Western District of Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced a convicted sex offender in Monett, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography over the Internet.

 

Carl Donald Greiner, 32, of Monett, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Greiner to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration.

 

Greiner, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2017, was previously convicted of possessing child pornography, sexual misconduct and furnishing pornographic material to a minor in 2004. While on supervision for those offenses, Greiner, Greiner engaged in sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female victim and was convicted of statutory rape and statutory sodomy in the first degree.

 

A person using Greiner’s computer reported to police officers on April 30, 2016, that she saw a large amount of child pornography on the computer located in his bedroom, including videos of children ranging in age from 4 to 17. Officers executed a search warrant at Greiner’s residence the same day and seized his desktop computer along with an address book with Internet addresses.

 

Investigators discovered multiple images and videos of child pornography on Greiner’s computer that had been downloaded from the Internet.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force and the Monett, Mo., Police Department.

 

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a $1.2 million conspiracy to distribute oxycodone that was obtained by using forged and fraudulent prescriptions.

 

Gary D. Dickinson, also known as “James DeJong,” 50, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

 

On May 16, 2017, Dickinson pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy that lasted from June 2013 to January 2016 to distribute oxycodone. Conspirators obtained prescription-quality paper commonly used by authorized health care providers to write prescriptions. They also obtained the DEA registration numbers of health care providers, which they used to prepare fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone.

 

Conspirators took the false prescriptions to pharmacies in Kansas City metropolitan area and elsewhere. They commonly sold the oxycodone 30mg pills for between $15 to $25 per pill.

 

Following several undercover purchases of fraudulent prescriptions from Dickinson, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Dickinson’s residence on Dec. 23, 2013. Detectives recovered several prescription pill bottles and drug paraphernalia (including pipes, syringes and scales). They also recovered two laptop computers, false prescriptions, blank prescription paper, contact lists and other documentation, including what appeared to be a written instructions on what to say if a pharmacist called to confirm the validity of a prescription.

 

Dickinson said he obtained false prescriptions from co-defendant Robert G. Joy, also known as “Bear,” 34, of Kansas City, Mo. Dickinson said he filled prescriptions for Joy, then gave him the Oxycodone in exchange for $175 to $225. On Dec. 26, 2013, Dickinson was arrested while attempting to fill a false prescription at The Drug Store in Odessa, Mo. Dickinson admitted that he passed, and attempted to pass, fraudulent prescriptions at several more locations in the months following his arrest. Dickinson was arrested on several occasions, including while attempting to pass more fraudulent prescriptions and after a car stop while he was driving a stolen truck and in possession of 65 Oxycodone pills, 6.5 grams of cocaine and .85 grams of methamphetamine.

 

On May 19, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Dickinson’s room at the Argosy Hotel. Officers found numerous items associated with the manufacture of false prescriptions, including a laptop computer with stored templates for prescriptions and checks, over 200 sheets of blank prescription quality paper, false prescriptions and other items.

 

Dickinson is among 11 defendants convicted in this case. Joy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Eight co-defendants have also been sentenced, and one co-defendant awaits sentencing.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the police departments of Riverside, Blue Springs, Independence, Kearney, Odessa, Nevada, Higginsville, Drexel Lee’s Summit and Butler.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Noel, Mo., sex offender pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to child sexual exploitation and illegally possessing firearms.

 

Raymond Adair, 58, of Noel, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms.

 

Adair, a registered sex offender, was previously convicted in Colorado of attempted second-degree kidnapping of a minor and two counts of indecent exposure to a minor.

 

By pleading guilty today, Adair admitted that he traveled from Missouri to Arkansas on May 9, 2016, to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Bentonville, Ark., police officers received two separate complaints on that day of Adair exposing himself to children walking home from school. One of the children was walking home from a school bus stop, according to the plea agreement, and investigators obtained images of Adair’s vehicle from the school bus’s surveillance cameras.

 

On May 11, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Adair’s residence and he was arrested. During the search, officers found an AR-15 rifle, a Marlin rifle, a Ruger rifle, and approximately 12 and a half pounds of marijuana.

 

Under federal statutes, Adair is subject to a sentence of up to 70 years in federal prison without parole. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Adair must pay a fine of $150,000. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bentonville, Ark., Police Department and the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Nevada, Mo., pastor pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraudulently receiving more than $90,000 in Social Security disability benefits.

 

Dennis Engelbrecht, 58, of Nevada, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the theft of government money.

 

Engelbrecht admitted that he was employed as a pastor at Pentecostal Assembly of God Church in Nevada, Mo., while receiving disability benefits over an approximately four-year period. Engelbrecht did not report his work activity to the Social Security Administration, as required.

 

Although Engelbrecht was paid $650 per week by the church, he received a total of $87,705 in disability payments from February 2011 to May 2015. Additionally, his son received a total of $3,220 in auxiliary benefits to which he was not entitled. (Because Engelbrecht was not entitled to benefits, his son was not entitled to auxiliary benefits.)

 

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Engelbrecht must pay restitution to the government of $90,925.

 

Engelbrecht has worked as a pastor since 2000. His first application for disability benefits in 2009 was denied, but a second application was approved in 2011. Engelbrecht did not report any current employment on either application.

 

Under federal statutes, Engelbrecht is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for lying on his passport application.

 

Isse Aweis Mohamud, 22, of Kansas City, a naturalized citizen of the United States born in Mogadishu, Somalia, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to four years in federal prison without parole.

 

On Sept. 14, 2017, Mohamud pleaded guilty to passport fraud. Mohamud admitted that he provided false information on an application for a U.S. passport at the Gladstone, Mo., post office on Jan. 27, 2017.

 

In response to a question on the application asking what countries were to be visited by the applicant, Mohamud stated “Canada.” He also attached to the application a confirmed travel itinerary for a roundtrip flight from Kansas City, Mo., to Vancouver, Canada, departing on Feb. 8, 2017 and returning on Feb. 15, 2017. Mohamud, however, did not take the Kansas City-Vancouver flights identified in the itinerary, and he never intended to travel to Canada. Instead, on April 24, 2017, Mohamud traveled from Kansas City, Mo., to Alexandria, Egypt, using the U.S. passport that was issued based on his false representations that he was travelling to Canada.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Casey and David Raskin. It was investigated by the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced a former paramedic with two northwest Missouri ambulance districts was sentenced in federal court today for stealing pain-killing drugs and replacing the vials with water.

 

Joseph L. Comstock, 31, of Bethany, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to two years and six months in federal prison without parole.

 

On Sept. 12, 2017, Comstock pleaded guilty to three counts of tampering with a consumer product (fentanyl and morphine) with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury, and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk.

 

Comstock admitted that he emptied vials of morphine and fentanyl, taking it for his own personal use, and replaced the pain-killing drugs with sterilized water. Comstock tampered with the drug vials while working at both the NTA Ambulance District in Bethany and the Community Ambulance District of Daviess County in Gallatin, Mo., in 2014 and 2015.

 

Comstock started tampering with drugs in March 2014, following a medical procedure to remove his tonsils. He accessed drugs on ambulances and was able to bend up the lid of the plastic boxes and dump out the drugs he wished to tamper with. He obtained both fentanyl and morphine from ambulances and replaced the drugs with sterile water.

 

Comstock admitted there were at least two occasions where he personally treated patients with drugs he knew he had tampered with. These patients were both hip fracture patients that were supposed to receive fentanyl but instead received sterile water that Comstock had replaced in the vial.

 

Federal officials were notified on March 4, 2015, of possible drug tampering at the NTA Ambulance District in Bethany. The chief of EMS reported that an employee had noticed two morphine syringes had broken tamper-evident seals. On Jan. 30, 2015, an employee noticed that two morphine syringes had broken tamper-evident seals. On Feb. 27, 2015, ambulance employees looked through narcotic boxes kept on the three NTA ambulances. They found a number of drugs that were missing tamper-evidence caps and had broken tamper-evident seals, including midazolam, lorazepam, morphine and fentanyl.

 

Federal agents installed surveillance equipment at the Bethany NTA building on March 18, 2015. A camera was also placed on an ambulance, which was taken out of service. Comstock was recorded on the surveillance video as he stole morphine from the ambulance on two separate occasions on March 19 and March 23, 2015. Comstock later admitted that he had tampered with drugs on all the ambulances prior to that as well.

 

Comstock also admitted that he tampered with drugs when he visited the Gallatin ambulance building on Feb. 24, 2015. An employee found Comstock (who had stopped working at the Gallatin ambulance company in June 2014) inside the Gallatin ambulance building. Comstock explained he had come by the Gallatin facility to use the treadmill. Later that same day, the employee went on a service call and treated a man suffering from leg pain with 100 mcg of fentanyl; however, the man did not receive any pain relief. When the employee returned, he examined the narcotics cabinet and found several fentanyl vials with loose caps, as well as morphine that appeared to have been tampered with.

 

The Gallatin ambulance director told federal agents about another suspicious situation at his ambulance building involving Comstock that occurred a week earlier. On Feb. 17, 2015, Comstock stopped by the ambulance building to visit with another paramedic. The next day, another employee checked the narcotics cabinet and noticed two fentanyl vials without their tamper-resistant caps. Subsequently several other fentanyl vials were discovered to have been tampered with.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigation and the Bethany, Mo., Police Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a former Joplin, Mo., middle school teacher has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

 

Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 38, of Joplin, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Schweitzer’s arrest and initial court appearance on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. She remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Jan. 30, 2018.

 

Schweitzer was a teacher at North Middle School in Joplin at the time of the alleged offenses.

 

The federal indictment alleges that Schweitzer used a minor to produce child pornography from March 1 to March 29, 2017. The indictment also alleges that Schweitzer transferred obscene material to the minor during that time.

 

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

 

 

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that five Texas men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing 650 firearms from United Parcel Service trailers in Springfield, Mo., en route to Bass Pro Shops.

 

Frank McChriston, 33, of Ponder, Texas; Keith Lowe, 28, of Dallas, Texas; Quinton Haywood, 26, of Glenn Heights, Texas; and Eric White, 26, and Derrick White, 32, both of Texas, were charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. The federal indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed under seal on Dec. 29, 2017. The five co-defendants were arrested in Texas, where they remain in federal custody pending transportation to the Western District of Missouri.

 

The indictment charges each of the five defendants in one count of aiding and abetting one another to steal firearms being shipped across state lines, from Beretta USA in Maryland to the state of Missouri. The indictment also charges each of the five defendants in one count of  aiding and abetting one another to possess stolen firearms.

 

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original federal criminal complaint, Derrick and Eric White, McChriston, Lowe and Haywood stole 650 firearms, along with other cargo, from United Parcel Service (UPS) trailers in Springfield in October 2017.

 

The firearms were in the process of being shipped from Beretta Firearms in Maryland to Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. The trailers in which the firearms were shipped had been parked in the UPS freight lot in a configuration to prevent access to the trailer doors, by being parked back-to-back, with the roll-up doors facing each other. The trailers were then blocked by longer trailers, which should have acted as a preventative measure from someone backing a truck-tractor to the trailer and pulling it forward.

 

Sometime between noon on Oct. 28, 2017, and 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, 2017, thieves hot-wired two truck-tractors and used them to push and pull various trailers around the lot, allowing the thieves access to the trailer doors. Thieves stole 600 Beretta .380-caliber handguns and 54 Beretta 12-gauge shotguns, as well as an entire pallet of Justin brand boots, numerous power tools and 12 cases of soda. UPS employees discovered the theft on Oct. 29, 2017, and notified law enforcement.

 

The next day, Oct. 30, 2017, Best Way Moving & Storage in Springfield (located near the UPS freight facility) discovered that a truck had been stolen sometime after noon on Oct. 28, 2017. On Nov. 8, 2017, the stolen truck was found in Seagoville, Texas, which is in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

 

According to the affidavit, cell phone tower records indicated that the cell phones of Derrick White, Eric White, McChriston, Lowe and Haywood all were in the vicinity of the UPS freight facility in Springfield at or near the time of the theft. Investigators determined that all five cell phones left the Dallas metroplex on Oct. 27, 2017, arrived in Springfield on Oct. 28, 2017, and returned to the Dallas metroplex on Oct. 29, 2017. Haywood’s phone was also in the area where the stolen truck from Best Way Moving was recovered in Seagoville.

 

Eric and Derrick White were located at Redneck Heaven Restaurant & Bar in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 19, 2017, and arrested on outstanding warrants from an unrelated case. A Beretta .380-caliber handgun was found in Derrick White’s car as it was being towed; investigators confirmed the firearm had been stolen from the shipment of firearms in the Springfield UPS freight facility. Additional items consistent with those stolen in the UPS theft were located in Derrick White’s vehicle, including a Milwaukee M18 2 Toll Combo Kit, still in the box, and two SOG folding knives, still in the box.

 

A loaded Taurus 9mm pistol was found in Eric White’s car. Investigators also recovered two sets of bolt cutters and two key rings containing several keys from Eric White’s car. The keys were the type commonly used for tractor trailer trucks and fork lifts, and circular keys common for storage units and vending machines.

 

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that eight more defendants were sentenced this week for their roles in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.

 

Anthony Ray Stevenson, 46, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, to 22 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

 

Taylor Lee Syas, 25, of Polo, Mo., was sentenced today to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole.

 

Paula Rae Scott, 48, of Excelsior Springs, and Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar, 35, and Bryan D. Carroll, 29, both of Kansas City, Mo., were sentenced on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2018. Scott was sentenced to four years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. Ruiz-Salazar was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Carroll was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison without parole.

 

Ryan A. Battagler, 39, of Kearney, Mo., and Franklin Charles Carter, also known as “Frankie,” 28, of Grandview, Mo., were also sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Battagler was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole. Carter was sentenced to eight years in federal prison without parole.

 

Marion Eugene Brammer, 53, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, to six years and three months in federal prison without parole.

 

In 2010, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA initiated an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Jose Luis Ruiz-Salazar, 39, his brother, Gabriel Ruiz-Salazar (who was sentenced today), and Gregory Bullock, 48, all of Kansas City, Mo., have pleaded guilty to being the primary sources that supplied co-conspirators with large amounts of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Co-conspirators then distributed the methamphetamine throughout Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties in Missouri.

 

According to court documents, conspirators sold $4,359,600 worth of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015. That estimate is based on a conservative street price of $1,200 for an ounce of 50 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a conservative street price of $2,500 per ounce of heroin and an overall conspiracy distribution of approximately three pounds.

 

Six additional defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Brian Michael Bowers, 35, of Richmond, Mo., was sentenced to 12 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Gary Dewayne Brown, 37, of Cowgill, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. Ronald Louis Roberts, 54, of Lathrop, Mo., was sentenced to 10 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Brittney James Brehm, 39, of Bland, Mo., was sentenced to six years and 11 months in federal prison without parole. Rodney Earl King, 52, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to five years and two months in federal prison without parole. Darin Gene Berry, 52, of Excelsior Springs, was sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison without parole.

 

A dozen co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. In addition to Jose Ruiz-Salazar and Bullock, co-defendants Steven Lee Schreier, Jr., 33, Jason Lee Kirtley, 45, Jackie R. Love, Jr., 60, and William Dean Campbell, 37, all of Excelsior Springs; Jason Daniel Davis, 44, of Liberty, Mo.; Joshua Keith Bowers, 34, of Polo; Sabrena Lynn Morgan, 40, and Elgin Eugene Dothage, also known as “Butch,” 41, both of Kearney; and Caleb Dean Hayes, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., are among 26 defendants indicted in this case who have pleaded guilty.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bruce Rhoades, Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Matt Moeder. It was investigated by the Clay County Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the DEA.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Rocky Comfort, Mo., man has been charged in federal court with threatening to assault an FBI agent.

 

Richard W. Toler, 47, of Rocky Comfort, was charged in a criminal complaint filed under seal on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The complaint was unsealed and made public today upon Toler’s arrest and initial court appearance. Toler remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018.

 

The federal criminal complaint alleges that Toler threatened to assault an FBI agent with the intent to impede, intimidate and interfere with the agent while he was engaged in the performance of his official duties, and retaliate against the agent on account of the performance of official duties.

 

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Toler left more than 30 voicemail messages for the agent. In many of the voicemails, Toler yelled, cursed and accused the agent of ignoring his duties. The affidavit cites specific threats made by Toler against the agent and his family.

 

For example, the affidavit cites one voice mail in which Toler allegedly said, “I think you should look at your kids … I think you should give them a … hug … in case this is the last Christmas you get to spend with them.”

 

On Jan. 13, 2018, an employee of Central Bank of the Ozarks, which shares an office building with the FBI Springfield Resident Agency, arrived at work and found two pieces of paper on the floor inside two exterior doors of the bank. Both papers were addressed to the agent and were signed “Richard W Toler.” The content of the papers is not disclosed in the affidavit.

 

The Chicago, Ill., division of the FBI began an investigation on Nov. 14, 2017, related to a complaint of Toler making threatening communications by telephone. The investigation centered on allegations that Toler threatened to dismember and kill a Chicago woman (identified in court documents as “S.C.”) with whom Toler has a son. Toler also allegedly directed threats at a manager of the Whole Foods store where S.C. worked.

 

Area FBI agents interviewed Toler about the allegations on Dec. 5, 2017. The agents told Toler to cease contact with S.C. and others involved.

 

Garrison cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the FBI and the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Jefferson City, Mo., business owner has been indicted by a federal grand jury for tax evasion and for failing to pay over more than $400,000 in payroll taxes.

 

Gina Marie Volmert, 53, of Jefferson City, was charged in an 11-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Jan. 17, 2018. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Volmert’s arrest and initial court appearance.

 

Volmert is the majority owner and operator of GVA and Associates, LLC, in Jefferson City. GVA provides medical billing and coding services for the electronic submission of medical claims.

 

According to the federal indictment, GVA withheld payroll taxes from its employees’ paychecks. However, from 2012 through 2014, GVA allegedly made only partial payments to the IRS. Volmert is charged with eight counts of failing to pay over to the IRS a total of $403,912 in payroll taxes.

 

Volmert is also charged with three counts of tax evasion. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, the indictment alleges, Volmert decreased her reported income by fraudulently shifting her income to reimbursable expenses. Volmert fraudulently submitted $6,300 in reimbursable expenses every two weeks in order to conceal her income, according the indictment, which caused her income to be falsely reported on her W-2 to the IRS.

 

Garrison cautioned that 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.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General – Office of Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a nearly $600,000 tax fraud conspiracy.

 

Carolyn Alice Cobb, 56, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to six years and five months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Cobb to pay $215,184 in restitution.

 

On Sept. 21, 2017, Cobb pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, two counts of presenting a false claim and one count of theft of government property.

 

Co-defendants Nancy Lorine Walker, 56, and Clementine Lockett, 43, both of Springfield, have also pleaded to their roles in the conspiracy and await sentencing. In addition to the conspiracy, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of presenting a false claim, one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft. Lockett also pleaded guilty to two counts of presenting a false claim.

 

Cobb, Walker and Lockett participated in a conspiracy, which operated from January 2010 to April 23, 2013, to submit false federal income tax returns and make false claims for federal income tax refunds for the 2009-2012 tax years.

 

Conspirators used the means of identification of individuals, including their names and social security numbers, and Turbo Tax to prepare and electronically file federal income tax returns. Those returns were false and fraudulent in that they included fictitious IRS Form W-2 information, listing employers who did not employ the individual listed on the return and reporting wages not earned and employment taxes not withheld from the individual.

 

The conspiracy resulted in a total of $718,927 in false claims for federal income tax refunds. The court found the total intended loss amount for Cobb’s involvement in the conspiracy was $597,769. Conspirators actually received a total of $317,498 in refunds.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin.

 

Corbin S. Rice, 27, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

 

On Nov. 1, 2017, Rice pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin in Greene County, Mo., from March 1, 2016, to May 18, 2017.

 

Investigators conducted three controlled buys from Rice, for a total of approximately five grams of heroin. When law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rice’s residence, they found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, drug ledgers, a personal journal and a loaded shotgun.  Investigators determined that Rice was purchasing two to three grams of heroin from his source, two to three times a week.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody M. Larison. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kirksville, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for embezzling more than $380,000 from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in Columbia, Mo.

 

Burt Louis Beard, 63, of Kirksville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, to two years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Beard to pay $380,502 in restitution.

 

On Sept. 11, 2017, Beard pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Beard admitted that he defrauded the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity of $380,502 during the period between March 2008 and August 2014.

 

Beard was the volunteer treasurer from 2000 to 2014. During that time, Beard was responsible for all financial duties related to maintaining the house, paying various vendors and collecting rent checks. Beard wrote himself in excess of 150 checks. Beard claimed the checks to himself were for reimbursement of personal loans to SAE for direct payments he made to venders. When asked for copies of his personal checks, Beard supplied copies of checks to fictitious vendors or existing vendors that did not have an account receivable for that amount or during that period. In cases where Beard supplied vendor invoices for his reimbursements, vendors said the invoices were not theirs.

 

SAE elected a new slate of officers for the fraternity in the fall of 2014. During the transition of financial responsibilities from Beard to the new treasurer, numerous red flags began to appear. SAE hired RGL Forensics, a forensic accounting company, to investigate Beard’s wrongdoing. Based on the documentation provided and reviewed, RGL calculated $380,502 as the entire loss from March 2008 through September 2014. The calculated loss consisted of $414,979 in checks issued to Beard from March 2008 through September 2014, less $34,477 in payments that Beard issued to or on behalf of SAE.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the FBI.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Georgia man has been sentenced in federal court for using dozens of stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns seeking $258,063 in refunds.

 

Jalen Ortez Gude, 25, of Hillsboro, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, to six years and nine months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Gude to pay $163, 305 in restitution.

 

On Aug. 24, 2017, Gude pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of identity theft. Gude admitted that, between January 2014 and March 13, 2015, he used the stolen identity information of at least 46 victims (including their names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth) to file fraudulent tax returns and receive tax refunds from both the federal government and the state of Missouri. According to court documents, those victims included residents of Cole County, Mo., whose stolen identity information had been released over the Internet.

 

The IRS stopped $94,592 in refunds from being processed; as a result, the aggregate amount of restitution due is $163,305 to 10 of Gude’s victims.

 

Gude opened bank accounts in the names of his identity theft victims so that the IRS and the Missouri Department of Revenue would transfer the refunds to bank accounts he controlled. This process permitted Gude to remain anonymous and to conduct his scheme, in part, from outside Missouri. Gude also used the stolen identity information to submit fraudulent online credit applications at banks and credit card companies.

 

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Missouri Department of Revenue – Compliance and Investigation Bureau and the Missouri Department of Revenue – Criminal Investigation Bureau.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a North Carolina man has been convicted of the sexual exploitation of a child in Joplin, Mo.

 

David Lee Perkins, 33, of Winston-Salem, N.C., was found guilty following a two-day bench trial before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool that concluded on Jan. 9, 2018. The court’s findings of fact, conclusions of law and adjudication of guilt was released on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018.

 

The court found that Perkins crossed state lines into Missouri with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a child victim under the age of 12, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, from April 16, 2014, to Dec. 11, 2016.

 

Additionally, Perkins had already pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2018, to two additional counts contained in the federal indictment. Perkins admitted that he used the victim to produce child pornography and that he distributed child pornography.

 

Joplin police officers were dispatched to a local hotel where Perkins was staying on Dec. 11, 2016. A female acquaintance of Perkins told officers that she found several videos on an iPad of Perkins engaged in sexually explicit conduct with Jane Doe. Officers contacted Perkins in his hotel room and placed him under arrest.

 

Perkins told investigators he used his iPad and iPhone to photograph and create videos of the sexually explicit conduct he engaged in with Jane Doe in various hotels and motels in Joplin. Investigators found three video files on Perkins’s iPad. Perkins shared those images and videos of child pornography with at least one other person by attaching them to text messages.

 

Under federal statutes, Perkins is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, and the Newton, N.C., Police Department.

 

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today on charges related to child pornography and the sexual exploitation of a minor.

 

Jayme Nathaniel Walker, 43, of Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 22 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Walker to a term of supervised release for 25 years following incarceration.

 

On March 22, 2017, Walker was found guilty of producing child pornography, receiving child pornography and transferring obscene materials to a minor.

 

Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Walker communicated with a 14-to-15-year-old victim in Illinois, texting and exchanging pornographic photos and videos. The investigation began on June 13, 2014, when the child victim’s parents contacted Illinois State Police officers. The parents turned over a laptop computer, two cell phones and an iPod to investigators.

 

The child victim gave information to the investigators regarding his online relationship with Walker. He stated that he never met Walker in person, although they talked about meeting several times. He stated that he told Walker his true age. They had numerous conversations, including sexual conversations, and exchanged sexually explicit photos and videos.

 

Investigators discovered 77 images and six videos exchanged between Walker and the child victim, although not all of the images depicted child pornography.

 

According to court documents, investigators also found evidence on Walker’s cell phone that he had a pattern of seeking out minor children through the internet in order to engage in sexual activity. Walker used the Kik app to communicate with a 17-year-old victim and exchange sexually explicit photographs. This victim told investigators that he and Walker met in Columbia and engaged in sex, which is corroborated by the chats. A 13-year-old victim told agents he recalled chatting with Walker, who attempted to arrange a sexual rendezvous with him.

 

Today’s sentence includes an adjustment for obstruction of justice. The court found that Walker perjured himself by fabricating information while testifying under oath at trial in two instances. The government dismissed a fourth count from the indictment (possession of child pornography) prior to the jury’s deliberations because it could not refute Walker’s testimony. However, following the trial, an FBI agent investigated Walker’s claims and found evidence that Walker’s testimony was false.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Turner and Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the FBI, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois State Police.

 

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for an armed bank robbery he committed while on parole for a state murder conviction.

 

Gregory Burgin, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 14 years in federal prison without parole.

 

On July 13, 2017, Burgin pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Burgin admitted that he stole more than $8,000 at gunpoint from Bank Midwest, 6429 Brookside Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., on March 12, 2016.

 

Burgin and another man were both armed with handguns, which were pointed at the tellers and customers, when they entered the bank. One of them grabbed a customer from behind and they ordered another employee and a customer to the ground. The teller placed the money in a duffle bag and they fled from the bank.

 

Kansas City police officers saw a vehicle parked in Burgin’s driveway about half an hour later that matched the description of the get-away car. Inside Burgin’s residence, officers found a Crown Royal bag in the rafters that contained $8,155, as well as firearms (a Kel-Tec 9mm pistol laying on the bed and a Bersa .380-caliber pistol hidden in Burgin’s mattress) and clothing items (a white hard hat and a construction vest) matching the description of what the bank robbers were wearing.

 

Burgin was found guilty at trial in Jackson County Circuit Court of murder in the second degree on Oct. 31, 1980, after fatally shooting a woman. Burgin was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was released on parole in November 2004, but his parole was revoked in May 2007. He was released on parole again in May 2009, but a parole violation warrant was issued on March 15, 2016.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of distributing crack cocaine and illegally possessing firearms.

 

Lamont E. Owens, 47, of Kansas City, was found guilty of all eight charges contained in an Aug. 31, 2016, federal indictment. Owens was convicted of possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm and five counts of distributing crack cocaine. Owens has been in federal custody since his arrest in October 2015, and remains in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing.

 

According to evidence introduced during the trial, Owens sold crack cocaine to an undercover detective on five separate occasions between Aug. 31 and Oct. 20, 2015. Officers executed a search warrant at Owens’s residence on Oct. 27, 2015, and arrested him. He was in possession of 75 separate baggies that contained a total of 15 grams of crack cocaine.

 

When officers searched the residence they seized an additional 49 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 30 grams of powder cocaine, approximately 125.8 grams of marijuana, a Grand Power 9mm handgun, a Rossi .357-caliber revolver, various rounds of ammunition and $9,829.

 

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about three hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.

 

Under federal statutes, Owens is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan C. Hughes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Moore. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former corrections officer at the Jackson County Detention Center pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in a conspiracy to smuggle contraband cell phones and other items to inmates at the Jackson County Detention Center.

 

Jalee Caprice Fuller, 30, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to the charge contained in a July 18, 2017, federal indictment.

 

Fuller admitted that she conspired with others – including an inmate at the Jackson County Detention Center – to smuggle contraband to inmates between May 2 and June 26, 2017. Fuller also admitted that she actually smuggled contraband into the Jackson County Detention Center and delivered the contraband to an inmate.

 

Co-defendant Marion Lorenzo Byers, also known as “Cuddy,” 36, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to the same offense on Dec. 6, 2017. By pleading guilty, Byers acknowledged that this federal conviction provides a sufficient basis to revoke his current probation in an unrelated state case. The government will seek to have whatever sentence is imposed in this case run consecutive to whatever revocation sentence may be imposed in state court.

 

Under federal statutes, Fuller and Byers are each subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

 

The Travel Act

 

The Travel Act makes it a crime to use a facility of interstate commerce (such as telephone calls) with the intent to further unlawful activity. The Travel Act’s definition of “unlawful activity” includes bribery in violation of the laws of a state. Missouri state law makes it a crime for a public servant to solicit or accept a bribe in return for violating a known legal duty. This crime is known under Missouri state law as acceding to corruption, and it is a companion or sister statute to the Missouri state statute that makes it a crime for someone to bribe a public servant. These two Missouri state statutes criminalize bribery conduct involving a public servant, both for the person paying the bribe and for the public servant taking the bribe.

 

Fuller and Byers admitted they conspired to violate the Travel Act by using a facility of interstate commerce (a telephone) to facilitate the promotion of an unlawful activity, that is, acceding to corruption.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy U.S. Attorney Gene Porter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the FBI and the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Missouri Department of Corrections, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Jackson County Detention Center.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that an Eldon, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity over a two-year period and for attempting to produce child pornography.

 

James Anthony Guthrie, III, 36, of Eldon, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Guthrie’s arrest and initial court appearance.

 

The federal indictment charges Guthrie with using the Internet and a cell phone to entice a child victim in North Carolina, between the ages of 12 and 16, to engage in illicit sexual activity from Dec. 1, 2015, to Dec. 18, 2017. Guthrie is also charged with attempting to produce child pornography on Dec. 18, 2017.

 

Garrison cautioned that 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.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Lebanon, Mo., Police Department and the Lake Area ICAC Task Force.

 

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a St. Joseph, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his second federal bank robbery conviction.

 

Terry L. Hager, 50, of St. Joseph, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr., to 11 years and one month in federal prison without parole. Today’s sentence includes a 33-month term of incarceration upon the revocation of Hager’s supervised release in an earlier bank robbery sentence in a separate case.

 

Hager, who pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2017, admitted that he stole $13,957 from UMB Bank, 1211 N. Belt Hwy., St. Joseph, on March 5, 2016.

 

According to court documents, Hager was wearing a baseball cap, a bandana over his face, sunglasses and clear plastic gloves when he entered the bank. Hager approached a teller and motioned for her to be quiet by placing his finger to his lips then demanded that she give him all the money. After the teller emptied the contents of her drawer, Hager demanded the money from her second drawer, but she was unable to comply because she did not have a key for the drawer. Hager told the teller to get on the floor and called a second teller, who did have the key, over to the teller counter. (As this occurred, a third teller was able to push a panic button to alert law enforcement of the robbery). As the second teller was interacting with Hager, she attempted to press an emergency button, but he placed his hand over the button preventing her from doing so.

 

After he received cash from both tellers, Hager exited the bank. He later led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit, traveling approximately 80 miles per hour through a densely populated residential neighborhood with groups of children playing near the street. Officers were forced to terminate the pursuit due to the significant danger to the public.

 

The next day, Hager was located at a local Wal-Mart store and placed under arrest without incident as he left the store.

 

This case represents Hager’s second federal bank robbery conviction. Hager, who was incarcerated for more than 22 years on his first bank robbery conviction, was released from federal prison and placed on supervised release on Dec. 2, 2013. He was still on supervised release for his first federal bank robbery offense when he committed the second.

 

On March 26, 2015, while on supervised release for his first federal bank robbery, Hager was arrested in Buchanan County, Mo., for second-degree domestic assault after a report that he threatened and physically assaulted a woman with whom he shared a domestic relationship. He was convicted of the offense on July 6, 2015, and sentenced to eight months’ incarceration. On Feb. 11, 2016, Hager appeared in federal court for a supervised release revocation hearing. After making a statement on his own behalf, Hager’s supervised release was continued with further instruction that his supervised release would be reviewed in 90 days. Hager committed the bank robbery approximately 23 days later.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Filipino woman who fled from Japan to the United States before being arrested in Overland Park, Kan., was sentenced in federal court today for stealing the equivalent of nearly $100,000 at a U.S. Naval base in Japan.

 

Cynthia Lopez Creseni 60, a citizen of the Philippines, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to two years in federal prison without parole. The court also entered a judicial order of removal for Creseni to be removed to the Philippines following incarceration.

 

On Aug. 18, 2017, Creseni pleaded guilty to theft of public money for stealing the equivalent of $99,068 from the Morale Welfare and Recreation Center (MWR) at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.

 

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) was notified about the theft of approximately $85,500 and ¥ 1,620,000 (aggregate value of $99,068) from a safe assigned to Creseni at the MWR cash cage. Creseni, who had worked at the base in various positions since 2000, served as the lead cashier of the game/slot room at the time of the theft.

 

Creseni officially reported the funds missing from her assigned safe after returning from a vacation to the United States in February 2015. Creseni, who denied taking the money, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

 

In order to conceal her illegal behavior, Creseni secured loans from other people and a local bank in Japan to pay back the money so her thefts would not be detected by an audit. According to court documents, she also lied as to how much money she inventoried and falsified reconciliation documents that made the money appear as if it were accounted for during official audits. She spent the stolen money on plane tickets, a residence in Japan, and sent some of the money to her family in the Philippines.

 

According to court documents, Creseni sold her house and fled from Japan 11 days after being interviewed by NCIS. She used the stolen proceeds to finance both her return to the Philippines and her trip to the United States, where she spent the remaining $20,000 of the stolen money to pay for her living expenses.

 

Interviews of Creseni’s co-workers revealed that she might have had some financial problems. When investigators attempted to interview Creseni at her residence in Japan, they learned that she had vacated her home, sold it and moved to the Philippines. Efforts were made to locate Creseni in the Philippines, but were unsuccessful. Agents learned that Creseni entered the United States on July 15, 2015.

 

It took nearly two years for federal agents to track down Creseni, which they were able to do by obtaining subpoenas to obtain subscriber records from her Facebook and AT&T accounts. On Jan. 24, 2017, Creseni was located in Overland Park, Kan., and arrested by federal agents for immigration violations for overstaying her visa.

 

This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Moore and Sasha N. Rutizer of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. It was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges related to the armed robberies of eight metropolitan area businesses.

 

Calvin C. Wallace, III, 27, of Kansas City, was charged in a 14-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

 

Today’s indictment alleges that Wallace engaged in a conspiracy to commit robberies at eight Kansas City metropolitan area businesses from June 29 to Aug. 3, 2017. As part of that conspiracy, the indictment says, Wallace robbed Cosmo Prof, 9429 Mission Road in Leawood, Kan., at gunpoint on July 27, 2017. Wallace allegedly demanded that the clerk give him her ring, but she refused. The clerk opened two cash registers while Wallace pointed a firearm at her, the indictment says, and he took money from those registers, as well as a pair of hair clippers. Wallace allegedly demanded that the clerk go into the back of the store or he would shoot her.

 

According to the indictment, Wallace robbed Tobacco Outlet, 5020 Parvin Road in Kansas City, Mo., at gunpoint on June 29, 2017. Wallace allegedly took money, scales, a torch, tobacco wraps and boxes of cigarettes. The indictment also charges Wallace with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime in relation to that robbery.

 

According to the indictment, Wallace robbed (or attempted to rob) two businesses on July 24, 2017. Wallace allegedly attempted to rob GNC, 2682 N.W. Vivion Road in Kansas City, Mo., at knifepoint. Wallace allegedly robbed Conoco Minit Mart, 8100 Westridge Road in Raytown, Mo., at gunpoint. The indictment also charges Wallace with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime in relation to the Conoco Mini Mart robbery.

 

On July 27, 2017, Wallace allegedly robbed another Cosmo Prof, 5526 N. Antioch Road in Kansas City, Mo., at gunpoint. The indictment also charges Wallace with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime in relation to that robbery.

 

Wallace allegedly robbed Circle K, 909 N.W. Chipman Road in Lee’s Summit, Mo., at gunpoint on Aug. 1, 2017. According to the indictment, Wallace stole money and cartons of cigarettes. Wallace is also charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime in relation to that robbery.

 

Wallace allegedly attempted to rob Shell, 5401 Northwest 64th Street in Kansas City, Mo., at gunpoint on Aug. 2, 2017. Wallace is also charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime in relation to that robbery.

 

According to the indictment, Wallace robbed AT&T, 303 South Commercial Street in Harrisonville, Mo., at gunpoint on Aug. 3, 2017. Wallace allegedly stole money, cell phones and an iPad. Wallace is also charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime in relation to that robbery.

 

Garrison cautioned that 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.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Morgan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Raytown, Mo., Police Department, the Leawood, Kan., Police Department, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, the Harrisonville, Mo., Police Department, the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Belton, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that additional charges were filed today against a Kansas City, Mo., man for stalking and illegally possessing firearms.

 

Robert J. Gross, 66, of Kansas City, was charged in an eight-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a criminal complaint filed against Gross on Dec. 26, 2017.

 

The indictment charges Gross with two counts of stalking separate victims on Oct. 1, 2017, three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of receiving a firearm while under indictment.

 

Gross allegedly was in possession of a 9mm Velocity “Uzi”-type firearm on Dec. 16, 2017. At that time, Gross was both a convicted felon and under indictment in the state of Kansas for aggravated sexual battery.

 

Gross allegedly was in possession of a Luger 9mm handgun on Dec. 17, 2017. At that time, Gross was both a convicted felon and under indictment in the state of Kansas for aggravated sexual battery.

 

Gross allegedly was in possession of a Springfield 12-gauge shotgun and a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. At that time, Gross was both a convicted felon and under indictment in the state of Kansas for aggravated sexual battery.

 

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony, or who is under indictment, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gross has prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and making terroristic threats to a former girlfriend.

 

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gross was destroying property and stalking individuals associated with massage parlors in Kansas, which led to him being placed under surveillance by law enforcement.

 

On Dec. 2, 2017, officers saw Gross purchase four sets of handcuffs, two black shirts with “SECURITY” written on them with badges on the front, and two balaclavas (a garment used to conceal facial identity) from a surplus store in Kansas City, Kan. The manager of the business told investigators that Gross had purchased two sets of handcuffs two weeks earlier.

 

On Dec. 16, 2017, officers saw Gross inquiring about the purchase of firearms at the Kansas City Gun Show located at the KCI Expo Center. Gross picked up and handled a 9mm Velocity Uzi-type firearm at one of the booths. The dealer at the booth told investigators that Gross, who approached his booth multiple times throughout the day, had asked about purchasing up to three firearms. The next day, the affidavit says, Gross visited the gun show again and was seen inquiring about the purchase of firearms. Gross visited a different booth, where he picked up a 9mm Luger handgun and asked about buying it.

 

On Dec. 22, 2017, Gross returned to the surplus store in Kansas City, Kan., and was observed purchasing four more sets of handcuffs and a balaclava. Gross also asked about purchasing a bulletproof vest.

 

On Dec. 22, 2017, officers observed Gross allegedly purchase two shotguns from an unidentified individual in the parking lot of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Liberty, Mo. According to the affidavit, Gross first drove to the Pizza Ranch parking lot, where he removed the license plate from the front of his car. The rear license plate had been removed as well. Then Gross drove to the nearby Lowe’s store, where he was met by an individual driving a white pickup truck. The unidentified individual allegedly sold Gross two shotguns, which he handed to Gross from his truck. As Gross was putting two shotguns in the trunk of his car, officers arrested him for being a felon in possession of firearms.

 

According to the affidavit, the individual who sold the shotguns to Gross told investigators that Gross called him the day before, after seeing the firearms advertised on a web site. Gross told him he wanted to buy two shotguns for $350 and they arranged to meet at Lowe’s to conduct the sale.

 

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Valenti and Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Lawrence, Kan., Police Department, and the Douglas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Kan., man has been convicted at trial following a confrontation with law enforcement officers at the Richard Bolling Federal Building.

 

James E. Everett, Jr., 31, of Kansas City, was found guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, of threatening a federal law enforcement officer, forcibly resisting a federal law enforcement officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 

Everett arrived at the Richard Bolling Federal Building, 601 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo., at about 8:30 a.m. on March 10, 2016. He parked in an emergency vehicle-only parking space on 12th Street. At the building’s lobby entrance, Everett began yelling and demanded to speak to a federal judge. Four Federal Protective Service officers responded and encountered Everett on federal property, approximately 10 yards from the entrance. During the encounter, Everett threatened the officers, stating that he was going to “blow (their) brains out.” The officers then attempted to arrest Everett who fought them as they attempted to put him in handcuffs. It took all four FPS officers, as well as two Kansas City, Mo., police officers who responded to the scene, to restrain Everett.

 

During his arrest, Everett attempted to bite one FPS officer and spit on another. Three FPS officers received medical treatment following the encounter. After identifying the car in which Everett had arrived, a police officer found a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol underneath the driver’s seat.

 

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Everett has a prior felony conviction for aggravated robbery as well as aggravated arson.

 

Under federal statutes, Everett is subject to a sentence of up to 24 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about an hour and a half before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending a trial that began Monday, Jan. 8, 2018.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney R. Pratten. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Protective Service.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that the owner of a Taney County, Mo., restaurant has been sentenced in federal court for tax evasion after confessing his crimes to undercover federal agents who posed as buyers when his business was for sale.

 

Tony E. Cowden, 63, of Protem, Mo., was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 18 months in federal prison without parole.

 

Cowden operated Tony’s Pizza House in Protem. On Aug. 22, 2017, Cowden pleaded guilty to five counts of income tax evasion. Cowden admitted that he engaged in a scheme to conceal taxable income from the IRS from April 2008 to January 2015 by skimming from cash sales at the business and not reporting the cash income to the IRS.

 

Cowden listed his business and property for sale in 2015. Two undercover agents from IRS-Criminal Investigation posed as potential buyers and met with Cowden. Cowden apologized to the undercover agents for not having provable income to substantiate the $599,000 sales price, but stated, “it saves me a lot of taxes.” Cowden admitted to the undercover agents that he “pockets” all the money from the sale of Keno-Lotto tickets and the cash received from the arcade games in his restaurant. Cowden maintained true and correct financials for the business in a black three-ring binder.

 

Cowden encouraged his customers to pay in cash by offering discounts for cash payments. Cowden concealed the cash he skimmed from the restaurant from his accountant and so evaded paying federal income taxes on that revenue. By omitting a portion of his gross receipts, Cowden falsely claimed he was entitled to the earned income credit.

 

In addition to $91,037 in federal income taxes for the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Cowden admitted he owes $12,474 in state income tax and $35,016 in state sales tax for the same period.

 

Federal and state tax losses for those five years total $138,527. Cowden must pay restitution to the IRS and to the state of Missouri. Cowden must also pay $29,581 to the Social Security Administration for Social Security disability payments that he was not entitled to receive.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Missouri Department of Revenue.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that an Independence, Mo., man has been convicted at trial of illegally possessing a firearm.

 

Daniel Portillo, 46, of Independence, was found guilty on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 

Portillo was in possession of a Jimenez Arms .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on July 12, 2017. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Portillo has a prior federal felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and a prior state felony conviction for assault.

 

Portillo was driving at a high rate of speed and failing to signal while merging into traffic when his vehicle was stopped by Kansas City, Mo., police officers on July 12, 2017. Officers arrested Portillo on outstanding warrants for speeding and a suspended driver’s license. While taking him into custody, one of the officers saw the handgun in a holster under the driver’s seat. Officers also found approximately 3.4 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe in the vehicle.

 

Portillo, the only occupant of the vehicle, denied knowledge of the firearm under the front seat. He told investigators that he would have used the gun to engage in a shootout with the police officers had he known it was in the car.

 

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about an hour before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, ending a trial that began the same day.

 

Under federal statutes, Portillo is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Raskin and Joseph M. Marquez. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Boonville, Mo., woman who fired at law enforcement officers and other motorists during a high-speed pursuit pleaded guilty in federal court today.

 

Victoria Ann Buol, 25, of Boonville, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to the charges contained in an April 21, 2016, federal indictment.

 

Co-defendant Russell Dean Moore, Jr., 27, of Fulton, Mo., pleaded guilty to the same charges on Dec. 18, 2017.

 

Buol and Moore each pleaded guilty to three criminal violations that occurred during a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 70 by law enforcement officers, in which each of them fired shots at both the officers and at semi-trailer trucks in an effort to block the pursuit. Buol and Moore each pleaded guilty to one count of the destruction of a motor vehicle (a USF Holland, Inc., semi-tractor trailer), one count of the use of a firearm in furtherance of that crime, and one count of the use of a firearm in furtherance of the destruction of another motor vehicle (a DCE Transportation, Inc., semi-tractor trailer).

 

According to the plea agreement, Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a Columbia, Mo., residence on the afternoon of April 6, 2016, for a stolen vehicle complaint. A woman told deputies that her 2007 Jeep, as well as firearms and other items, had been stolen from her residence. Among the items stolen was a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

 

At 2:44 a.m. the following morning, a sergeant with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department spotted the stolen Jeep in the parking lot of Midway Travel Center, 6401 E. Hwy. 40, Columbia. The sergeant drove over to the Jeep, which appeared to be unoccupied, got out of his vehicle and walked toward the Jeep. As he did so, Buol appeared in the front passenger seat. She moved to the driver’s seat and drove away, stopping in the parking lot to allow Moore to get in the front passenger seat.

 

The sergeant pursued the Jeep with his emergency lights active. The Jeep turned onto Highway 40 and, as it was crossing Interstate 70, Moore shot at the sergeant multiple times. The Jeep turned onto Highway UU and stopped at the intersection of Sugar Creek Road. The sergeant saw Moore exit the Jeep and started shooting at him. Moore got back into the Jeep and the pursuit continued.

 

After the sergeant’s patrol vehicle was struck by at least one bullet, disabling it, other officers continued the pursuit of the stolen Jeep into the southern part of Columbia. The chase eventually moved onto Interstate 70 East, where officers continued to pursue the stolen Jeep into Callaway County. Throughout the pursuit, multiple shots were fired from the Jeep at various officers. Shots were also fired from the Jeep at four semi-trailer trucks traveling on Interstate 70, nearly striking one of the drivers.

 

The Jeep ran out of gas on County Road 172 in Callaway County and Buol and Moore were arrested. Both Buol and Moore later admitted they drove the Jeep at different times during the pursuit.

 

Both Buol and Moore admitted firing the pistol at officers and semi-trailer trucks from the stolen Jeep. They told investigators that their intent when shooting at semi-trailer trucks on Interstate 70 East was to cause a serious accident, which would terminate the officers’ pursuit and aid in their escape. Two tractor trailers were shot during the pursuit. One of the drivers stopped his vehicle and discovered that his cab was damaged, and there was a 9mm bullet lodged behind the driver’s seat. Another driver told investigators he heard a pop and his truck engine began smoking and overheated. He pulled into a rest stop and called his employer. There was a hole in his tractor grill and the radiator, air cooler and condenser were damaged.

 

Under federal statutes, Buol is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

Under the terms of Moore’s plea agreement, the government and Moore agree to recommend to the court a sentence of 40 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Jefferson City, Mo., man has been indicted on charges related to child pornography.

 

Ben Joseph Hilkemeyer, 32, of Jefferson City, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City on Dec. 20, 2017. The indictment was unsealed today and made public upon Hilkemeyer’s arrest and initial court appearance. Hilkemeyer remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

 

The federal indictment alleges that Hilkemeyer received and distributed child pornography from Jan. 29 to Sept. 7, 2017. The indictment also charges Hilkemeyer with being in possession of child pornography on Sept. 7, 2017.

 

According to court documents, Hilkemeyer possessed more than 50 videos depicting child abuse, including one video that was more than an hour and 37 minutes long, as well as more than 6,000 images of child abuse. These images and videos depict pornographic content of infants and toddlers, the depiction of sexual violence including the rape and molestation of infants and toddlers and bestiality images involving prepubescent children engaging in sexual activity with animals. The majority of the images and videos were located on a USB drive, which was hidden in a ski glove.

 

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

 

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the appointment of Timothy Garrison as Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

 

“Timothy Garrison has served this country admirably as a Marine for 14 years and as a federal prosecutor for a decade,” said Attorney General Sessions.  “He has gone after drug traffickers and gangs and he’s the kind of leader we need as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.  In this new role, he is well positioned to tackle violent crime and keep the people of Missouri safe.”

 

Garrison has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the district’s Springfield office since 2007, prosecuting interstate and international drug trafficking, murder, money laundering, and other offenses.

 

Garrison is a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. His military service has taken him to duty stations across the United States, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Garrison was a prosecutor in the Marine Corps, and received Army JAG School’s trial advocacy award.

 

Garrison is a recipient of the Missouri Bar Foundation award for appellate advocacy before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He received a B.S. from Drury University, and a M.P.A. and J.D. from the University of Missouri.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced a Theodosia, Mo., couple pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally trafficking in wild American ginseng.

Kermit J. Schofield, 76, and his wife, Sandy Schofield, 73, both of Theodosia, each waived their right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a federal information that charges them with trafficking in wild American ginseng plants across state lines in violation of state and federal laws.

The Schofields operated a business from their home, Schofield Roots and Herbs, which purchased and sold wild American ginseng, blood root, Echinacea, Virginia snake root, and other roots and herbs.

By pleading guilty today, the Schofields each admitted that they illegally purchased a total of approximately 114.9 pounds of ginseng from sources in Arkansas on several occasions between June 25, 2013, and Aug. 15, 2015. They knew it was illegal to purchase ginseng that was transported out of Arkansas without the required state certification. The purchases occurred outside the permitted time frame for purchasing ginseng in Missouri. The Schofields also admitted they falsified records related to the purchases.

For example, the Schofields purchased approximately 57.4 pounds of dried ginseng from sources in Arkansas on June 19 and Aug. 15, 2015, for a total of $22,940. Federal authorities executed a search warrant at their residence and seized 118 pounds of illegally obtained dried ginseng before the Schofields were able to sell it. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the Schofields must forfeit the seized ginseng to the government.

The Lacey Act makes it illegal to import, export, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate commerce any plant that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of state law. Under Arkansas statutes, the Arkansas State Plant Board has authority to regulate the harvesting, sale, and exportation of wild American ginseng. A valid certificate must be obtained to take ginseng out of the state of Arkansas. Missouri also regulates the harvesting, sale, importation and acquisition of wild American ginseng.

Under federal statutes, the Schofields are each subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation.
 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jefferson City, Mo., man who tried to sell firearms to a local pawn shop was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing firearms after law enforcement officers confiscated 50 weapons from him, including several stolen guns.

Jeremy L. Roark, 32, of Jefferson City, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo.

Today’s federal criminal complaint alleges that Roark was in possession of a Colt .45-caliber revolver on Dec. 15, 2017.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Roark attempted to sell six firearms to River City Pawn and Gun in Jefferson City on Dec. 15, 2017. The owner told police officers that Roark brought six firearms to the business: a Colt .45-caliber revolver, a Taurus .38-caliber revolver, a Sig Sauer .45-caliber pistol, a Ruger .22-caliber revolver, a Ruger .357-caliber magnum revolver and a Ruger .45-caliber revolver. Roark also allegedly discussed having as many as 70 additional firearms for sale that he could bring to River City Pawn and Gun. The owner didn’t pay Roark for the six guns that were left, and after having no contact with Roark, called the police on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017.

The next day, investigators interviewed Roark, who acknowledged that he had taken the guns to River City Pawn and Gun. Roark also admitted that he had been a weekly user of methamphetamine for approximately two years.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers recovered approximately 50 firearms from Roark during the course of the investigation. At this time, the investigation has determined that four of those firearms were stolen.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Roark has prior felony convictions for distributing or manufacturing a controlled substance and a prior felony conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. Roark also has been charged with first degree assault and is on bond in that case.
 
Larson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms.

Robert J. Gross, 66, of Kansas City, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo.

Today’s criminal complaint charges Gross with being a felon in possession of firearms. Gross allegedly was in possession of a Springfield 12-gauge shotgun and a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Gross has been destroying property and stalking individuals associated with massage parlors in Kansas, which led to him being placed under surveillance by law enforcement. 

On Dec. 2, 2017, officers saw Gross purchase four sets of handcuffs, two black shirts with “SECURITY” written on them with badges on the front, and two balaclavas (a garment used to conceal facial identity) from a surplus store in Kansas City, Kan. The manager of the business told investigators that Gross had purchased two sets of handcuffs two weeks earlier.

On Dec. 16, 2017, officers saw Gross inquiring about the purchase of firearms at the Kansas City Gun Show located at the KCI Expo Center. Gross picked up and handled a 9mm Velocity Uzi-type firearm at one of the booths. The dealer at the booth told investigators that Gross, who approached his booth multiple times throughout the day, had asked about purchasing up to three firearms. The next day, the affidavit says, Gross visited the gun show again and was seen inquiring about the purchase of firearms. Gross visited a different booth, where he picked up a 9mm Luger handgun and asked about buying it.

On Dec. 22, 2017, Gross returned to the surplus store in Kansas City, Kan., and was observed purchasing four more sets of handcuffs and a balaclava. Gross also asked about purchasing a bulletproof vest.

On Dec. 22, 2017, officers observed Gross allegedly purchase two shotguns from an unidentified individual in the parking lot of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Liberty, Mo. According to the affidavit, Gross first drove to the Pizza Ranch parking lot, where he removed the license plate from the front of his car. The rear license plate had been removed as well. Then Gross drove to the nearby Lowe’s store, where he was met by an individual driving a white pickup truck. The unidentified individual allegedly sold Gross two shotguns, which he handed to Gross from his truck. As Gross was putting two shotguns in the trunk of his car, officers arrested him for being a felon in possession of firearms.

According to the affidavit, the individual who sold the shotguns to Gross told investigators that Gross called him the day before, after seeing the firearms advertised on a web site. Gross told him he wanted to buy two shotguns for $350 and they arranged to meet at Lowe’s to conduct the sale.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gross has prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and making terroristic threats to a former girlfriend.
 
Larson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Valenti. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Lawrence, Kan., Police Department, and the Douglas County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a new Assistant U.S. Attorney will be hired to combat violent crime in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The new position was created as part of the Department of Justice initiative against violent crime. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced that 40 new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions have been created in 27 districts.

This additional staffing follows the designation of the Western District of Missouri as a Public Safety Partnership (PSP) Diagnostic Site to work with local law enforcement partners on public safety and violence reduction. Eight districts nationwide received this designation.

PSP was established in June 2017 and provides an innovative framework for the Department of Justice to enhance its support of state and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the investigation, prosecution, and deterrence of violent crime, especially crime related to gun violence, gangs, and drug trafficking. This approach serves as a platform to directly engage with cities to identify and prioritize resources that will help local communities address violent crime.

PSP enables cities to consult with and receive coordinated training and technical assistance and an array of resources from the Department of Justice to enhance local violence reduction strategies. PSP provides data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique local needs of participating cities to address serious violent crime challenges tailored to their unique local needs.

PSP supports law enforcement, communities, and justice systems at the state and local level to prevent and reduce crime, combat violence and enhance public safety through the use of evidence-based practices. Among the components of a PSP Diagnostic Site are: •    Relationship building; •    Data collection and analysis; •    Training and technical assistance; and
•    Community engagement in violence reduction strategies.
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Raytown, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Cody Lee Davidson, 20, of Raytown, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 20 years in federal prison without parole, which is the statutory maximum penalty. The court also sentenced Davidson to supervised release for the rest of his life following incarceration.

On May 2, 2017, Davidson pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography over the Internet. Davidson admitted that he took pornographic photos of a 7-year-old child victim, identified as Jane Doe, and posted those images on a Web site. Davidson also took a video of the child victim, which federal agents located on his cell phone. Davidson also admitted he took photos of an 8-year-old child victim, identified as Jane Doe 2.

The investigation began when agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston discovered the images of child pornography posted on a website that is often used by traders of child pornography to distribute to one another. Law enforcement officers executed a search at Davidson’s residence and seized three cell phones and a camera. Analysis located photos and videos of child pornography on each of the seized cell phones, including pornographic photos and video of Jane Doe.

 Analysis of Davidson’s cell phones located approximately 1,900 images and 400 videos that contain child pornography, including images and videos that depict adult males sexually assaulting female prepubescent children ranging in age from infants to 12 years old.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
 
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Sacramento, Calif., residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for the sex trafficking of six victims.

Ronald Ean Taylor, 43, and Kimberly Anne Sanford, 33, both of Sacramento, were charged in a 10-count federal indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Taylor was arrested in California and Sanford in Nebraska on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. The indictment was unsealed today.

The federal indictment charges Taylor and Sanford together in six counts of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud or coercion. According to the indictment, Taylor and Sanford trafficked six separate victims at various times between Nov. 1, 2014, and May 31, 2017. They allegedly used force, fraud or coercion to cause (or attempt to cause) the six victims to engage in prostitution, from which Taylor and Sanford benefitted financially.

Taylor and Sanford are also charged together in four counts of transporting (or attempting to transport) an individual across state lines for prostitution. According to the indictment, Taylor and Sanford transported, or attempted to transport, four of the sex trafficking victims across state lines for prostitution.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Los Angeles, Calif., Police Department and the Sacramento, Calif., Police Department in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Philadelphia political consultant pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring with a former Arkansas state legislator and several executives of a Springfield, Mo., charity to spend nearly $1 million on illegal political activity and on kickbacks to conspirators.

Donald Andrew Jones, also known as “D.A.” Jones, 62, of Willingboro, N.J., waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a federal information that charges him with participating in a conspiracy from April 2011 to January 2017 to steal from an organization that receives federal funds.

Jones’s firm, D.A. Jones & Associates, based in Philadelphia, Penn., provides political and advocacy services, including consulting, analysis, and public relations. By pleading guilty today, Jones admitted that he was paid approximately $973,807 by Preferred Family Healthcare, Inc., a non-profit charity in Springfield, for illegal lobbying and political activity on behalf of the charity. Two co-conspirators received a total of $264,000 in kickbacks from Jones. (Preferred Family Healthcare resulted from the May 1, 2015, merger between Alternative Opportunities of Springfield, Mo., and Preferred Family Healthcare of Kirksville, Mo.)

Court documents cite, but do not identify by name, five individual co-conspirators who are not charged in the fraud scheme. Person #1, Person #2 and Person #3 – all residents of Springfield – were executives at the charity. Person #4, a resident of Rogers, Ark., served as an executive for company operations in the state of Arkansas. Person #4 also operated two lobbying firms. Person #7, a resident of Melbourne, Ark., was an Arkansas lobbyist and former state legislator. Person #7 also was a board member and employee of the charity.

Preferred Family Healthcare and its subsidiaries provide a variety of services to individuals, including mental and behavioral health treatment and counseling, substance abuse treatment and counseling, employment assistance, aid to individuals with developmental disabilities, and medical services. The charity received Medicaid reimbursements from the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma from 2011 to 2016, of which the federal portion totaled more than $255 million. The charity also received more than $53 million from the federal government (the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and Justice) under programs involving grants, contracts, loans, guarantees, insurance and other forms of federal assistance from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2016.

According to today’s plea agreement, conspirators engaged in multiple schemes to unlawfully use the charity’s funds to make political contributions and for excessive and unreported lobbying and political advocacy. In order to provide a veneer of legitimacy for the kickbacks paid to themselves and others, and to disguise the nature and source of the payments, conspirators caused the payments to be described in the records as business expenses, such as “consulting” and “training” services, and executed sham “consulting agreements.”

Conspirators caused the charity to engage in political outreach that violated both law and public policy. For example, they employed lobbyists and advocates (including Jones) to influence elected and appointed public officials. Also, the conspirators caused personal contributions to elected officials and their political campaigns to be reimbursed by the charity. Such indirect contributions are prohibited by law just as if the payments had been made by the charity directly.

Jones admitted that he worked from 2011 through January 2017 to provide advocacy services, including direct contact with legislators and government officials, in order to influence elected and appointed public officials regarding legislative issues that impacted the charity. Jones also solicited the assistance of elected and appointed officials in steering grants and other sources of funding to the charity. 

The charity paid Jones a total of $973,807, with some payments routed through different business entities or lobbying firms. Although his services were falsely described as “consulting” services and the payments made to Jones as payments pursuant to a “consulting agreement,” they actually were payments for Jones’s advocacy services, including direct contact with elected and appointed public officials.

Jones admitted that he paid $219,000 in kickbacks to Person #4 and that he made two payments totaling $45,000 to Person #7. Both Person #4 and Person #7 worked for the charity.

By pleading guilty today, Jones acknowledged he willfully blinded himself to (in other words, deliberately avoided learning or recognizing) the following facts, which should have been obvious to him: •    Person #1, Person #2, Person #3 and Person #4 made some payments to him indirectly in order to conceal on the charity’s books and records the full amount he was paid; •    Person #1, Person #2, and Person #3 caused the charity to pay him as a “consultant” in order to conceal the nature of his services for the charity, which were advocacy and lobbying; and
•    Jones’s compensation for work done on behalf of Entity E – a separate for-profit company owned in part by Person #1 and Person #2 – should have been paid by Entity E, and not the charity.

In a separate and unrelated case, Jones pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, to lying to the FBI. Jones admitted to making a false statement to the FBI arising from his participation in a scheme involving unlawful contributions to a political candidate’s campaign.
 
Under federal statutes, Jones is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich and Trial Attorney Sean F. Mulryne of the Department of Justice Public Integrity Section. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Offices of the Inspectors General from the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and the FDIC.
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a registered sex offender in Lebanon, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Kavin Dywayne Finley, 45, of Lebanon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Finley to supervised release for the rest of his life following incarceration.

Finley, who pleaded guilty on April 27, 2017, is registered with the Missouri Sex Offender Registry due to his 1999 convictions in Arizona for molesting a 12-year-old child multiple times.

According to court documents, Finley was actively engaged in trading child pornography with other individuals on the Internet. The investigation began on April 16, 2015, when a Missouri State Technical Assistant Team investigator received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which reported child pornography in Finley’s Google Gmail account. Finley’s e-mail had multiple images of child pornography that he was sending to another user, and he remarked that he had more images and videos he could send.

On May 12, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Finley’s residence and seized a laptop computer, which contained multiple videos of child pornography, and Finley was arrested. Investigators also found child pornography on Finley’s cell phone.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team and the FBI.

Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Fulton, Mo., man who fired at law enforcement officers and other motorists during a high-speed pursuit pleaded guilty in federal court today.

Russell Dean Moore, Jr., 27, of Fulton, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to the charges contained in an April 21, 2016, federal indictment.

Moore pleaded guilty to three criminal violations that occurred during a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 70 by law enforcement officers, in which Moore fired shots at both the officers and at semi-trailer trucks in an effort to block the pursuit. Moore pleaded guilty to one count of the destruction of a motor vehicle (a USF Holland, Inc., semi-tractor trailer), one count of the use of a firearm in furtherance of that crime, and one count of the use of a firearm in furtherance of the destruction of another motor vehicle (a DCE Transportation, Inc., semi-tractor trailer).

According to the plea agreement, Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a Columbia, Mo., residence on the afternoon of April 6, 2016, for a stolen vehicle complaint. A woman told deputies that her 2007 Jeep, as well as firearms and other items, had been stolen from her residence. Among the items stolen was a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

At 2:44 a.m. the following morning, a sergeant with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department spotted the stolen Jeep in the parking lot of Midway Travel Center, 6401 E. Hwy. 40, Columbia. The sergeant drove over to the Jeep, which appear to be unoccupied, got out of his vehicle and walked towards the Jeep. As he did so, a woman appeared in the front passenger seat. She moved to the driver’s seat and drove away, stopping in the parking lot to allow Moore to get in the front passenger seat.

The sergeant pursued the Jeep with his emergency lights active. The Jeep turned onto Highway 40 and, as it was crossing Interstate 70, Moore shot at the sergeant multiple times. The Jeep turned onto Highway UU and stopped at the intersection of Sugar Creek Road. The sergeant saw Moore exit the Jeep and started shooting at him. Moore got back into the Jeep and the pursuit continued.

After the sergeant’s patrol vehicle was struck by at least one bullet, disabling it, other officers continued the pursuit of the stolen Jeep into the southern part of Columbia. The chase eventually moved onto Interstate 70 East, where officers continued to pursue the stolen Jeep into Callaway County. Throughout the pursuit, multiple shots were fired from the Jeep at various officers. Shots were also fired from the Jeep at four semi-trailer trucks traveling on Interstate 70, nearly striking one of the drivers.

The Jeep ran out of gas on County Road 172 in Callaway County and the occupants of the Jeep were arrested.

Moore told investigators that his intent when shooting at semi-trailer trucks on Interstate 70 East was to cause a serious accident, which would terminate the officers’ pursuit and aid in their escape. Two tractor trailers were shot during the pursuit. One of the drivers stopped his vehicle and discovered that his cab was damaged, and there was a 9mm bullet lodged behind the driver’s seat. Another driver told investigators he heard a pop and his truck engine began smoking and overheated. He pulled into a rest stop and called his employer. There was a hole in his tractor grill and the radiator, air cooler and condenser were damaged.
 
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government and Moore agree to recommend to the court a sentence of 40 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that 10 area residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $5.4 million conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Michaela Joeanne Hernandez,36, of Raymore, Mo., Brandy Michael Morgan, 44, of Kansas City, Mo., Anthony Dewayne Fifer, 46, of Mexico, Mo., Sharmyn Leanne Shryock, 27, and Jeffery Allen Jennings, 31, both of St. Joseph, Mo., Charlsie Kim Harris, 33, of Garden City, Mo., Eric Edward Ballard, 25, and Linda Kay Ballard, 65, both of Atchison, Kan., Brian Joe Russell, 36, of Amazonia, Mo., and Adrian Leon Madrigal, 27, address unknown, were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Nov. 16, 2017. The indictment has been unsealed following the arrests and initial court appearances of some of the defendants.

The federal indictment alleges that all 10 co-defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 1, 2015, to Nov. 16, 2017. The indictment alleges the distribution of more than 321 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. The five co-defendants are also charged together in one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

In addition to the conspiracy counts, Hernandez is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Hernandez allegedly was in possession of a Springfield Armory 9mm handgun and a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun between April 1 and Oct. 14, 2017.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hernandez has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require all 10 co-defendants to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged drug-trafficking conspiracy, including a money judgment of $5.4 million. This represents the amount of money received in exchange for the unlawful distribution of methamphetamine, the indictment says, based on an approximate sale price of $600 per ounce and distribution of at least 9,000 ounces (approximately 321.4 kilograms) of methamphetamine.

According to an affidavit filed in the original criminal complaint, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hernandez’s prior residence in Grandview, Mo., on April 5, 2017. Hernandez was arrested and officers seized approximately 1.46 kilograms of methamphetamine, the Springfield Armory 9mm handgun and drug paraphernalia. Hernandez allegedly told officers she distributed approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine per month during the three to six months prior to her arrest.

On Oct. 14, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hernandez’s Raymore residence. Hernandez was arrested and officers seized approximately 228 grams of methamphetamine, the loaded Taurus 9mm handgun and drug paraphernalia. According to the affidavit, Hernandez told investigators that she pays between $4,700 and $6,500 per pound of methamphetamine. Hernandez allegedly stated she resupplies with the pound quantities approximately every four days.
 
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Plattsburg, Mo., Police Department; the Atchison County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department; the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and Sheriff’s Department; the Jackson County Drug Task Force; the Clinton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Cass County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department; and the Clay County Drug Task Force.
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man has been indicted on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Ryan Lee Christoph, 25, of Springfield, was charged in three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017.

The federal indictment alleges that Christoph used a minor, identified as “Jane Doe” (born in 2003), to produce child pornography from April 29 to Aug. 15, 2017. The indictment also alleges that Christoph used the internet and a cell phone to induce Jane Doe to engage in illicit sexual activity. Christoph is also charged with one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.
 
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man who used fake online identities has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempting to produce child pornography.

Genard Alonzo Toney, 36, of Springfield, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Toney was arrested yesterday and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017.

The federal indictment alleges that Toney attempted to use a minor, identified as John Doe, to produce child pornography. The indictment also alleges that Toney received and distributed child pornography from May 9, 2016, to March 31, 2017.

According to court documents, Toney engaged in a pattern of soliciting images of child pornography through the Internet. Toney pretended to be a female seeking a female relationship on a dating website, then began texting with women he met on the dating website. Toney used a cell phone application, which provided him with a fake, anonymous cell phone number, cloaking his own number from identification. A forensic examination on devices seized from Toney by law enforcement officers revealed 283 separate conversations, consisting of 13,676 messages, and images of child pornography.

Toney also engaged in conversations where he pretended to be a woman with a 5-year-old daughter, according to court documents. Toney sent images of female children to others and solicited images of the other users’ children. In other conversations, Toney pretended to have a 4-to-6-year-old son and sent images of a child to other users, asking them to also send him pictures of their sons.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.

Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Lebanon, Mo., sex offender has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

George Wayne Scott, 62, of Lebanon, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017.

The federal indictment alleges that Scott received and distributed child pornography over the Internet on Feb. 28, 2017.

Scott has prior felony convictions for crossing state lines to engage in illicit sexual activity with a minor, transporting a minor across state lines for illicit sexual activity, coercion and enticement, receiving and distributing child pornography and possessing child pornography. Due to his status as a convicted sex offender, the indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in federal prison without parole upon conviction.
 
Larson cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Lebanon, Mo., Police Department and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the former administrator of the Pettis County Ambulance District pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $227,000 from the district.

Michael Paul Gardner, 62, of Sedalia, Mo., waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to a federal information that charges him with one count of bank fraud.

Gardner was hired as the administrator of the Pettis County Ambulance District in December 2012. By pleading guilty today, Gardner admitted that he forged board members’ signatures on 44 checks totaling $123,721. Gardner also admitted that he received $103,928 in unapproved payroll expenses from 2015 to 2017. The total amount embezzled by Gardner from the ambulance district was $227,649.

Gardner was arrested on March 29, 2017. Two board members of the ambulance district came to the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department on March 24, 2017, to present suspicious checks and financial transactions made by Gardner. The board had been notified by Central Bank of Sedalia that there was suspicious activity being conducted on the district’s bank accounts. The board members presented several ambulance district checks to police investigators in which Gardner was the payee and upon which the signatures of two board members had been forged. Board members also presented several checks made out to another person, identified in court documents as “T.R.,” which also contained forged board members’ signatures.

Gardner admitted to investigators that he had been forging board members’ signatures on checks payable to himself or to T.R., then depositing them into either his or her personal bank accounts, for about a year.

The ambulance district employed an independent auditing firm to conduct an intensive fraud investigations to determine the amount of funds misappropriated by Gardner. The firm identified 44 forged checks totaling $123,721.
 
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government and Gardner will recommend to the court that Gardner be sentenced to two years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department and the Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a California man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of PCP in the Kansas City area.

Ladronal S. Hamilton, also known as “Black,” 46, of Hawthorne, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to life in federal prison without parole.

On May 18, 2017, Hamilton was found guilty at trial of participating in a conspiracy to distribute PCP in Jackson County, Mo., and elsewhere from Jan. 1, 2011, to March 12, 2015. Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Hamilton supplied numerous associates in Kansas City with kilogram quantities of PCP, which was transported from California through the mail.

Hamilton was the organizer and supplier to large-scale Kansas City PCP distributors, each of whom has been convicted and sentenced in federal court. He organized and arranged the cross-country shipment of numerous multi-kilogram containers of PCP from California.

According to trial testimony, investigators made three seizures of PCP from Hamilton in 2014 that totaled approximately 14 kilograms. In addition, the testimony of cooperating witnesses established that Hamilton distributed additional amounts in excess of 37 kilograms of PCP. Hamilton also possessed firearms in relation to drug trafficking during the timeframe of the conspiracy. One investigator testified that he recovered cocaine and three firearms from Hamilton’s California residence.

A cooperating witness testified at trial that Hamilton used various houses in Kansas City, including his father’s house, as a safe location to receive and re-package large amounts of PCP.

In seeking the life sentence for Hamilton, the government’s court filings refer to the serious nature of the crime and to Hamilton’s extensive prior criminal record, which includes felony convictions for armed bank robbery, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. A career offender for violent crimes and narcotic offenses, Hamilton’s s interstate distribution of large quantities of PCP began within three years of his release from federal prison for armed bank robbery as a result of his second revocation from supervised release.

Today’s sentence includes an enhancement for obstruction of justice. Trial testimony from at least two cooperating witnesses support the claim that Hamilton attempted to dissuade or intimidate a witness from testifying against him. One cooperating witness specifically recalled Hamilton stating that he wanted a government witness dead.

Operation Dirty Glass

Operation Dirty Glass was an investigation of a large-scale PCP and crack cocaine drug trafficking organization. More than 20 defendants were indicted and convicted as a result of the investigation, including the primary target, Gerald W. Jones of Kansas City, Mo., who received PCP from Hamilton. In a separate but related, case, Jones was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole.

Investigators seized a total of approximately 14 kilograms of PCP in a series of Express Mail shipments made by Hamilton to Kansas City, Mo. On Oct. 17, 2014, a postal inspector identified an Express Mail package that had been sent by Hamilton from the La Tiejera, Calif., post office to a Kansas City, Mo., address. The parcel contained three metal canisters, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of PCP. On Nov. 10, 2014, a postal inspector identified two more Express Mail packages that had been sent by Hamilton from California to Kansas City, Mo., addresses. Inside each package, investigators found a metal canister containing approximately two kilograms of PCP.

Hamilton made frequent trips to the Kansas City area. Prior to the discovery of the PCP shipments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service interdicted two Express Mail envelopes on Oct. 16, 2013, that Hamilton, while visiting Kansas City, had sent back to California. One envelope contained $4,000 and the other contained $7,000, of drug proceeds.

Operation Water Park

Hamilton was also implicated in a separate investigation, Operation Water Park, which resulted in the indictment and convictions of 11 defendants. In early 2015, Hamilton began supplying PCP to Leelon Williams of Kansas City, Mo. Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute PCP and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole.

Williams was arrested on March 12, 2015, when Kansas City, Mo., police officers were dispatched to the area of 26th Street and College to investigate a shooting. Williams was found hiding inside his van, which was parked in an alleyway near the scene of the shooting. (Williams was not involved in the shooting.) Investigators searched the van and found two glass orange juice bottles that contained a total of approximately 1.2 kilograms of PCP, which Hamilton had shipped to Williams from California.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Venneman and Emily A. Morgan. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court in two separate cases for drug trafficking and for illegally possessing a machine gun and a rifle.

Jonathan Villegas-Escobar, 26, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 17 years and seven months in federal prison without parole.

On March 6, 2017, Villegas-Escobar pleaded guilty to possessing a machine gun. Villegas-Escobar also pleaded guilty, in a separate federal indictment, to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to using a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.

Villegas-Escobar admitted that the amount of drugs foreseeable to him during the methamphetamine distribution conspiracy is 692.39 grams of pure methamphetamine. As relevant conduct, Villegas-Escobar also admitted responsibility for 5.29 kilograms of cocaine distributed with co-defendant Demond Robins, 36, of Kansas City, Mo.

During the course of the cocaine-trafficking conspiracy, Villegas-Escobar and Robins distributed approximately 1.9 kilograms of cocaine to a law enforcement confidential informant. Law enforcement officers seized approximately $152,675, which equates to approximately 3.392 kilograms of cocaine (based on approximately $45/gram). Additionally, Robins received approximately three kilograms of cocaine from co-defendant Jose Aguayo-Rodriguez, 25, a citizen of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo. (To avoid double-counting, only one additional kilogram of cocaine is attributed to Robins.) This results in a total of approximately 6.292 kilograms of cocaine.

Villegas-Escobar also admitted that he carried and used a .40-caliber Hi-Point rifle in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. Villegas-Escobar sold the firearm to another individual during a drug transaction in which he also sold methamphetamine to the same individual.

In the second federal case, Villegas-Escobar admitted that he possessed a machine gun on March 24, 2015. Villegas-Escobar sold another individual a Glock 9mm handgun, which had been converted into a fully-automatic machine gun.

Robins pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole for his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and for participating in a money-laundering conspiracy. Aguayo-Rodriguez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in federal prison without parole.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that seven Springfield, Mo., residents are among 11 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram of heroin in Greene County, Mo.

Jovan J. Denson, 39, Gerald E. Pope, 41, Edward J. Smith, 51, Christine D. Jones, 26, Benjamin J.H. Goodman, 22, Earl E. Jones, 49, and Cierra Nash, 24, all of Springfield; Oriola J. Ijaola, 40, of Chicago, Ill.; Deanna J. Miller, 47, of Orlando, Fla.; Amy E. Mitchell, 45, address unknown, and Reginald Perkins, age and address unknown, were charged in a 12-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s indictment alleges that all of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in Greene County from March 1, 2016, to May 18, 2017.

In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Denson is charged with five counts of distributing heroin and one count of money laundering. The indictment alleges that Denson used $9,500 from illegal drug trafficking to make a down payment on a vehicle.

Ijaola is also charged with one count of distributing heroin. Miller, Jones and Smith are each also charged with one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute. 

Pope is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Pope was in possession of a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol on May 18, 2017.

The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Denson to forfeit to the government $13,131 seized by law enforcement officers and Pope to forfeit to the government $4,852 seized by law enforcement officers.
Today’s superseding indictment replaces the original indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on June 13, 2017. The superseding indictment includes Ijaola and Perkins as additional defendants; Brian J. Brown, 36, and Corbin S. Rice, 26, both of Springfield, were previously charged in the original indictment and have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram heroin.
 
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody M. Larison. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Birch Tree, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for stealing timber from a national forest.

John R. Marlow, 46, of Birch Tree, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Marlow stole government property worth more than $1,000 between Jan. 1, 2016, and March 20, 2017. Marlow allegedly stole timber from federal property in Oregon County, Mo.

Marlow is also charged with one count of cutting and removing timber from public lands and one count of maintaining a trail without authorization within the Mark Twain National Forest.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Alton, Mo., Police Department.
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that area law enforcement leaders met today for a roundtable discussion aimed at improving coordination to reduce violent crime in the metropolitan area.

The purpose of today’s meeting was to bring law enforcement and prosecution partners together to enhance their coordination in combatting violent crime. This is a component of the U.S. Attorney’s Office strategy to develop and implement an enhanced Project Safe Neighborhoods plan, which includes prioritizing violent crime reduction.

Project Ceasefire is the longstanding Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative in the Kansas City, Mo., area, to target felons and others who illegally possess firearms. An enhanced Project Safe Neighborhoods program will include enhancing the working relationships between federal, state and local agencies to reduce violent crime and effectively leverage resources. They will jointly identify the area’s most significant violent crime problems in order to target and prioritize enforcement.

Among the law enforcement officials who addressed today’s gathering regarding their specific agency or department priorities, programs and strategies were: •    Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Larson; •    Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith; •    ATF Special Agent in Charge George Lauder; •    Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker; •    FBI Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones; •    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Valenti, Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator; and
•    Counsel to the U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark.

Also participating in the discussion held at the ATF Kansas City Field Division office were DEA Supervisory Special Agent M. Todd Hixson, Director Jeffrey B. Stamm of Midwest HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp, Independence Police Chief Brad Halsey, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gilbert Trill of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Acting U.S. Marshal Scott Seeling.