California man who smuggled 18 pounds of cocaine to Kansas sentenced to prison

A California man who admitted to smuggling illegal drugs in Kansas has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison.

Jesus Gonzalez-Molina, 30, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Topeka to 52 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Gonzalez-Molina admitted that he was driving a 2007 Toyota 4Runner eastbound on I-70 through Shawnee County when he was stopped by law enforcement. The cops found 18 pounds of cocaine in a hidden compartment, McAllister said.

A grand jury had indicted him on a methamphetamine charge that was dropped as part of the plea deal.

Federal court records show the case is still pending against co-defendants Alejandro Payan-Torrecillas and Serena Villan.