shipments of cocaine from Perez-Alcala as well as two other Mexican sources of supply.

During the investigation more than $2 million in cash, 194 firearms, 29 vehicles, 26 kilograms of cocaine and three kilograms of crack were seized and forfeited.

Grissom commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.