Western District of Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Jefferson City, Mo., business owner pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a scheme to burglarize residences in Columbia, Mo., and sell the stolen items on eBay.

Yevhen Olejovich Drobovych, 27, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to one count of mail fraud contained in a July 20, 2016, federal indictment. Drobovych was the owner of Jefferson City Computer Services.

Drobovych was connected to a large number of burglaries in Columbia, primarily targeting college housing and electronic equipment. Several individuals were identified during the investigation who burglarized residences and forwarded the stolen items to Drobovych. By pleading guilty today, Drobovych admitted that he posted the stolen items for sale on eBay and mailed them to buyers by the U.S. Postal Service or other interstate carrier.

A specific example cited in today’s plea agreement involves a burglary that occurred on Nov. 22, 2014. Several thousand dollars’ worth of camera equipment and Apple MacBooks were stolen. The next day, Drobovych sold some of the stolen items on eBay – three cameras, lenses and other equipment – to a buyer in Kansas City, Mo., for $6,800. The buyer found the burglary victim’s information on the cameras and, making contact with the victim, learned the camera equipment had been stolen.

The buyer told investigators that he had made previous purchases from Drobovych on eBay, and that Drobovych had notified him by text about the camera equipment for sale. Drobovych told the Kansas City buyer that he purchased the equipment from a person who came into his store.

In a separate but related case, Henry Anthony Williams, also known as “Foolish,” 27, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty on March 22, 2017, to his role in the scheme. Williams also pleaded guilty to possessing stolen firearms.

Williams admitted that he had sold stolen equipment to Drobovych, who sold the items on eBay. Williams admitted that he committed at least one of the three residential burglaries that occurred on Nov. 17, 2015, among residences on Commercial Drive in Columbia.

Williams also admitted that he possessed firearms that had been stolen during the burglary of a residence in Columbia. Moberly, Mo., police officers received a report from a local gun store on Sept. 17, 2014, that someone was trying to sell one of the stolen firearms – a customized Remington rifle – to the store’s owner. The person who tried to sell the stolen rifle told officers that he had purchased it from another man, identified as “LJ,” who in turn said he purchased it from Williams. LJ told officers that Williams had other firearms for sale. On Sept. 24, 2014, LJ arranged to meet Williams in the Hooters parking lot in Columbia to purchase another firearm. In a controlled undercover transaction, LJ was provided $350 and purchased a Marlin .22-caliber rifle and a Western Field 12-gauge shotgun from Williams. The Marlin rifle was among the firearms stolen in the Columbia burglary.

Under federal statutes, Drobovych is subject to a sentence of up to 20 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 Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 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 Texas man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in an elaborate, multi-million-dollar fraud scheme in which conspirators impersonated North Kansas City-based Cerner Corporation in business and legal activities.

Albert Davis, 56, of Richardson, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Davis to pay $19,151,555 in restitution to the victims of his fraud scheme.

On Oct. 3, 2016, Davis pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Davis admitted that he was the leader of a conspiracy to commit wire fraud in which more than 10 victims suffered millions in losses from Aug. 25, 2008, to Feb. 19, 2015. Conspirators engaged in a scheme to use Cerner Corporation’s reputation and standing in the medical field to manipulate business transactions and court proceedings in their favor.

The decade-long criminal conduct, including relevant conduct from several other jurisdictions, involved perjured testimony, doctored trial exhibits, a manipulated multi-million dollar civil verdict, a fake bankruptcy filing, the use of fake people with fake email accounts, impersonated companies and a phalanx of over 70 entities to conceal it.

Four additional co-conspirators (in separate but related cases) also have pleaded guilty. David Hernon, 56, of Fishers, Ind. (formerly of Richardson, Texas), David Tayce, 67, of Lucas, Texas, and Richard Bryant, 41, and his wife, Christina Bryant, 41, both of Sachse, Texas, are scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.

In order to impersonate Cerner Corporation, Davis and his co-conspirators created a fake Cerner business entity for a similarly-named company, Cerner, LLC. Conspirators opened a fake Cerner bank account, registered a fake Cerner Internet domain and leased virtual office space for a fake Cerner address in Kansas City, Mo. They created fictitious employees from Cerner Corporation – including both fictitious identities and impersonating actual employees – to communicate with others. Conspirators fabricated documents, price quotes, agreements and invoices, which were all made to appear to be authentic Cerner Corporation documents, when they were not.

For example, conspirators sent e-mails to doctors at Summit Medical Center in Oklahoma, which falsely represented Cerner Corporation in negotiations by containing a quote for the sale of a MRI to Summit Medical Center.

Conspirators also created fraudulent invoices for the sale of an MRI to Dallas Medical Center (DMC), which paid over $1 million to what they believed was Cerner Corporation, but which turned out to be nothing more than one of Davis’ shell companies.

When DMC was not acting quickly enough on the deal, Davis created fake e-mail accounts for prominent cardiologists in Dallas. Davis then used these fake email accounts to draft e-mails to himself, which stated that these cardiologists could not wait to get Davis’ MRI system at DMC. Davis then forwarded these e-mails to DMC, which created the impression of demand for his system at DMC. Smith also provided “references” for DMC to check on him. These “references” turned out to be more fake doctors and co-conspirators playing the role of satisfied business partners of Davis on the phone.

Davis also admitted that conspirators provided false and misleading information and testimony during the litigation of several lawsuits. The false and misleading testimony was regarding business deals where the conspirators had impersonated Cerner Corporation.

For example, when Dallas Medical Center learned of the fraud, Davis sued them (iHeart Care DMC Holdings, LLC. v. Dallas Medical Center, LLC., et al., Cause No. 13-09460, in Dallas County, Texas). Davis, Tayce, and others then provided false testimony in depositions in the resulting lawsuit.

According to court documents, the Dallas Medical Center scheme was just a sliver of the fraud Davis and his co-conspirators committed.

In another example, Davis brought a lawsuit against Korean company ISOL Technology. After testifying falsely about business dealings with Cerner Corporation and offering fake exhibits to support his claim of damages, Davis received a jury award of $24 million in the 2014 trial in LBDS Holding Company, LLC v. ISOL Technology, Inc., et al., Case No. 6:11-CV-428-LED, in the Eastern District of Texas. When the fraud was discovered, attorneys for ISOL Technology filed an emergency motion for sanctions against LBDS (Davis’ company).

In addition to impersonating Cerner Corporation, Davis admitted, conspirators used additional e-mail accounts to impersonate business entities and physicians in order to send communications designed to manipulate others in business transactions.

For example, conspirators forged signatures and misled doctors into guaranteeing over $8 million in loans from Community Trust Bank in Texas. Davis admitted that he and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained five individual loans from Community Trust Bank.

Conspirators also impersonated bondholders in order to file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against their own company, CMI Holding Company, Inc., in Case no. 10-38011-SGJ-7, in the Northern District of Texas. Conspirators continued to impersonate those bondholders throughout the litigation in phone calls and email communications, and by signing as the bondholders in a settlement agreement. Davis and his co-conspirators concealed their ownership of Eureka Group, LLC and used that entity to receive and disburse the monies received from the $1.8 million settlement of the involuntary bankruptcy. Conspirators impersonated yet another company to buy back their newly re-organized company through the bankruptcy, and collect additional funds and manipulate the price through other fake liabilities and creditors.

Additionally, Davis admitted, conspirators solicited investments using fabricated communications and documents from entities they created, including the entity created to impersonate Cerner Corporation. Those misrepresentations included false financial documents, altered MRI images and false claims that used MRI systems were newly developed technology. Davis collected large amounts of investments through this process.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Wolesky, in cooperation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Kummerfeld of the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Davis of the Western District of Arkansas. It was investigated by the FBI.

The Department of Justice announced today that four former corrections officers at the Jackson County Detention Center (“JCDC”) have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to physically assault an inmate in violation of his Constitutional protection against unreasonable force.

Travis Hewitt, 27, Dakota Pearce, 24, Terrance Dooley, Jr., 36, and Jen-I Pulos, 36, all of Kansas City, Missouri, were charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.  The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hewitt and Pulos.

“The Civil Rights Division will continue to prosecute corrections officers who exploit their position and violently assault individuals in their custody,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “The Department will continue to hold accountable those who act under color of law for the purpose of harming individuals in their custody.”

“The Constitution provides every citizen the right of due process, and protects every citizen from the use of unreasonable force,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Larson for the Western District of Missouri.  “Correctional officers who physically assault a shackled inmate in violation of his civil rights will be held accountable for their actions.”

“The FBI is charged with investigating any violation of an individual's civil rights, no matter where that violation may occur,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin E. Jones of the FBI Kansas City Division.  “Correctional officers are entrusted with the power and needed authority to protect our community, but they do not have the right to abuse that authority.  The FBI will continue to work aggressively to pursue any and all allegations of civil rights violations.”

According to the indictment, Hewitt and Pearce served as acting sergeants at the JCDC. Dooley and Pulos served as members of the Disturbance Control Team, which is responsible for intervening in inmate altercations and neutralizing threats posed by inmates.

The indictment charges in Counts One and Two that on July 4, 2015, Hewitt, Pearce, Dooley and Pulos conspired to and did assault “J.R.,” an inmate awaiting resolution of allegations that he violated probation, in retaliation for a prior altercation that J.R. had with another corrections officer.  According to the indictment, the defendants, defying the orders of a superior officer, forcibly removed J.R. from his cell in the Medical Housing Unit and brought him to another holding cell down the hall in order to facilitate their assault on him.  There, as the indictment charges, all four defendants struck, punched and otherwise assaulted J.R., who was handcuffed, shackled, confined to a cell, suffering from disorientation and confusion, and not posing a threat to anyone.  The indictment further alleges that the defendants ensured their actions would go undetected by having one of them serve as a lookout, and by sending other nearby corrections officers to another part of the JCDC so those corrections officers would not witness the assault.

In addition to the conspiracy and the assault in the holding cell, Count Three charges Hewitt and Pearce with a separate assault on J.R., when they allegedly struck and punched J.R. while J.R. was restrained and not posing a physical threat to anyone.  Related to that assault, Count Four charges Hewitt with falsifying his departmental report with the intent to impede or obstruct the federal investigation.  The indictment alleges that Hewitt falsely wrote that J.R. bit his right hand, when in fact, Hewitt knew that he injured his hand by striking and punching J.R. about the head and face while J.R. was restrained and not posing a physical threat to anyone.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Missouri, and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, U.S. Department of Justice.  It was investigated by the Kansas City Division of the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, and Tom Wheeler, Acting Assistant Attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, announced today that four former corrections officers at the Jackson County Detention Center (“JCDC”) have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to physically assault an inmate in violation of his Constitutional protection against unreasonable force.

Travis Hewitt, 27, Dakota Pearce, 24, Terrance Dooley, Jr., 36, and Jen-I Pulos, 36, all of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Hewitt and Pulos.

“The Constitution provides every citizen the right of due process, and protects every citizen from the use of unreasonable force,” Larson said. “Correctional officers who physically assault a shackled inmate in violation of his civil rights will be held accountable for their actions.”

“The FBI is charged with investigating any violation of an individual's civil rights, no matter where that violation may occur,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin E. Jones of the FBI Kansas City Division. “Correctional officers are entrusted with the power and needed authority to protect our community, but they do not have the right to abuse that authority. The FBI will continue to work aggressively to pursue any and all allegations of civil rights violations.”

According to the indictment, Hewitt and Pearce served as acting sergeants at the JCDC. Dooley and Pulos served as members of the Disturbance Control Team, also known as the Cell Extraction Response Team, which is responsible for intervening in inmate altercations and neutralizing threats posed by inmates.

The indictment charges in Counts One and Two that on July 4, 2015, Hewitt, Pearce, Dooley and Pulos conspired to and did assault “J.R.,” an inmate awaiting resolution of allegations that he violated probation, in retaliation for a prior altercation that J.R. had with another corrections officer. According to the indictment, the defendants, defying the orders of a superior officer, forcibly removed J.R. from his cell in the Medical Housing Unit and brought him to another holding cell down the hall in order to facilitate their assault on him. There, as the indictment charges, all four defendants struck, punched and otherwise assaulted J.R., who was handcuffed, shackled, confined to a cell, suffering from disorientation and confusion, and not posing a threat to anyone. The indictment further alleges that the defendants ensured their actions would go undetected by having one of them serve as a lookout, and by sending other nearby corrections officers to another part of the JCDC so those corrections officers would not witness the assault.

In addition to the conspiracy and the assault in the holding cell, Count Three charges Hewitt and Pearce with a separate assault on J.R., when they allegedly struck and punched J.R. while J.R. was restrained and not posing a physical threat to anyone. Related to that assault, Count Four charges Hewitt with falsifying his departmental report with the intent to impede or obstruct the federal investigation. The indictment alleges that Hewitt falsely wrote that J.R. bit his right hand, when in fact, Hewitt knew that he injured his hand by striking and punching J.R. about the head and face while J.R. was restrained and not posing a physical threat to anyone.

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 David Ketchmark of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Missouri, and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, U.S. Department of Justice. It was investigated by the Kansas City Division of the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the owner of an Independence, Mo., medical clinic pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a fraud scheme that involved disability examinations of veterans and to making false statements regarding his role in the physical examinations of commercial truck drivers.

David L. Biersmith, 80, of Kansas City, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to a federal information that charges him with one count of health care fraud and one count of making false statements to a federal agency.

Biersmith was the owner and president of Industrial Medical Center (IMC) in Independence. Although Biersmith had no medical license or other medical credentials, IMC was a drug- and DNA-testing center and had contracts with various entities to provide medical services to patients and to provide drug testing and physical examinations for drivers of commercial motor vehicles.

On April 23, 2013, Biersmith signed a contract with Logistics Health, Inc., to provide disability examinations for veterans to determine the extent of veterans’ impairments and eligibility for benefits. Initially those examinations were conducted by a licensed physician at IMC. When the physician left in July 2013, Biersmith directed Wayne W. Williamson, 74, of Kansas City, and another person to perform the examinations, although they were not authorized to do so under the contract with Logistics Health. Williamson was formerly a physician but lost his medical license due to an earlier fraud scheme and a narcotics distribution charge.

In a separate but related case, Williamson pleaded guilty on Jan. 17, 2017, to health care fraud. Williamson was a medical consultant at IMC during various periods beginning at least as early as 2013 through at least March 2015.

Williamson was formerly a medical doctor but voluntarily surrendered his medical license in 2010 after he pled guilty to health care fraud; conspiracy to distribute Oxycotin, Percocet, and Xanax; and harassing or attempting to harass an investigator with the Missouri State Board of Healing Arts. Williamson was sentenced to three years in federal prison and permanently excluded from participation in Medicare or Medicaid programs.

Williamson admitted that he performed disability examinations for the Department of Veterans Affairs under IMC’s contract with Logistics Health. This was done in violation of Logistic Health’s contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which required that disability examinations be conducted by credentialed providers and that the examiners must have a clear and unrestricted license and not be excluded from participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.

IMC falsely represented that a licensed physician had completed and electronically signed the Disability Benefits Questionnaires. IMC submitted invoices to Logistics Health to be paid for 209 disability examinations on 53 veterans. In turn, Logistics Health submitted invoices to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the disability examinations performed by its subcontractor, IMC. The Department of Veteran’s Affairs paid Logistics Health $39,155 for the disability examinations performed by its subcontractor, IMC.

In April 2014, Logistics Health contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs—Office of Inspector General hotline and reported the fraudulent activity. Because a credentialed provider did not conduct the disability examinations, the Department of Veterans Affairs had to re-adjudicate all those claims. Some veterans had to be physically re-examined, and others had their claim file reviewed.

In addition to the health care fraud, Biersmith admitted that he made materially false and fraudulent statements related to IMC’s drug testing and medical examinations on drivers of commercial motor vehicles. Those examinations are required by Department of Transportation regulations. In a signed affidavit provided to federal agents, Biersmith stated that he had only signed a “few” physicals and only before, during, or after an examination had been performed by a chiropractor. In fact, Biersmith admitted today, he signed at least 65 such documents using the chiropractor’s name, including instances when the chiropractor did not perform the exam.

Under federal statutes, Biersmith is subject to a sentence of up to 15 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 Cindi S. Woolery and Gregg R. Coonrod. It was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs—Office of Inspector General, the Department of Transportation—Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor—EBSA and the Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a former employee of J.E. Dunn Construction Company along with the owners of two firms charged with paying illegal kickbacks have been indicted by a federal grand jury for an $840,400 fraud scheme.

John L. Kirwin, 45, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Brian A. Newkirk, 49, of Houston, Texas, and Debi K. Jordan, 52, of Tulsa, Okla., were charged in a 38-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. The indictment was unsealed and made public today following Kirwin’s arrest.

Kirwin was employed by J.E. Dunn Construction Company as an internal recruiter from August 2013 through April 13, 2016. His duties included finding qualified candidates for job vacancies. Kirwin worked with outside employment recruitment agencies to locate and employ J.E. Dunn personnel for construction projects across the country. If the recruit was actually hired, J.E. Dunn paid a fee to the outside employment recruitment agencies.

Kirwin hired Newkirk’s firm, Search Group International, and two firms owned by Jordan, Recruitegist and Sourcegist, to locate suitable employees for J.E. Dunn. The federal indictment alleges that Newkirk and Jordan paid a total of $414,001 in secret illegal kickbacks to Kirwin. On numerous occasions, the indictment says, the employee designated by the recruitment firms did not become an employee of J.E. Dunn. In those instances, the recruitment firms operated by Jordan and Newkirk were not entitled to any payments.

According to the indictment, J.E. Dunn paid Search Group International a total of $427,450 for recruitment services from May 2014 through March 15, 2016. The owner of the firm allegedly paid kickbacks to Kirwin totaling $245,285. J.E. Dunn paid Recruitegist and Sourcegist a total of $372,950 from November 2013 through Sept. 30, 2015. The owner of those firms allegedly paid kickbacks to Kirwin totaling $168,716.

The federal indictment charges Kirwin and Newkirk with 18 counts of wire fraud related to wire payments made by J.E. Dunn to Search Group International that involved kickbacks paid to Kirwin. The indictment charges Kirwin and Jordan with 20 counts of mail fraud related to checks that were mailed by J.E. Dunn to Recruitegist and Sourcegist that involved kickbacks paid to Kirwin.

J.E. Dunn’s Code of Business Ethics and Conduct absolutely prohibited Kirwin from accepting payment of cash from suppliers or others who do business, or have expressed an interest in doing business, with J.E. Dunn.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Kirwin, Newkirk and Jordan to forfeit to the government $800,400, which represents the proceeds of the fraud scheme.

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 Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

John P. Morris, 44, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to 16 years and eight months in federal prison without parole.

On June 29, 2016, Morris pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene County, Mo., from Jan. 9, 2013, to Jan. 15, 2015.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Morris’s residence on Jan. 9, 2013. They found Morris in the detached garage. During a search of the garage, officers found a plastic sandwich bag that contained 23.96 grams of methamphetamine. Inside a yellow tool box, officers found $2,851. Officers also found a loaded Remington 12-gauge pistol grip shotgun in the bedroom of the house and three baggies that contained a total of 4.45 grams of methamphetamine. Officers found several empty baggies and a digital scale on top of a stool in the bedroom.

On Jan. 15, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Morris’s residence and detained Morris inside a shed on the property. Inside the shed, officers found 275.6 grams of pure methamphetamine in an ammunition case next to the bed. Officers also seized $8,664 from Morris plus $125 that was found underneath the ammunition case. Officers also found a digital scale covered in residue on a wooden stool by the bed.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former business owner pleaded guilty in federal court today to providing false information in order to receive a $1.45 million loan, and to failing to pay employment taxes for the now-defunct business.

Clinton Tackitt, 43, of Republic, 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 making false statements on a loan application and with failing to pay over taxes.

Tackitt applied for a $1,450,000 SBA-guaranteed loan for his business, Allied Roofing Systems, LLC, on May 9, 2012. Tackitt admitted today that the loan application he submitted to Guaranty Bank was false and incomplete. Tackitt failed to disclose all of his financial debts as required and failed to truthfully disclose an accurate financial status of his company or a complete listing of the debts he and his business owed, in that the company was heavily in debt and was about to claim bankruptcy. Tackitt also failed to disclose that a third party assisted him in the preparation and presentation of the application.

Tackitt also admitted that he failed to pay over to the government $262,066 in payroll taxes that he collected from his employees. He also failed to pay over the employer’s share of FICA taxes, which total $395,699. Beginning during the second quarter of 2012, ending on June 30, 2012, and continuing on until the dissolution of Allied Roofing Systems on Dec. 31, 2013, Tackitt collected federal employee taxes from the salaries paid to the individuals employed with his company. Tackitt, through his company, willfully failed to pay over all of the taxes collected from his employees.

Tackitt must forfeit to the government $1,324,878,which was derived from the proceeds of his criminal conduct.

Under federal statutes, Tackitt is subject to a sentence of up to 35 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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Small Business Administration.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Maryland man previously charged with enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity was indicted by a federal grand jury today.

William Lee Dela Cruz, 22, of Maryland, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Dela Cruz on April 10, 2017, and includes an additional charge. Dela Cruz remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

Today’s indictment charges Dela Cruz with traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. The indictment also contains the original charge of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, an Amber Alert was issued for the 12-year-old victim, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe,” on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Members of the public contacted law enforcement in response to the Amber Alert and she was recovered in Wentzville, Mo., the same day. Dela Cruz was arrested by Wentzville police officers.

Jane Doe told investigators she had been involved in an online relationship with Dela Cruz since November 2016 (when she was 11 years old). They communicated through telephone, Skype, Facebook Messenger and Discord (an application that provides free voice and text options, especially for communications between individuals involved in the gaming culture). Jane Doe stated she met Dela Cruz online through the computer game Onigiri, a multi-player fantasy online role-playing game.

On Saturday, April 6, 2017, Dela Cruz and his brother (who has not been charged) drove from Maryland to Missouri to pick up Jane Doe with the intent of driving her back to Maryland, according to the affidavit.

During the drive back to Maryland, the affidavit says, an argument between the brothers occurred. As a result, Dela Cruz’s brother dropped them off at a service station and drove away. Dela Cruz and Jane Doe attempted to obtain a room at the Hampton Inn in Wentzville but did not have sufficient funds for a room. Instead, they slept on a couch in the lobby of the hotel.

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 Moore. It was investigated by the FBI, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department and the Wentzville, Mo., Police Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine that was shipped from California.

John R. Waits, 46, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charge contained in a Dec. 9, 2015, federal indictment.

Co-defendants Michael E. Ford, 37, and Lisa Renae Thompson, 39, both of Springfield, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Thompson was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. Ford, who also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug-trafficking conspiracy, awaits sentencing.

By pleading guilty today, Waits admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from June 1 through Sept. 11, 2015. A co-conspirator shipped methamphetamine from California to Springfield in two- to two-and-a-half-pound increments to Thompson. Thompson picked up the packages at various hotels in the Springfield area then contacted Ford. Ford picked up the methamphetamine from Thompson and distributed it to others.

After a few days, Ford would then meet with Thompson and give her $10,800. Thompson kept $800 and sent $10,000 to the co-conspirator in California.

Thompson admitted that she received approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine, which she gave to Ford. Thompson also kept some of the methamphetamine and sold it directly to others with the assistance of Waits. Today’s plea agreement cites several instances in which Waits sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent. He participated in the conspiracy for six weeks and is responsible for the distribution of 12 pounds of methamphetamine.

After Thompson was arrested on Sept. 11, 2015, Ford began receiving methamphetamine shipments from the co-conspirator in California. On Sept. 30, 2015, the Springfield Police Department received a phone call from a FedEx employee about a suspicious package. Police officers delivered the 2.2-pound package of methamphetamine to Ford at a Springfield residence, where he was arrested. Ford had a Ruger .22-caliber handgun in his possession.

Under federal statutes, Waits 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 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 Abram McGull II. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo.-area man has been charged with robbing four banks in Independence, Liberty and Kansas City – three of them in the past two weeks.

Tam Henry Holmes, 56, of the Kansas City metropolitan area, was charged with four counts of bank robbery in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, April 17, 2017. Holmes remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Thursday, April 20, 2017.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Holmes entered Central Bank of Kansas City, 2301 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Mo., at about 1 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2016. Holmes allegedly approached the teller counter and placed a note up against the bullet-proof glass and whispered “700.” The teller told investigators she could not read what was printed on the note, but Holmes continued to whisper “700” and she realized it was a robbery. The teller turned over $450 to Holmes, who then left the bank. The bank reported a loss of $450.

On April 1, 2017, Holmes entered Bank of the West, 850 S. 291 Hwy., Liberty, Mo., at about 10:15 a.m., according to the affidavit. Holmes allegedly held up a spiral notebook containing hand written notations. The teller told investigators that she read the first couple of lines, which she recalled were, “this is a robbery, give me all your large bills.” The teller gathered money from her drawer and gave it to Holmes, the affidavit says, and he left the bank. The bank reported a loss of $8,300.

On April 3, 2017, Holmes entered the Greater Kansas City Public Safety Credit Union, 19341 E. US 40 Hwy., Independence, Mo., at about 2:30 p.m., according to the affidavit. Holmes allegedly walked up to a teller counter and showed the teller two hand-written notes on two yellow Post-it notes. The notes, according to the affidavit, said, “this is a robbery. Don’t pull any dye packs, bail or alarms. I know where you live.” The teller removed cash from her drawer and handed it to Holmes, the affidavit says, and he left the bank. The credit union reported a loss of $12,205.

On April 15, 2017, Holmes entered First Federal Bank of Kansas City, 3500 Noland Rd., Independence, according to the affidavit. Holmes allegedly held up a handwritten note that said, “give me all the money, hurry up, or I will hurt you.” The teller opened her drawer and handed Holmes $100 and $50 bills. She then stared at Holmes, who stated, “hurry up or I’ll do what the note says.” The teller then gave Holmes $20, $10 and $5 bills. Holmes took the money, put it in his pockets and walked out of the bank, the affidavit says. The bank reported a loss of $4,050.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the FBI.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Franklin, Mo., man and a Boonville, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to drug-trafficking charges.

Matthew Allen Hampton, 35, of Franklin, and Gregory Alan Kennedy, 53, of Boonville, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge William A. Knox to the charges contained in a July 20, 2016, superseding indictment.

By pleading guilty today, Hampton admitted he participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Boone, Cooper, Lafayette and Jackson Counties in Missouri from Aug. 25, 2015, to Jan. 11, 2016. Kennedy pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Co-defendants Douglas Marion Pryor, 54, of Columbia, and Joseph Nicko Winters have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Pryor is scheduled to be sentenced on May 24, 2017. Winters, who also pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2017.

Hampton admitted that he was in possession of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine when he was stopped by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers on I-70 in Lafayette County on Oct. 14, 2015. In addition to the methamphetamine, troopers found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $3,353 in the vehicle. Hampton told investigators that Pryor had supplied him with the methamphetamine. They met in Pryor’s room at Harrah’s Casino in Kansas City, Mo., where Pryor handed him the methamphetamine and agreed to pay him $500 if he drove the methamphetamine back. Hampton admitted he had been dealing for Pryor for three or four months, and had moved approximately three to five pounds of methamphetamine in the last three months.

Law enforcement officers contacted Hampton again on Nov. 24, 2015, at the Isle of Capri Hotel/Casino in Boonville, Mo. Hampton had a plastic bag that contained methamphetamine in his pants pocket and a blue plastic glove that contained 93.1 grams of methamphetamine in a coat pocket. Hampton told officers he received the methamphetamine from Pryor.

A Cooper County sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop of Kennedy near the city limits of Boonville on Aug. 25, 2015. Officers located approximately one pound of methamphetamine hidden in the dashboard of the vehicle. Kennedy identified Pryor as the person for whom he was transporting the methamphetamine. Kennedy stated that Pryor told him he would pay him $700 to pick up what he believed to be marijuana and drive it to his residence, where Pryor would pick it up.

Under federal statutes, Hampton 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. Kennedy is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 40 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Miller. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cooper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the East Central Drug Task Force.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in a marriage fraud conspiracy after participating in a wedding sting operation staged by federal agents.

Stephanie Harris, 22, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to the charges contained in an Aug. 31, 2016, federal indictment.

Harris admitted that she participated in a conspiracy to assist African nationals in circumventing immigration laws by arranging fraudulent marriages. Co-defendants Delmar Dixon, 49, Kakeland Barnes, 37, Shakeisha Harrison, 37, and Traci R. Porter, 44, all of Kansas City, also have pleaded guilty to their roles in the marriage fraud conspiracy. In addition to the conspiracy, Dixon pleaded guilty to falsely swearing in an immigration matter.

Dixon admitted that he arranged 30 to 40 fraudulent marriages, including his own. Dixon charged the African nationals $1,000 upfront for his services, which included providing them U.S. citizen spouses. The African nationals were additionally required to pay $500 to the spouse at the time of the wedding, and an additional $500 immediately after completion of the wedding. They were required to pay their spouses $250 each month after the weddings until the immigration process was complete. The African nationals were coached by Dixon on how to make their marriages appear legitimate.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents utilized a confidential informant in a pretend ceremony that was staged by ICE-HSI. The confidential informant arranged a meeting with Dixon, paid the required fees, and married Harris, the spouse provided to him by Dixon, in a pretend ceremony staged by ICE-HSI on Nov. 24, 2015. The confidential informant continued to pay the $250 monthly fee to Harris for the fraudulent purported marriage through August 2016.

On a prior occasion, Dixon arranged for a marriage between Harris and a Kenyan national. Although they applied for and received a marriage license, they did not marry.

ICE-HSI also utilized an undercover agent in their investigation. The agent met with Dixon, who introduced the agent to Barnes, his intended spouse, on Jan. 23, 2016. Dixon advised the undercover agent that he and Barnes should rent an apartment in the Kansas City area and obtain life insurance policies together. The undercover agent also spoke alone with Barnes. Barnes told the agent she was involved with another man and had three children. She signified she understood the marriage would be a business transaction. The agent made a payment to Dixon and kept in contact with Dixon regarding his marriage. On February 19, 2016, the undercover agent wired $250 to Barnes and $500 to Dixon. Both retrieved the payments later that day. Dixon also offered the undercover agent $300 for each new client he referred.

Under federal statutes, Harris 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 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 Kim Moore. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Summersville, Mo., bank officer pleaded guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which he took out loans for himself by stealing the identity information of bank customers.

Keith Ray Smith, 44, of Summersville, 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 one count of making false statements on a loan application and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Smith was employed as the bank loan officer and compliance officer at Community Bank in Summersville. Smith admitted that he took out numerous loans in the names of several bank customers without their authorization. Smith submitted loan applications for varying amounts, totaling $81,040, between 2015 and June 2016. Smith admitted that he used the personal identification information of bank customers, including their bank account information and social security numbers, to falsely submit the loan applications.

Smith approved the loan applications for funding, then transferred the monies to his personal bank account and spent the monies to either gamble or pay for personal expenses.

In addition, Smith admitted that he had used his mother’s and brother’s personal information to apply for approximately $70,000 in loans without their knowledge or approval in 2010 and 2011. Smith approved the loans and deposited the proceeds from the fake bank loans into his personal bank account to pay for his gambling addiction. Smith agreed to repay all the money owed in 2012, and his mother and brother agreed to resubmit new loan documents that would take the place of the original false loan documents. Smith’s mother and brother told agents they allowed the new loan applications to be created because they did not want him to get into trouble.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, a joint recommendation will be made to the court for a sentence of two years and one day in federal prison without parole. Smith must forfeit to the government $151,040, which represents the proceeds of his criminal conduct. 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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FDIC – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of the Inspector General and the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a civil forfeiture complaint has been filed in federal court for property acquired and maintained by Mark Sellers, a Kansas City, Mo., business owner who was under investigation by the FBI for a $10 million investment fraud scheme before he shot and killed himself on Aug. 2, 2016.

The forfeiture complaint alleges that the property is subject to federal forfeiture because it was derived from the proceeds of an investment fraud scheme in which Sellers stole approximately $10 million from approximately 100 investors through his firm, Selden Companies, LLC, from December 2007 through at least 2015. The complaint, filed under seal on Thursday, April 13, 2017, and unsealed today, alleges that Sellers committed mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud. The Department of Justice provides a process by which victims who suffer losses from a fraud scheme may seek relief once any assets have been forfeited.

The government is seeking forfeiture of Sellers’ former residence at 6009 N. Cosby Court in Kansas City, Mo. Also included in the complaint is a 2014 Porsche 911 and 77 pieces of jewelry that were seized by law enforcement officers, as well as the proceeds of five life insurance policies that have been cashed with death benefits totaling $6 million.

Investment Fraud Scheme

According to the complaint, the FBI began investigating Sellers on June 6, 2016, after receiving a complaint from an investor. Sellers fraudulently misrepresented to investors in the Kansas City area as well as Georgia, Alabama and elsewhere that he would use the funds to purchase companies and turn them around to sell at a profit. Sellers hid from investors, the complaint says, the fact that he and his wife spent almost all of the invested funds to maintain their own lavish lifestyle.

Sellers’ primary source of income from 2008 through 2016 was investor funds he used for his own personal benefit. Sellers’ bank records show approximately $9.9 million of investor funds were utilized for his own personal use and benefit to fund his lifestyle, vehicles, life insurance policies, homes, jewelry and credit card purchases. Sellers allegedly laundered the invested funds through multiple bank accounts.

Financial records indicate Sellers expended approximately $9.9 million of investor funds in the following ways:

Approximately $343,343 in mortgage payments for his personal residence;

Approximately $931,384 on remodeling, upgrading, and maintaining his personal residence (included kitchen remodeling and installing landscaping, tile and granite, new cabinets and windows, and fencing, as well as installing and maintaining an in-ground swimming pool);

Approximately $701,102 at Tivol jewelry store;

Approximately $253,641 at Aristocrat Motors and Thoroughbred Ford to purchase luxury vehicles for him and his wife;

Approximately $260,131 at Midwest Trust Company;

Approximately $7,461,116 to credit card companies.

Credit Card Bust Out Scheme

In addition, the complaint says, when Sellers had depleted the investors’ funds, he defrauded several financial institutions by running a large credit card “bust out” scheme in a final effort to maintain his and his wife’s lifestyle. A bust out scheme is a type of credit card fraud in which an individual establishes a normal usage pattern and solid repayment history, then racks up numerous charges and maxes out the card with no intention of paying the bill. The consumer establishes the card issuer’s trust and a strong credit profile with the goal of opening numerous accounts and receiving credit line increases so that more funds are available.

Sellers opened approximately eight credit cards with JP Morgan Chase over several years, ran up large credit card balances, increased the credit limit available on the credit cards, and then paid the bill with ACH transfers backed by insufficient funds. This type of activity occurred on one credit card 92 times in a five-month span.

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank was left with an outstanding balance on Sellers’ credit cards of approximately $557,000. Commerce Bank sustained a loss of approximately $33,000 caused by Sellers depositing several insufficient funds checks into his bank accounts.

Events During the Investigation

On July 18, 2016, Kansas City police officers were called to the Sellers’ residence for a possible homicide/suicide. Upon arrival, officers found Sellers incoherent in his bedroom lying next to his wife, Sandra Sellers, who was deceased. Sandra Sellers had been shot in the head, and Sellers had attempted to overdose on medication. Sellers was taken to an area hospital for medical attention and evaluation.

On Aug. 2, 2016, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Sellers’ residence. Sellers was not home at the time the warrant was executed. At approximately 8:33a.m., Sellers arrived in his Ford Explorer. When Sellers realized he was not able to turn onto N. Cosby Court because law enforcement had blocked the intersection (to prevent Sellers from approaching the residence), he accelerated past the intersection. At that time, law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle, which was occupied solely by Sellers. Sellers stopped his vehicle and shot himself in the head with a .22-caliber revolver. Sellers was transported to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Curt Bohling. It was investigated by the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Weston, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for leading a $2.25 million conspiracy to sell anabolic steroids over the Internet.

Aaron Vincent Schweidler, 32, of Smithfield, N.C., formerly of Weston, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to four years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Schweidler to forfeit to the government $2.25 million, which was derived from the proceeds of the illegal drug trafficking, and his residence in North Carolina.

On Nov. 7, 2016, Schweidler pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids and to a conspiracy to commit money laundering. Schweidler admitted that he and co-conspirators operated an Internet-based company, Power Trip, which sold various anabolic steroids to customers (including athletes and minors) throughout the United States.

Co-defendant Nicole R. Lyne, 27, also of Smithfield, N.C., and formerly of Weston was sentenced to five years of probation. Co-defendants Michael G. Peters, 29, of Pelham, N.H.; and Samuel C. Miller IV, 30, of Annapolis, Md., have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

Conspirators required customers to pay for the steroids by using various debit cards. Customers used names and account numbers for these debit cards that were provided by conspirators. Conspirators used stolen identities to produce or obtain debit cards, such as Green Dot MoneyPak, MyVanilla, ReloadIT, NetSpend ReloadIT and BlackHawk. They required their customers to send payments to these cards in order to conceal and disguise the proceeds of the illegal transactions.

Schweidler began operating this online anabolic steroid distribution business in late 2011 in Utah. Schweidler quickly sought out assistance from other conspirators, including Peters, to help collect the proceeds from the illegal drug sales. Eventually Schweidler relocated the operation to North Carolina, until relocating again in 2013 to the Kansas City, Mo., area.

During the early stages of the conspiracy Schweidler was the leader of the conspiracy. Schweidler was primarily responsible for the manufacture and distribution of the steroids and he managed the collection of illegal drug proceeds. Initially Peters’s role was primarily to collect the illegal drug proceeds from customers who were required to pay via MoneyGram and Western Union, and also later via debit cards. Peters eventually joined Schweidler in North Carolina to continue the operation. Over time Peters also became more involved with Schweidler in purchasing supplies and assisting in the steroid manufacturing process, as well as handling online customer orders and shipping steroids to customers.

In late summer 2013, Schweidler and Peters relocated the operation to the Kansas City, Mo, area, and Lyne became involved in the conspiracy. Eventually Schweidler turned over more operational duties to Peters, who recruited Miller to move to Kansas City to assist in the operation. In the fall of 2014, Peters and Miller took over operational responsibilities for PowerTrip and relocated the operation back to North Carolina in an effort to avoid law enforcement detection of the operation.

During the conspiracy Schweidler personally sent in excess of $176,000 in drug proceeds to China via Western Union and MoneyGram to purchase additional raw materials to manufacture anabolic steroids.

According to Schweidler’s plea agreement, a reasonable conservative estimate of the dosage units of anabolic steroids which were reasonably foreseeable to Schweidler is over 60,000 dosage units of Testosterone Propionate, Halotestin, and other anabolic steroids. This estimate is based upon the ingredients and amounts indicated in the steroid recipe notebook recovered when Peters and Miller were arrested in North Carolina.

Utilizing the least expensive raw ingredients for the manufactured finished product (Testosterone Propionate), and utilizing the known dollar amount of raw ingredients purchased by conspirators (approximately $200,000, less shipping costs), would yield nearly 1 million grams of raw materials that could manufacture approximately 90,000 vials (approximately 900,000 dosage units based upon a 10 – 100mg dosage unit per vial). PowerTrip sold this product for $25 per vial, which results in a conservative estimate of gross proceeds of at least $2.25 million in sales.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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

Joel R. Bremer, 51, of Unionville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 18 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Bremer to supervised release for the rest of his life following incarceration.

On June 10, 2016, Bremer pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. The investigation began in February 2013 when the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department received a report from a 19-year-old female (identified in court documents as “Jane Doe”) that she had been sexually abused by Bremer for a period of time when she was a child. She also stated that Bremer had taken nude photographs of her when she was a minor and that she had recently seen those pictures on his laptop computer, which he kept in his home.

According to court documents, Jane Doe alleges that Bremer engaged in sexual intercourse with her over 100 times and made her perform oral sex at least 20 times. A second victim, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe 2,” alleges that Bremer also committed sexual offenses against her, including engaging in sexual intercourse several years ago before she was 16 years of age. Bremer has been charged under state law for these alleged offenses against both victims.

Investigators with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and the Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at Bremer’s residence on Feb. 11, 2013, and seized a laptop computer and several CD/DVDs. A forensic analysis was conducted at the Kirksville Regional Computer Crime Laboratory. No pornographic images of Jane Doe were located; however, the analysis located approximately 1,472 photos and 40 videos which contained child pornography that appeared to have been obtained via the Internet. The content of the numerous images and video files include depictions of adults engaging in sexual conduct with prepubescent children, including toddlers.

According to court documents, Bremer continued to download child pornography after he was indicted in this case and while he was under pretrial supervision. Bremer borrowed a laptop computer from a friend, according to court documents, who discovered evidence of child pornography on the computer when it was returned at the time of his guilty plea. Investigators located 211 images of apparent child pornography under the profile name “Joel Bremer.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the Putnam County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Kirksville, Mo., Police Department and the Kirksville Regional Computer Crimes Unit.

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 that a Ukrainian national was sentenced in federal court today for transporting thousands of cartons of cigarettes from Missouri to Chicago, Ill., in order to avoid paying nearly $165,000 in excise taxes.

Yevhen Sychikov, 32, a citizen of Ukraine residing in Chicago, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to one year in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Sychikov to pay $164,890 in restitution.

On Oct. 20, 2016, Sychikov pleaded guilty to the interstate transportation of contraband cigarettes. Sychikov admitted that he purchased large quantities of cigarettes at convenience stores in northwest Missouri then transported them back to Chicago, which has a much higher excise tax on cigarettes. According to court documents, Sychikov was part of a larger smuggling operation trafficking in contraband cigarettes.

Sychikov, who made at least a dozen trips from Chicago to Missouri, purchased cigarettes from Trex Mart in Lathrop, Mo.; Discount Smoke and Liquor Store in Riverside, Mo.; and Tipsy Liquor in Smithville, Mo. On May 10, 2014, Sychikov purchased 20 cases (1,200 cartons) of cigarettes and transported them back to Chicago. On June 14 and 15, 2014, Sychikov purchased 1,395 cartons of cigarettes and transported them back to Chicago.

Missouri taxes cigarettes at a rate of 17 cents per pack. The combined state, county and city taxes from Illinois, Cook County and Chicago are $6.16 per pack. Therefore, the price differential on a carton of cigarettes (10 packs) is almost $60 per carton. Sychikov transported more than 26,000 packs of cigarettes, resulting in a tax loss of $164,890.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives NITRO Task Force.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the attempted armed robbery of Pinnacle Bank in Joplin.

Jimmy Eisenhour, 36, of Joplin, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charges contained in a Jan. 18, 2017, superseding indictment.

By pleading guilty today, Eisenhour admitted that he aided and abetted in the robbery of Pinnacle Bank, 1316 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, on Nov. 14, 2016. Eisenhour also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Co-defendant Sean LaDue, 29, of Joplin, pleaded guilty to the same charges on March 22, 2017.

Eisenhour and LaDue entered the bank at approximately 3:50 p.m. and announced, “This is a robbery, get down!” Eisenhour went behind the bank counter while LaDue stayed near the front of the bank. The sole customer of the bank struggled with LaDue in the bank lobby. During the struggle, LaDue produced a firearm and fired three shots. Both robbers then fled from the bank without taking any money.

Police officers located and arrested both Eisenhour and LaDue two days later, on Nov. 16, 2016.

Under federal statutes, Eisenhour and LaDue are each 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 James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting 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 bank fraud conspiracy in which he operated a flop house where he paid drug addicts for stolen identity information that was used to create counterfeit checks.

Tyler Sutton, 55, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Sutton to pay $39,927 in restitution to his victims.

On Sept. 19, 2016, Sutton pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of counterfeit checks, possession of stolen mail, and identity theft. Sutton also pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, Sutton led a crime wave in his northeast Kansas City neighborhood. Sutton was a property manager residing in the 400 block of Gladstone Boulevard, although he only paid rent for one month and was evicted in October 2014. He used the house to conduct his illegal business by operating it as a flop house where he offered cash and/or drugs to drug addicts who brought him stolen mail, identities, addresses, credit card numbers and bank account information. Sutton often allowed the addicts to stay at the residence.

Sutton also unlawfully obtained identity and account information belonging to other persons and businesses by stealing these items from businesses and from the mail. Sutton and co-conspirators used the stolen identity information to create counterfeit identifications and checks, which were cashed at retail stores and financial institutions.

Court documents state that, besides the banks and merchants who accepted the counterfeit and stolen checks, people who lived in Sutton’s neighborhood were victimized by his crimes. Because Sutton used his rental home as a flop house to attract addicts and paid them to commit crimes, the neighborhood was rife with drug, property, and sometimes more violent crime. Between July 16, 2013, to July 9, 2014, police were dispatched to Sutton’s residence an incredible 73 times for a wide variety of crimes, such as disturbances, residential burglaries, suspicious parties, stolen autos, forgeries and a dead body (a drug overdose).

Sutton did not usually create counterfeit identifications and checks himself, nor did he personally present counterfeit identifications and cash checks. Rather, he instructed others in the making and presenting of counterfeit identifications and checks, and shared the illegal proceeds with his co-conspirators. In this manner, Sutton attempted to insulate himself from liability.

Sutton admitted that the intended loss from the scheme totaled $83,980; the actual loss was $39,927.

Co-defendants Gary K. Keesler, 37, and Chad M. Mills, 28, both of Kansas City, Mo., and Christopher Hite, 34, of Windsor, Mo., have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and have been sentenced.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., business owner pleaded guilty in federal court today to a $555,000 wire fraud scheme and to failing to pay taxes on any of the embezzled income.

Rebecca Pargeon, 58, of Springfield, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a federal information that charges her with wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Pargeon owned and operated three different medical payment collection businesses – Pargeon Medical Services, LLC, Kids First Pediatric Billing, LLC, and Surgical Billing Solutions, LLC. Pargeon was hired by medical practitioners throughout the country to collect monies owed by their patients and insurance companies as payment for medical services provided. Upon collecting monies owed to a medical practitioner, Pargeon was contractually obligated to deposit the checks she received into the practitioner’s bank account. At the end of each month, the practitioners would pay her a percentage of the monies her businesses collected on their behalf.

By pleading guilty, Pargeon admitted that she embezzled $555,558 from her clients from Jan. 11, 2012, to April 26, 2016. Pargeon took payments she collected, which were made payable to the medical practitioners, and fraudulently deposited them into her business and personal bank accounts without the approval or authority of the medical practitioner. Pargeon did not have the authority to sign their names, endorse any of the checks, or deposit them into her business or personal bank accounts. Pargeon admitted that she fraudulently endorsed and deposited over 740 checks made payable to her medical practitioner clients.

Pargeon also admitted that she failed to report the embezzled income on her federal tax returns for 2012 through 2015. This resulted in a total tax loss to the government of $170,749, without penalty or interest. Pargeon, who prepared the tax returns herself utilizing the Turbo Tax computer tax program, specifically pleaded guilty to failing to report $232,929 in income received from the fraud scheme and earned from her businesses in 2012.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Pargeon must forfeit to the government $726,307, which represents the proceeds of the wire fraud scheme as well as $232,929 in income Pargeon received in 2012 for the fraud scheme and earned from her businesses, but which she failed to report on her 2013 tax return.

Under federal statutes, Pargeon is subject to a sentence of up to 23 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 Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Maryland man was charged in federal court today with enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity following an Amber Alert issued over the weekend.

William Lee Dela Cruz, 22, of Maryland, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. Dela Cruz, who had an initial court appearance this afternoon, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s criminal complaint, an Amber Alert was issued for the 12-year-old victim, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe,” on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Members of the public contacted law enforcement in response to the Amber Alert and she was recovered in Wentzville, Mo., the same day. Dela Cruz was arrested by Wentzville police officers.

Jane Doe told investigators she had been involved in an online relationship with Dela Cruz since November 2016 (when she was 11 years old). They communicated through telephone, Skype, Facebook Messenger and Discord (an application that provides free voice and text options, especially for communications between individuals involved in the gaming culture). Jane Doe stated she met Dela Cruz online through the computer game Onigiri, a multi-player fantasy online role-playing game.

On Saturday, April 6, 2017, Dela Cruz and his brother (who has not been charged) drove from Maryland to Missouri to pick up Jane Doe with the intent of driving her back to Maryland, according to the affidavit.

During the drive back to Maryland, the affidavit says, an argument between the brothers occurred. As a result, Dela Cruz’s brother dropped them off at a service station and drove away. Dela Cruz and Jane Doe attempted to obtain a room at the Hampton Inn in Wentzville but did not have sufficient funds for a room. Instead, they slept on a couch in the lobby of the hotel.

Larson 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 Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the FBI, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department and the Wentzville, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in a marriage fraud conspiracy.

Kakeland Barnes, 37, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to the charges contained in an Aug. 31, 2016, federal indictment.

Barnes admitted that she participated in a conspiracy to assist African nationals in circumventing immigration laws by arranging fraudulent marriages. Co-defendants Delmar Dixon, 49, Shakeisha Harrison, 37, and Traci R. Porter, 44, all of Kansas City, also have pleaded guilty to their roles in the marriage fraud conspiracy. In addition to the conspiracy, Dixon pleaded guilty to falsely swearing in an immigration matter.

Dixon admitted that he arranged 30 to 40 fraudulent marriages, including his own. Dixon charged the African nationals $1,000 upfront for his services, which included providing them U.S. citizen spouses. The African nationals were additionally required to pay $500 to the spouse at the time of the wedding, and an additional $500 immediately after completion of the wedding. They were required to pay their spouses $250 each month after the weddings until the immigration process was complete. The African nationals were coached by Dixon on how to make their marriages appear legitimate.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents utilized an undercover agent in their investigation. The agent met with Dixon, who introduced the agent to Barnes, his intended spouse, on Jan. 23, 2016. Dixon advised the undercover agent that he and Barnes should rent an apartment in the Kansas City area and obtain life insurance policies together. The undercover agent also spoke alone with Barnes. Barnes told the agent she was involved with another man and had three children. She signified she understood the marriage would be a business transaction.

The agent made a payment to Dixon and kept in contact with Dixon regarding his marriage. On February 19, 2016, the undercover agent wired $250 to Barnes and $500 to Dixon. Both retrieved the payments later that day. Dixon also offered the undercover agent $300 for each new client he referred.

Under federal statutes, Barnes 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 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 Kim Moore. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting 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 conspiracy to distribute 24 pounds of methamphetamine that was shipped from California.

Lisa Renae Thompson, 39, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole.

On Dec. 13, 2016, Thompson pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from June 1 through Sept. 11, 2015. Co-defendant Michael E. Ford, 37, of Springfield, also has pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing. Ford also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug-trafficking conspiracy.

A co-conspirator shipped methamphetamine from California to Springfield in two- to two-and-a-half-pound increments to Thompson. Thompson picked up the packages at various hotels in the Springfield area then contacted Ford. Ford picked up the methamphetamine from Thompson and distributed it to others.

After a few days, Ford would then meet with Thompson and give her $10,800. Thompson kept $800 and sent $10,000 to the co-conspirator in California.

Thompson admitted that she received approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine, which she gave to Ford. Thompson also kept some of the methamphetamine and sold it directly to others.

After Thompson was arrested on Sept. 11, 2015, Ford began receiving methamphetamine shipments from the co-conspirator in California. On Sept. 30, 2015, the Springfield Police Department received a phone call from a FedEx employee about a suspicious package. Police officers delivered the 2.2-pound package of methamphetamine to Ford at a Springfield residence, where he was arrested. Ford had a Ruger .22-caliber handgun in his possession.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the annual Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to Synergy Services in recognition of the organization’s valued contribution to preventing and responding to the exploitation of children.

“Synergy Services is a staunch advocate and compassionate caregiver for children and families in crisis,” said Larson. “Synergy is a strong ally in our work to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. I’m pleased to recognize Synergy’s contribution as a valuable partner in responding to the needs of our most vulnerable victims.”

Today’s award ceremony was part of an annual event hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme – “Strength. Resilience. Justice.” – reflects a vision for the future in which all victims are strengthened by the response they receive, organizations are resilient in response to challenges, and communities are able to seek collective justice and healing.

Executive Director Robin Winner received the award on behalf of Synergy Services. This is the 14th year for the award to be presented in memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, two young women who were both fatal victims of tragic crimes. Roger Kemp, Ali Kemp’s father, and Anna Rea, Crystal Kipper’s mother, participated in today’s presentation.

Synergy Services, Inc. began in 1970 as Synergy House, the only shelter for runaway and homeless youth in western Missouri. Synergy now provides a full continuum of nationally accredited care to assist children and families with immediate respite from violence, and services which empower clients to find and choose good options for future safety and success. In addition to their work to treat the effects of violence, Synergy provides supportive services to families in crisis in an effort to prevent violence. They also focus on community education in an effort to build a safer society. Their programs include crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapeutic services, advocacy, mentoring and violence prevention programs throughout the greater Kansas City area. They provide these services regardless of ability to pay.

Synergy’s new Children’s Center in the Northland celebrated its grand opening last fall. Synergy now has more beds available to serve children from birth to 17 years old. Their hope is to no longer have to turn children away because of limited beds and resources. The Children’s Center is not a foster care agency, but an emergency placement shelter designed to provide stabilization to children in crisis (such as homelessness, domestic violence, incarceration, or unexpected hospitalization).

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office each year during the local observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to recognize the outstanding work of an individual or organization in recognition of a valued contribution to preventing and responding to the exploitation of children.

The Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), enacted in 2004, grants victims in federal criminal proceedings certain enforceable rights, including the right to be reasonably heard at public court proceedings and to receive full and timely restitution as provided by law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a dedicated Victim Assistance Unit that serves federal crime victims across the district’s 66 counties. Members of this unit notify victims of significant case events through the Department of Justice’s Victim Notification System (VNS). Such notice enables victims to participate in court proceedings and make their voices heard. Victim Assistance personnel accompany victims to court hearings and trials to ensure that victim participation in court proceedings is meaningful and to answer questions and explain the federal judicial process.

In addition to notification and court accompaniment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Unit provides essential services to victims, such as making referrals for counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court to provide support and guidance during the proceedings. These services provide tools victims need to reshape their futures.

Further information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at https://www.ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw.

The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award

Crystal Kipper was an 18-year-old Gladstone, Mo., resident who was murdered after her car broke down on Interstate 29, just north of Platte City, on Feb. 24, 1997. Ali Kemp was a 19-year-old Blue Valley North High School graduate who was murdered on June 18, 2002, while she worked at the Foxborough neighborhood swimming pool in Leawood, Kan.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Scott Goodwin-Bey, 49, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 10 years in federal prison without parole, the statutory maximum sentence for the offense.

On Oct. 4, 2016, Goodwin-Bey was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool issued the verdict on Oct. 4, 2016, following a one-day bench trial on Aug. 23, 2016.

According to the court’s findings of fact, Goodwin-Bey entered the Star Mart on W. Chestnut Expressway on Nov. 30, 2014, carrying a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol. Goodwin-Bey placed the gun on the counter and the store clerk took the firearm and handed it to the store manager. Both the clerk and the manager recognized Goodwin-Bey from earlier interactions because he had behaved in a strange manner. The clerk escorted Goodwin-Bey outside the store and Goodwin-Bey left in a white Lincoln. The store manager dialed 911 and requested that officers come to the Star Mart because of concern over Goodwin-Bey’s actions.

When an officer arrived, the store manager turned over the firearm. Another officer stopped Goodwin-Bey, who was driving the Lincoln, and he was arrested. Officers found loose 9mm ammunition on the floor of his vehicle and in the parking lot in front of the store in the vicinity of where the vehicle had been parked.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Goodwin-Bey has two prior felony convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of crack cocaine, resisting arrest and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

This case was 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.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges related to a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene County, Mo., and for illegally possessing firearms.

Bradley Blas, 24, of Springfield, was charged in an eight-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Blas participated in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in Greene County from Aug. 31, 2016, to March 16, 2017. The indictment also charges Blas with one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy and in furtherance of the possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on March 16, 2017. Blas allegedly possessed a Ruger .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

In addition to the conspiracy, Blas is charged with drug-trafficking and firearms offenses that occurred on three separate occasions.

Blas is also charged with one count of possessing 50 grams or more of meth to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms on Aug. 31, 2016. Blas allegedly possessed a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a Glock .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Heritage Manufacturing .22-caliber revolver and an FIE .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Blas is also charged with one count of possessing 500 grams or more of meth to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms on March 15, 2017. Blas allegedly possessed a Ruger .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle, a DPMS .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle and a Springfield Armory .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Blas is also charged with one count of possessing 50 grams or more of meth to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on March 16, 2017. Blas allegedly possessed a Ruger .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Blas has two prior felony convictions for assault and prior felony convictions for distributing a controlled substance and stealing a motor vehicle.

Larson 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 Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Larison. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Combined Ozarks Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in a conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram of heroin in Greene County, Mo.

Craig S. Shade, 49, of Springfield, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

The indictment alleges that Shade participated in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in Greene County from July 11, 2014, to July 6, 2016.

In addition to the conspiracy, Shade is charged with one count of distributing heroin on June 22, 2016, and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin on July 6, 2016.

Larson 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 Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, COMET (the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdiction Enforcement Team) and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA), formerly headquartered in Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for transferring nearly $1.4 million to Iraq in violation of federal sanctions.

IARA has been dissolved, and has divested itself of all its funds and property. IARA’s assets, which consisted of 14 bank accounts and an interest in a piece of real estate in Boone County, Mo., were transferred to Heifer International, Inc., an unrelated charity. A total of $818,894 was given to Heifer International to further the goal of providing relief to farmers and drought victims in east Africa. The real estate has not yet been sold. Articles of Dissolution were filed with the Missouri Secretary of State on April 5, 2017, terminating IARA as a registered corporation with the state of Missouri.

At today’s sentencing hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich summarized the organization’s conduct for the court, stating that IARA willfully violated U.S. economic sanctions on Iraq, a very important national security matter, and further misused its status as a charity to solicit donations that donors thought were going toward lawful charitable projects, but were not. Further, IARA knowingly engaged in prohibited transactions with a deputy to specially designated global terrorist Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, in Pakistan. Then, when Congress placed IARA on a list of organizations that supported terrorism, the organization hired a former member of Congress, co-defendant Mark Siljander, to act as an unregistered agent for a foreign entity, and at Siljander’s direction concealed the payments to him by routing them through non-profit entities.

However, Mohlhenrich emphasized, the reason the case was important, and the reason IARA was ultimately designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control as a specially designated global terrorist, should not be forgotten. IARA was a member of a larger organization headquartered in Sudan that was itself an al-Qaeda supporter. The IARA connection to al-Qaeda dated back to well before Sept. 11, 2001; it arose while Osama Bin Laden was a guest of the government of Sudan. During that same period, Ziyad Khaleel, who lived in Columbia and was a fundraiser for IARA, purchased a satellite telephone and deliver it to al-Qaeda operatives while he was on travel paid for by IARA in February 1997. That satellite phone was used by al-Qaeda to direct operations and to orchestrate the Aug. 7, 1998, simultaneous bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 200 people.

On July 20, 2016, IARA (through a representative of the board of directors) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of obstructing the administration of internal revenue laws, which were contained in an Oct. 21, 2008, federal indictment.

IARA served as the U.S. office of the Islamic Relief Agency (ISRA), an international organization headquartered in Khartoum, Sudan. IARA took in between $1 million and $3 million in contributions annually from 1991 to 2003. It also received funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). IARA employed approximately six full-time employees and 10-12 part-time employees.

IARA was closed in October 2004 after being identified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a specially designated global terrorist organization. IARA was reconstituted in order to resolve this criminal matter. Now that this case is resolved, IARA has dissolved itself as a corporation for all time. Under the terms of the plea agreement, IARA and its board of directors agreed they will not form a new corporation to conduct the activities that IARA formerly conducted.

IARA secretly funneled $1,375,000 to Iraq in violation of United States economic sanctions. President George H.W. Bush declared a national emergency with respect to Iraq in August 1990, which resulted in sanctions against sending or transferring money, funds or goods directly or indirectly to any person in Iraq or to the government of Iraq. In violation of the Iraqi sanctions, IARA collected funds that were illegally transferred to Iraq with the assistance of a Jordanian national. According to today’s plea agreement, this individual either took the cash into Iraq or purchased items in Jordan and transported them into Iraq.

IARA corruptly endeavored to impair and impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws by using its tax-exempt status to solicit funds, representing that they were legitimate charitable contributions, and to misuse part of those funds by transferring those funds to Iraq, a purpose prohibited by law. During the entire period in which the Iraq sanctions were in effect, IARA solicited donations through various means, including pamphlets, flyers, newsletters and personal correspondence, requesting contributions to pay for projects in Iraq. IARA did not disclose the fact that the organization had provided funds for projects and persons in Iraq in its annual filings with the Internal Revenue Service.

Several officials and employees of IARA have previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

IARA Executive Director Mubarak Hamed, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sudan, was sentenced to four years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Hamed pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally transfer more than $1 million to Iraq in violation of federal sanctions. Hamed also pleaded guilty to obstructing the administration of the laws governing tax‑exempt charities by misusing IARA=s tax‑exempt status, providing false information to the IRS, and lying to federal agents.

IARA fundraiser Abdel Azim El-Siddig was sentenced to two years of probation. El-Siddig pleaded guilty to conspiring to lobby for IARA=s removal from a Senate Finance Committee list of charities suspected of having terrorist ties, while concealing this advocacy and not registering with the proper authorities.

IARA board member Ali Mohamed Bagegni, a native of Libya who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, and IARA fundraiser Ahmad Mustafa, a citizen of Iraq and a lawful permanent resident alien, were each sentenced to six months of probation. Federal prosecutors asked the court to give Bagegni and Mustafa credit for their substantial assistance to the government in the investigation and prosecution of the case. Bagegni pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy to illegally transfer funds to Iraq in violation of federal sanctions. Mustafa was a fundraiser for IARA from 1996 until it was closed in 2004, but at the time he worked for the organization he was unaware it had no permission to send funds to Iraq. Mustafa pleaded guilty to illegally transferring funds to a family member in Iraq in violation of federal sanctions.

Hamed and El‑Siddig hired Mark Deli Siljander in 2004 to lobby for IARA=s removal from a U.S. Senate Finance Committee list of charities suspected of funding international terrorism, and its reinstatement as an approved government contractor. IARA lost its status as an approved government contractor in 1999, when the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) terminated grants for two relief projects in Mali, Africa.

Siljander, who operated a Washington, D.C. consulting business called Global Strategies, Inc., had been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan and was a U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations General Assembly. Earlier in 2004, Siljander had assisted IARA in hiring another former congressman and lobbyist (identified as “R.P.H.”), who was paid $15,000 to advocate for IARA’s removal from the list and reinstatement as an approved government contractor.

Siljander, Hamed and El‑Siddig agreed with each other to conceal Siljander=s efforts on IARA=s behalf. In order to do so, Siljander instructed Hamed and El‑Siddig to transfer $75,000 of IARA=s funds to him by funneling them through nonprofit entities. El-Siddig carried at least three checks issued to Siljander=s charities from Chicago to Washington, D.C., and gave them to Siljander.

In exchange for the payments, during the summer of 2004, Siljander acted as an agent for IARA by contacting persons at the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, USAID, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Army, in an effort to have IARA removed from the USAID list of debarred entities, and to remove IARA from the Senate Finance Committee=s list of charities suspected of funding terrorism. Federal law requires anyone who serves as an agent of a foreign entity, including an organization, to register with the U.S. Attorney General.

Siljander admitted that in two separate interviews he repeatedly lied to FBI agents and prosecutors acting on behalf of a federal grand jury. Siljander obstructed justice by falsely denying that he was hired to advocate for IARA, and by falsely claiming that the payments from IARA were charitable donations intended to assist him in writing a book about bridging the gap between Islam and Christianity.

Siljander was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven M. Mohlhenrich and Brian Casey from the U.S. Attorney=s Office for the Western District of Missouri, and Trial Attorney Paul G. Casey from the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation and U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of the Inspector General.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Carlos Deonta Brown, Jr., 30, of Columbia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to four years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On June 30, 2016, Brown pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The investigation began when a 911 caller reported at approximately 2:08 a.m. on Feb. 21, 2016, that she had seen Brown with a firearm after they had an argument at the Sidelines Sports Bar in Columbia. The caller showed officers photographs she had taken of Brown and the firearm. While an officer was meeting with her, Brown drove past her residence. He was stopped and arrested in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Brown has an extensive criminal history, which includes felony convictions for resisting arrest and domestic assault. Court documents describe Brown – who also has multiple misdemeanor convictions for domestic assault – as a violent and serial abuser of women.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Columbia, Mo., man who was involved in a shooting at a local gas station has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm.

Turbo Lindsey Midgyett, 31, of Columbia, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth on Monday, April 3,2017, to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the plea agreement, Columbia police officers responded to a gas station in the 1400 block of Rangeline on March 6, 2016, where shots had reportedly been fired. Officers located two cars with damage from gunfire and found three 9mm casings. Video from the gas station showed a man pulling out a firearm, which appeared to misfire, then showed Midgyett racking a handgun and firing in the direction of the first shooter.

Officers went to Midgyett’s residence and spoke with his girlfriend, who told officers that Midgyett is allowed to use her gun and vehicle, and that the gun was usually in the glove box. Officers looked in the glove box and found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, which had three rounds missing. The brand of ammunition in the firearm was the same as the three rounds found at the shooting scene. Midgyett was arrested.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Midgyett has three prior felony convictions for robbery.

Under federal statutes, Midgyett 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. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Sacramento, Calif., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies related to the distribution of more than $6.6 million of synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, at Callaway County, Mo., businesses.

Michael James Butler, 40, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to the charges contained in an April 20, 2016, federal indictment.

By pleading guilty today, Butler admitted that he participated in a mail fraud conspiracy from Dec. 18, 2012, to July 16, 2015, and participated in a money-laundering conspiracy during that time; both conspiracies were related to the distribution of synthetic cannabinoids.

According to court documents, the drug-trafficking conspiracy generated $6,656,843 in gross proceeds. Butler acknowledged today that his conduct directly contributed to the generation of approximately $753,688 of that total; under the terms of today’s plea agreement, he must forfeit a money judgment of that amount to the government.

Butler managed a co-conspirator’s company that was used to send FedEx packages containing synthetic cannabinoids to wholesale customers at various locations in the United States. Butler also established and controlled another company, Butler-Whayne Industries, LLC. Although Butler-Whayne Industries was ostensibly in the business of selling Xboxes, Playstations, games and accessories, Butler admitted that the company sent packages containing synthetic cannabinoids to locations in Callaway County, including Inscentives Resale in Auxvasse and Fulton and Esscentials/S&J Tobacco in Holts Summit.

Butler is among eight co-defendants who have pleaded guilty in this case. Shawn Michael Browning, 26, Timothy Christopher Sandfort, 31, Brandon Derek Rader, 32, and Joshua Adam Sheets, 31, all of Fulton, pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Dara Leanne Shirley, 30, of Fulton, pleaded guilty to participating in the money-laundering conspiracy. Casey Dewayne Miller, 32, of Columbia, and Billie L. Bruce, 36, of Jefferson City, each pleaded guilty to distributing synthetic cannabinoids.

Sandfort, Rader, Shirley, Miller and others operated First Stop Last Stop Pawn & Aromatherapy, Inscentives Resale and Inscentives Auto. First Stop Last Stop Pawn & Aromatherapy represented itself as a “pawn shop” and “potpourri store.” Inscentives Resale was represented to be a “buy, sell, and trade business.” Inscentives Auto held a Missouri motor vehicle dealer’s license. Browning, Sheets, Bruce and others operated Esscentials Resale and S&J Tobacco.

These businesses purchased synthetic cannabinoids from Butler and other co-conspirators in California and Nevada. At least 251 shipments of synthetic cannabinoids were made via FedEx and UPS. Inscentives Resale sold synthetic cannabinoids from locations in Auxvasse and Fulton. Esscentials Resale and S&J Tobacco sold synthetic cannabinoids from locations in Holts Summit.

The packages of synthetic cannabinoids bore misbranded labels that misidentified the contents as “incense,” “aroma therapy” or “potpourri” that were “not for human consumption.” In fact, these products were drugs intended for human consumption as a drug. Conspirators mislabeled packages of synthetic cannabinoids for the purpose of avoiding government regulation over these drugs, and to protect the continued sale of these drugs.

By pleading guilty to his role in the money-laundering conspiracy, Butler admitted that the nature and source of the proceeds of the distribution of synthetic cannabinoids was concealed by the transfer of funds between business entities created to appear to conduct lawful commerce.

Under federal statutes, Butler is subject to a sentence of up to 40 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 Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the DEA Task Force – Jefferson City, DEA Sacramento, Calif., DEA Reno, Nev., IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the MUSTANG Drug Task Force, the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Cole County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department, the Fulton, Mo., Police Department and the Holts Summit, Mo., Police Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two more Columbia, Mo., men have been charged in federal court, in separate but related cases, in relation to a prostitution operation.

Barry Paul Manthe, 63, and Ronald James Clark, 63, both of Columbia, were charged in separate criminal complaints that were filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., on Thursday, March 30, 2017. Those complaints were unsealed following the arrests of Manthe and Clark, who remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

Both Manthe and Clark are charged with using the Internet to promote a racketeering enterprise, a prostitution business that operated out of a Columbia residence.

The investigation that resulted in these charges also resulted in a federal indictment that was returned on March 22, 2017. In a separate but related case, Kenneth Ronald Jones, 25, of Columbia, was charged in an eight-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City.

Jones is charged with three counts of transportation for illegal sexual activity by coercion and enticement. The indictment alleges that Jones induced three victims to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution and illicit sexual activity between May 1 and June 1, 2016. Because one of those victims, identified in court documents as “L.V.,” was under the age of 18, the indictment also charges Jones with one count of transporting a minor across state lines for illegal sexual activity and with the sex trafficking of a minor. The indictment also charges Jones with three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

According to affidavits filed in support of the criminal complaints, FBI agents learned on June 29, 2016, that a 17-year-old runaway from Wisconsin – identified in court documents as “L.V.” – was being held against her will and forced into prostitution by Jones. She was located at a residence in Columbia on that day and removed by law enforcement agents.

L.V. allegedly told investigators that Manthe paid for escort advertisements on the website Backpage for the prostitutes utilizing the brothel. According to L.V., she was advertised under a pseudonym but the ads did not include her photograph. Jones allegedly found photographs of other female on the Internet and gave them to Manthe to post with the ad.

According to the affidavits, Clark collected the door fee from the prostitutes, which ranged from $10 to $30. Clark applied the door fee income to the monthly bills, then split the remaining profit between himself and Manthe.

L.V. told investigators that she met Jones in May 2016 at a party in Milwaukee, Wis., and agreed to travel with him to Columbia to engage in prostitution. Within a few minutes of arriving at a Columbia residence that was used as a brothel, the affidavits say, a man arrived soliciting prostitution. This man selected L.V. from the approximately five prostitutes present, and paid to have sex with her. L.V. subsequently engaged in prostitution almost every day, averaging two or three clients per day.

Although Jones knew that L.V. was 17 years old, the affidavit says, he told everyone else at the brothel that L.V was 18 years old so she would be allowed to work there.

Another victim, identified in court documents as “C.M.,” told police that three days after arriving at the house, Jones told her that she needed to make money, and threatened to kick her to the streets if she did not do what he wanted. C.M. agreed and did a prostitution “date.” When C.M. told Jones she didn’t want to do that anymore and that she was willing to work as a dancer to make money, Jones allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her. Jones said he was not playing games, and that C.M. was going to make money.

C.M. and a third victim, identified in court documents as “K.S.,” ran away from Jones in late May or early June 2016.

Jones became increasingly verbally abusive and cruel, the affidavit says, and pressured L.V. to see more clients. L.V. said she wanted to stop prostituting herself after two weeks and told Jones on multiple occasions she did not want to prostitute anymore because it was sad and degrading. Jones did not care, the affidavit says, and instructed L.V. to keep making money. She feared repercussions from Jones if she attempted to leave him.

L.V. told investigators that Jones had left for Milwaukee the day before law enforcement took her from the Columbia residence. Before he left, the affidavit says, Jones instructed L.V. to send the money she earned prostituting herself to him while he was in Milwaukee. L.V. told investigators that she had planned to flee from the residence the following day. Jones was arrested when he returned from Milwaukee for a Boone County court appearance on an unrelated matter on Feb. 27, 2017.

Larson cautioned that these charges 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.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. They were investigated by the FBI, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department and the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

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 indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to tax evasion.

Steven Matthews, 48, of Kansas City, was charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Matthews’s arrest this morning and initial court appearance this afternoon.

The federal indictment charges Matthews with one count of tax evasion, one count of corruptly impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws and three counts of failure to file tax returns.

From May 2011 to May 2015, the indictment says, Matthews attempted to evade payment of the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty assessed against him personally for withholding that wasn’t paid for the quarters ending December 2002 through June 2003 for the trust fund taxes of Winntech Digital Systems (where he served as the Chief Financial Officer). Matthews allegedly also attempted to evade payment of income tax owed by him for 2008.

According to the indictment, Matthews used corporate funds to pay his personal expenses, created a false deed of trust for a condominium he owned, placed money into an attorney trust account that was then used to pay his personal expenses, established a corporation (SLM Consultants, LLC) using his mother’s Social Security number and listing his mother as the sole member, and dealt in cash from 2011 through 2015, all in an effort to evade payment of taxes and to impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws.

The indictment also alleges that Matthews failed to file federal income tax returns on income earned during 2012, 2014 and 2015.

Larson 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 Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Carrollton, Mo., woman was convicted in federal court today of a $185,000 bank fraud scheme.

Carol Joyce Noble, 65, of Carrollton, was found guilty of two counts of bank fraud contained in an Aug. 27, 2014, federal indictment.

Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Noble defrauded Central Trust Bank in Jefferson City, Mo., in September 2011 as part of a scheme to obtain a fraudulent $185,000 loan in order to purchase a convenience store in Stover, Mo.

As part of the scheme, Noble caused the fraudulent appraisal of her Gravois Mills, Mo., residential property in order to obtain the loan. Noble changed the physical address of the residence to an adjacent residence by altering the last digit of the house number, unbeknownst to the neighbor. Noble met the appraiser at her neighbor’s home and misrepresented to the appraiser that it was her own. The appraiser then appraised the wrong home at a value $100,000 higher than the true value of Noble’s property. Noble was found guilty of two counts of bank fraud related to the fraudulent appraisal.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., deliberated for about two hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, ending a trial that began Monday, March 27, 2017.

Under federal statutes, Noble is subject to a sentence of up to 40 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 Lauren Kummerer. It was investigated by the FBI.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to supplying at least five kilograms of methamphetamine to two co-conspirators to distribute in St. Joseph, Mo.

Gregory Scott Huggins, II, 31, of Independence, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 1 to Sept. 10, 2015.

Co-defendants Russell Wayne Helton, 36, and Tisha Anne Woods, 32, both of St. Joseph, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Woods was sentenced on Aug. 11, 2016, to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole. Helton, who also pleaded guilty to using firearms in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy, awaits sentencing.

By pleading guilty today, Huggins admitted that he supplied methamphetamine to Helton and Woods, who distributed in the St. Joseph area. Conspirators distributed a total of at least five kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.

The investigation began on Sept. 10, 2015, when law enforcement officers took Helton into custody on a parole violation warrant. Helton was in possession of a Raven Arms .25-caliber handgun. Investigators searched his vehicle and found plastic baggies that contained methamphetamine. Another baggie, containing approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine, was taken from the passenger in Helton’s vehicle, who received it from Helton and was supposed to sell it for $1,400.

Helton told investigators he had been purchasing multiple-ounce quantities of methamphetamine every day for the past three weeks. Helton said he paid $800 per ounce for the methamphetamine and that he purchased $3,000-$7,000 worth of methamphetamine (approximately 3.5 kilograms) at a time.

Woods told officers she had been making trips to Independence with Helton at least three times a week to pick up methamphetamine from Huggins. Woods made at least 16 trips with Helton and picked up an estimated total of over five kilograms methamphetamine from Huggins. She admitted that the distribution of more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine could be associated with her.

Under federal statutes, Huggins is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Helton is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole for the drug-trafficking conspiracy, plus a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole for the firearm, which must be served consecutively. 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 Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, following a high-speed pursuit and foot chase by Independence police officers.

George S. Schrand, Jr., 35, of Independence, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Schrand on March 13, 2017.

Today’s indictment alleges that Schrand was in possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on March 13, 2017.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, an Independence police officer saw Schrand, who was driving a 1996 Ford Mustang, rev his engine and accelerate in a careless manner from the intersection of East Golf Avenue and Home Street. The officer activated the emergency equipment of his patrol vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Schrand refused to stop and a high-speed chase ensued.

During the chase, the affidavit says, Schrand’s vehicle reached speeds of 80-to-90 miles-per-hour throughout residential areas and on city thoroughfares. Schrand traveled into oncoming traffic and nearly collided with another vehicle before eventually being disabled by police stop sticks in Kansas City, Mo. Schrand then fled on foot with officers in pursuit. Schrand eluded officers during the pursuit by jumping over a fence near 18th Street and Bennington in Kansas City, Mo. An Independence K-9 officer discovered Schrand hiding beneath a vehicle that was parked behind a residence in the 1900 block of South Ewing Street in Kansas City, Mo.

A black backpack that Schrand dropped near the fence he jumped over was opened and searched. According to the affidavit, officers found four plastic baggies that contained a total of approximately 338 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and eight tablets of Alprazolam (generic Valium). Officers searched Schrand during his arrest and found $20,950 and a plastic baggie that contained approximately 4.4 grams of methamphetamine.

Larson cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment 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 Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Moeder. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a second Kansas City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges related to the kidnapping and murder of another man.

Raynal King, 25, and Howard R. Ross, III, also known as “Lil’ Howard” and “Shooter,” 22, both of Kansas City, were charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s superseding indictment replaces a Sept. 21, 2016, indictment and adds Ross as a defendant.

Today’s indictment alleges that King and Ross participated in a conspiracy to kidnap a victim identified in court documents as “J.P.” on Sept. 6, 2016. According to the affidavit, King and Ross began planning to commit a robbery a couple of days earlier. They allegedly kidnapped J.P. and took his 2014 Jeep Patriot. They attempted to access the victim’s bank account with his debit card at two bank ATM locations, the indictment says. At approximately 6:12 a.m., they allegedly shot J.P. and left him lying on the roadway near 135th and Holmes in Kansas City, Mo.

In addition to the criminal conspiracy, King and Ross are charged together in one count of kidnapping resulting in death, one count of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to the kidnapping, one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to the carjacking and one count of being felons in possession of a firearm. King and Ross, both having been convicted of felony crimes, allegedly possessed a Springfield Armory .45-caliber pistol.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, J.P. was last known to be driving his black Jeep Patriot from a hospital, where he had been caring for a family member, towards his home sometime between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. that day. Shortly after leaving the hospital, J.P. called his wife and asked her for the PIN to their debit card.

There were several failed attempts to use J.P.'s debit card at different ATMs that morning. According to the affidavit, King told investigators that he and Ross began talking about where they should drop off J.P., who remained conscious after having been shot. King told investigators that J.P. attempted to jump out of the vehicle and was shot at again. King, who was driving, slowed down the vehicle after J.P. jumped out. He looked in the rear view mirror and saw J.P. lying in the street then kept driving back to his residence.

Investigators obtained surveillance video from one of the ATMs that allegedly showed King driving J.P.'s vehicle shortly after 6 a.m. J.P. was in the passenger seat of the vehicle, according to the affidavit, with his arms straight out and palms on the dashboard. An unidentified person was in the back seat. King was also seen (driving a different vehicle) in surveillance video at the 7-Eleven at 8901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo., the affidavit says, where more failed attempts had been made to use the debit card at an ATM inside the store about an hour later.

King was identified and located on Sept. 8, 2016. A Kansas City, Mo., police officer conducted a traffic stop and detained King, who has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

Larson 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 Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in mid-Missouri.

David Wayne Lederhos, 54, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to the charge contained in a March 17, 2016, federal indictment.

By pleading guilty today, Lederhos admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from November 2015 to Feb. 10, 2016.

According to today’s plea agreement, a cooperating individual made a controlled purchase of approximately two ounces of methamphetamine from Lederhos on Feb. 4, 2016. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lederhos’s residence on Feb. 10, 2016. They found a Ziploc bag that contained eight separate baggies, each of which contained methamphetamine, for a total of 364 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded Beretta 12-gauge shotgun, drug paraphernalia and approximately 19 grams of marijuana in the bedroom.

Lederhos told investigators that he had purchased one pound of methamphetamine the previous day for $8,000. He also stated that he purchased approximately one or two pounds of methamphetamine every day or every other day over a four-month period of time.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Lederhos is subject to a sentence of 13 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 Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Cooper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the East Central Drug Task Force.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Loganville, Ga., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a fraud scheme in which he stole personal identity information from several victims in order to file fraudulent federal income tax returns.

Chike Uzodinma Agogbua, 44, of Loganville, a Nigerian national and a naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to the charges contained in a Feb. 10, 2016, superseding indictment.

According to today’s plea agreement, federal investigators obtained bank records in 2013, which reflected that federal tax refunds for five different taxpayers were deposited into Agogbua’s bank accounts. Numerous federal tax refunds were deposited into two separate bank accounts from September through November 2013.

By pleading guilty today, Agogbua admitted that he stole the identity information of a victim identified as “TMP,” a resident of Guam, including her name and Social Security number. Agogbua used that information to file federal income tax returns.

Fraudulent federal income tax refunds, which were electronically sent from the IRS Financial Center in Kansas City, Mo., and direct-deposited into Agogbua’s bank accounts, totaled $59,610.

Under federal statutes, Agogbua is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on the wire fraud count. Agogbua is also subject to a two-year mandatory minimum sentence on the identity theft count, which must be served consecutively. 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 Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Columbia, Mo., man has been convicted in federal court on charges related to child pornography and the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Jayme Nathaniel Walker, 42, of Columbia, 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.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., deliberated for about one and a half hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, ending a trial that began Monday, March 20, 2017.

Under federal statutes, Walker is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 60 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 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."

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Lebanon Junior High School teacher pleaded guilty in federal court today to downloading child pornography.

Evert Henry, 42, of Lebanon, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to the charge contained in a Feb. 23, 2016, federal indictment.

Henry was a teacher in the Lebanon R-3 School District at the junior high school during the time of the offense. By pleading guilty today, Henry admitted that he received child pornography over the Internet from Jan. 1, 2011, to Jan. 13, 2016.

According to court documents, the Information Technology Director of the junior high school, where Henry was employed as a teacher, discovered he was downloading pornography to his school-issued computer while at the school. Henry admitted that “it was possible” that he had viewed child pornography on his computer. He later specified that he had intentionally searched for images of child pornography. When questioned by law enforcement, Henry confessed that he had been viewing child pornography for a considerable amount of time.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lebanon, 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."

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Detroit, Mich., men have pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing a Springfield, Mo., jewelry store.

Mark Anthone Pitts, 32, of Detroit, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charge contained in a Dec. 6, 2016, federal indictment. Co-defendant Justin B. Anderson, 32, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to the same charge on March 9, 2017.

Pitts and Anderson each admitted to robbing Maxon’s Diamond Merchants, 2622 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, on Sept. 1, 2016.

According to Pitts’s plea agreement, an unknown African-American male was buzzed through the secured front door of the jewelry store. When the male entered the store, he refused to close the front door. Employees approached the male, telling him to close the door. When the individual refused to shut the door, the employees attempted to push him out of the store. The male then physically shoved an employee as he kept the front door open.

Pitts and Anderson then entered the store. They pulled out small sledgehammers, causing employees to retreat from the front of the store out of fear of being harmed. Pitts and Anderson used the sledgehammers to break the glass counters and display cases that contained Rolex watches. Pitts and Anderson then grabbed several Rolex watches and fled from the store. Officers later determined that 11 Rolex watches, valued at a total of $118,000, were stolen in the robbery.

Cell phone video from a store employee showed the getaway car – a 2000 Dodge Stratus that had been stolen from a local Target department store earlier that day – waiting for the three men. Pitts and Anderson, however, failed to escape in the getaway car, which left the scene without them. Pitts was arrested after store employees who followed him took police officers to his location.

Pitts told officers that he did not specifically threaten an employee of Maxon’s Diamond Merchants, but if they had actively resisted the robbery, he would have used his sledgehammer to physically assault the employees.

Under federal statutes, Pitts and Anderson are each subject to a sentence of up to 20 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Carney and Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the FBI and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Auxvasse, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing 21 firearms and three firearm silencers.

Billy Bush Owen, 54, of Auxvasse, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to the charge contained in a Feb. 10, 2016, federal indictment.

Owen is the owner of Panhead Billy’s BBQ in Kingdom City, Mo. By pleading guilty today, Owen admitted that he was in possession of 21 firearms on Dec. 9, 2015, including handguns, rifles and shotguns, as well as three silencers. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to possess any firearms (including silencers) or ammunition. Owen has prior felony convictions for transporting a controlled substance and possession of a dangerous weapon by an addict.

Owen was being investigated by MUSTANG (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team and Narcotics Group) when officers executed a search warrant at this residence on Dec. 9, 2015. Officers found 21 firearms, three silencers and 9,337 rounds of ammunition in the residence. Three of the firearms and 3,610 rounds of ammunition were in the bedroom, and the remaining firearms and the suppressors were in a safe in the garage. Officers also seized $35,109, digital scales, a drug ledger and marijuana from the residence.

Under federal statutes, Owen 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. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and MUSTANG (the Mid-Missouri Unified Strike Team And Narcotics Group).

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Osage Beach, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for a scheme to open fraudulent bank accounts in order to cash checks stolen from the mail.

Chrystal Lynn Bernstein, 27, of Osage Beach, was charged in a 21-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Bernstein on Feb. 17, 2017.

The federal indictment charges Bernstein with eight counts of possessing stolen mail on separate occasions from Dec. 15, 2016, to March 14, 2017. Bernstein allegedly possessed checks that were stolen from the victims’ mailboxes.

Bernstein is also charged with 10 counts of bank fraud related to her scheme to use stolen identity information to open bank accounts in Boone and Camden Counties in order to cash or deposit the stolen checks. Bernstein allegedly obtained stolen mail, including checks, and altered the payee on the checks in order to cash or deposit them into the fraudulent accounts.

The federal indictment also charges Bernstein with three counts of aggravated identity theft related to her use of stolen identities to open the bank accounts.

Larson 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 Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, Booneville, Mo., Police Department, the Camdenton, Mo., Police Department, the Lake Ozark, Mo., Police Department and the Osage Beach, Mo., Police Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to the attempted armed robbery of Pinnacle Bank in Joplin.

Sean LaDue, 29, of Joplin, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charges contained in a Jan. 18, 2017, superseding indictment.

By pleading guilty today, LaDue admitted that he used a firearm to rob Pinnacle Bank, 1316 E. 32nd Street, Joplin, on Nov. 14, 2016. LaDue also pleaded guilty to using a firearm during a crime of violence.

LaDue and an accomplice entered the bank at approximately 3:50 p.m. and announced, “This is a robbery, get down!” The sole customer of the bank struggled with one of the robbers in the bank lobby. During the struggle, the robber produced a firearm and fired three shots. Both robbers then fled from the bank without taking any money.

Police officers located and arrested LaDue after a brief foot chase on Nov. 16, 2016.

Under federal statutes, LaDue is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of up to 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 James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Joplin, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jefferson City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to burglarize residences in Columbia, Mo., and sell the stolen items – including firearms.

Henry Anthony Williams, also known as “Foolish,” 27, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to possessing stolen firearms and to participating in a wire fraud conspiracy.

According to today’s plea agreement, Williams admitted that he possessed firearms that had been stolen during the burglary of a residence in Columbia. The investigation began on Sept. 17, 2014, when Moberly, Mo., police officers received a report from a local gun store that someone was trying to sell one of the stolen firearms – a customized Remington rifle – to the store’s owner. The person who tried to sell the stolen rifle told officers that he had purchased it from another man, identified as “LJ,” who in turn said he purchased it from Williams. LJ told officers that Williams had other firearms for sale.

On Sept. 24, 2014, LJ arranged to meet Williams in the Hooters parking lot in Columbia to purchase another firearm. In a controlled undercover transaction, LJ was provided $350 and purchased a Marlin .22-caliber rifle and a Western Field 12-gauge shotgun from Williams. The Marlin rifle was among the firearms stolen in the Columbia burglary.

Williams also admitted that he was part of a conspiracy to burglarize residences in the Columbia area, primarily targeting college housing and electronic equipment. Williams and others burglarized residences and sold the stolen merchandise to a coconspirator, who sold the items on eBay.

Williams admitted that he committed at least one of the three residential burglaries that occurred on Nov. 17, 2015, among residences on Commercial Drive in Columbia.

Under federal statutes, Williams is subject to a sentence of up to 30 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 Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., man charged last month with sex trafficking a minor was indicted by a federal grand jury today on additional charges.

Kenneth Ronald Jones, 25, of Columbia, was charged in an eight-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Jones on Feb. 23, 2017, and includes additional charges related to additional victims.

Today’s indictment charges Jones with three counts of transportation for illegal sexual activity by coercion and enticement. The indictment alleges that Jones induced three victims to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution and illicit sexual activity between May 1 and June 1, 2016.

Because one of those victims, identified in court documents as “L.V.,” was under the age of 18, the indictment also charges Jones with one count of transporting a minor across state lines for illegal sexual activity and with the sex trafficking of a minor. The indictment also charges Jones with three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, FBI agents learned on June 29, 2016, that a 17-year-old runaway from Wisconsin – identified in court documents as “L.V.” – was being held against her will and forced into prostitution by Jones. She was located at a residence in Columbia and removed by law enforcement agents the same day.

L.V. told investigators that she met Jones in May 2016 at a party in Milwaukee, Wis., and agreed to travel with him to Columbia to engage in prostitution. Within a few minutes of arriving at a Columbia residence that was used as a brothel, the affidavit says, a man arrived soliciting prostitution. This man selected L.V. from the approximately five prostitutes present, and paid to have sex with her. L.V. subsequently engaged in prostitution almost every day, averaging two or three clients per day.

Although Jones knew that L.V. was 17 years old, the affidavit says, he told everyone else at the brothel that L.V was 18 years old so she would be allowed to work there. L.V. reported that escort advertisements were purchased on Backpage, a classified advertising website frequently utilized by prostitutes.

Another victim, identified in court documents as “C.M.,” told police that three days after arriving at the house, Jones told her that she needed to make money, and threatened to kick her to the streets if she did not do what he wanted. C.M. agreed and did a prostitution “date.” When C.M. told Jones she didn’t want to do that anymore and that she was willing to work as a dancer to make money, Jones allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her. Jones said he was not playing games, and that C.M. was going to make money.

C.M. and a third victim, identified in court documents as “K.S.,” ran away from Jones in late May or early June 2016.

Jones became increasingly verbally abusive and cruel, the affidavit says, and pressured L.V. to see more clients. L.V. said she wanted to stop prostituting herself after two weeks and told Jones on multiple occasions she did not want to prostitute anymore because it was sad and degrading. Jones did not care, the affidavit says, and instructed L.V. to keep making money. She feared repercussions from Jones if she attempted to leave him.

L.V. told investigators that Jones had left for Milwaukee the day before law enforcement took her from the Columbia residence. Before he left, the affidavit says, Jones instructed L.V. to send the money she earned prostituting herself to him while he was in Milwaukee. L.V. told investigators that she had planned to flee from the residence the following day. Jones was arrested when he returned from Milwaukee for a Boone County court appearance today on an unrelated matter on Feb. 27, 2017.

Larson 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 the FBI.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Columbia, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for producing and distributing child pornography.

Sergio Antonio Dominguez-Gonzalez, 23, of Columbia, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Dominguez-Gonzalez used a minor to produce child pornography between Feb. 1 and Feb. 22, 2017. The indictment also charges Dominguez-Gonzalez with distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Larson 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 the FBI, the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan 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. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a North Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today on two counts of illegally possessing a firearm, following the court’s finding that he was involved in the murder of an Independence, Mo., man in 2015.

DeMarko L. Collins, 28, of North Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to nine years on each count to run consecutively to each other, for a total of 18 years in federal prison without parole.

The court granted the government’s motion for a sentence longer than the penalty recommended under the federal sentencing guidelines due to Collins’s violent characteristics and criminal history. In particular, the court ruled there was sufficient evidence that Collins was involved in a murder for which he has not been charged in state court, and which should be considered in imposing an appropriate sentence in this federal case.

On Sept. 1, 2016, Collins pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to possessing a stolen firearm. Collins has remained in federal custody since his arrest on Sept. 30, 2015.

At the time of this offense, Collins was being investigated regarding his involvement in the Sept. 18, 2015, murder of David Duncan. Evidence introduced at today’s sentencing hearing indicated that, over the course of two days, Collins had staked out Duncan’s home in Independence, Mo. When Duncan arrived at his home the morning of Sept. 18, 2015, a man stepped out of a vehicle – an orange Dodge Journey – and shot him multiple times with a rifle. Investigators utilized a security camera at a nearby gas station, which depicted the orange Dodge Journey stopping for gas a couple of hours before the fatal shooting. Collins was identified as the driver of the vehicle, which was registered to his girlfriend.

Officers executed a search warrant at Collins’s apartment on Sept. 30, 2015. During the search, officers found a Heckler & Koch .45-caliber pistol in a cabinet in the kitchen (not the same firearm used to murder Duncan). The firearm had been reported as stolen. Collins was arrested.

According to court documents, Duncan had been feuding with Collins, who believed that Duncan had paid someone to murder Collins’s cousin.

Collins was a member of the Crips street gang who referred to himself as “the biggest gang member in Kansas City.” Collins admitted to trafficking in multiple pounds of marijuana (selling an estimated 200 pounds in the months prior to his arrest).

Collins has also admitted to stabbing two inmates while he was previously incarcerated in federal prison, according to court documents. Collins was sentenced on March 4, 2009, to six years and eight months in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Collins also has prior felony convictions for tampering and robbery. Collins was three months removed from parole on his robbery conviction at the time of the homicide.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.