KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Operation Super Chicken puts Kansas City restaurant owners, and others involved in a $2.3 million dollar cocaine, and money laundering scheme behind bars.
Juan Delgado, his wife Sylvia Delgado and other owners of the Super Pollo, a Mexican restaurant at 3253 Independence Avenue in Kansas City have been convicted in a scheme to distribute cocaine from Mexico into the Kansas City area. They also reportedly laundered money to conceal their profits through the restaurant and real estate transactions.
Federal Agents began an investigation in May 2006. It was a year-long investigation involving more than 100 officers from the DEA, IRS, Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Kansas City Police Department.
A federal grand jury indicted 15 defendants in April 2007, followed by a superseding indictment in February 2008.
Juan Delgado of Mexico, 41, Luis Morgan and Omar Villareal of Kansas City were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Delgado was also found guilty of four counts of distributing cocaine.
Juan and Sylvia were found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering through the restaurant.
Two co-defendants, Raymond Sparks and Cruz Santana-Anna, Julian Araiza, and Jose Canales have all plead guilty and await sentencing.
Three others remain fugitives from justice.
More than $2.3 million from the distribution of cocaine, an additional $880,000.00 seized, the Delgado home, three other properties in Kansas City and a 120 acre plot with a home in Benton County were seized.
Juan Delgao faces a minimum of ten years in federal prison. Sylvia faces up to 40 years without parole. A sentencing date form them has not yet been set.
