Missouri restaurant manager indicted for drug trafficking, illegally possessing firearms

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A southwestern Missouri man was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms.

This indictment resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Taney County Sheriff’s Office and the Branson (Mo.) Police Department.

Jose Antonio Garcia-Gonzalez, 39, of Branson, Mo., was charged in a two-count federal indictment alleging he trafficked in methamphetamine and illegally possessed several firearms. Garcia-Gonzalez is the manager of the La Iguana Mexican Restaurant in Branson.

The federal indictment alleges that on July 16, Garcia-Gonzalez possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and that he was an illegal alien unlawfully possessing several firearms.

Garcia-Gonzalez allegedly had the following in his possession:

• Jennings Jimenez Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol;
• KelTek 9mm semi-automatic pistol;
• Springfield Armory 9mm semi-automatic pistol; and,
• Spikes Tactical AR-15 rifle, including ammunition.

The guns and drugs were seized by law enforcement officers from his residence July 16.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.