KANSAS CITY— A man from Mexico has been sentenced in federal court for leading a conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine in the Kansas City area, according to the United State's Attorney.
On Feb. 22, Panfilo Acuna, Jr., 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Acuna to forfeit to the government $550,603, which represents the proceeds he received from the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
On Oct. 13, 2022, Acuna pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 42 counts of money laundering, and one count of international money laundering.
Acuna admitted that he was the leader of a drug-trafficking organization that distributed heroin and methamphetamine throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area from 2016 until his arrest in 2020. Acuna was the primary source of methamphetamine and heroin distributed to a dozen co-defendants in this case. Acuna also admitted he distributed approximately 250 pounds of methamphetamine and laundered more than $500,000 in drug-trafficking proceeds.
Acuna received heroin and methamphetamine from sources in California and Mexico. Acuna coordinated shipments of bulk methamphetamine and heroin from California to his associates in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Acuna utilized different methods to transport drugs from California to Kansas City, including drug couriers, parcel carriers, and commercial delivery services where drugs would be hidden in furniture and other consumer items. The drugs would then be distributed to a network of street-level dealers in this area who then sold the drugs to other dealers and addicts.
Acuna conducted 1,046 financial transactions between 2015 and 2020, nearly all of them to individuals in California and Mexico, that were related to his drug trafficking. The aggregate amount of money deposited was $305,109. Other wire transfers were also conducted that totaled $246,494. Additionally, Acuna transferred $20,060 to individuals in Mexico through 22 money transfers as part of the conspiracy. The financial investigation revealed his associates also laundered money through a variety of means.
On Oct. 1, 2020, the FBI and the Jackson County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Acuna’s apartment. Investigators recovered 19 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, magazines, drug ledgers, 10 grams of heroin, and nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine.
Acuna is the ninth defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.