Wichitan admits she was trafficking drugs when cops found 12 guns, 20 pounds of meth

A Wichita woman has admitted that she was trafficking illegal drugs when police found a dozen guns and 20 pounds of methamphetamine while serving a search warrant at her home. Federal prosecutors have also filed for forfeiture of the guns and more than $14,000 in cash.

Wendy L. Scearce, 36, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release.

Scearce admitted in her plea that Wichita police serving a search warrant on her home and garage in the 300 block of North Seneca found 12 guns and 20 pounds of meth, McAllister said. She also admitted that she used a gun to protect herself while trafficking drugs.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 6, where she face at least 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $10 million on the drug charge and not less than 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 on the gun charge.

Court records show that Scearce and co-defendant Luis M. Hernandez were indicted on a combined 41 charges. The charges alleged that she distributed heroin in addition to meth.

Prosecutors said in the news release that 12 guns were found during the search, but court documents list 13 guns — two revolvers, three handguns and eight rifles — in a forfeiture notice. Attorneys also seek the forfeiture of $14,328 in cash seized during the search, plus the forfeiture of proceeds from the crimes.

An affidavit written by a Wichita Police Department officer who is also a Federal Bureau of Investigation task force officer states that multiple baggies of drugs and a scale were found in bedroom. Most of the drugs, though, were found in the garage, where about 20 plastic-wrapped packages were in a white plastic barrel.