Western District of Missouri

Springfield, Mo. – A Cedar County, Mo., attorney pleaded guilty to wire fraud yesterday for defrauding his vulnerable clients and using funds meant for their well-being for his own personal benefit.

Peter A. Lee, 50, of Stockton, Mo., devised a scheme to defraud his clients of funds for his own personal gain and then concealed his scheme by making false representations to his clients and financial institutions. Lee also used his clients’ funds to repay victims of his prior thefts.  The clients he defrauded included decedent estates and a special needs trust.  From January 2019 through February 2025, Lee obtained $296,140 in client funds through his fraud scheme.

As a part of Lee’s plea agreement, he agreed to voluntarily surrender his license to practice law.

Under federal statutes, Lee 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 Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield business owner pleaded guilty today for fraudulently obtaining $316,062 in Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and using the money for unauthorized purposes, including for his own personal benefit.

According to court documents, Jason L. Hemingway, 47, applied for two PPP loans on behalf of his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC, in February and April of 2021. On those applications Hemingway falsely inflated the number of employees and certified the PPP loans were for eligible business expenses. Additionally, Hemingway used the name of another individual without their knowledge or authorization (due to his own poor personal credit history) to obtain loans designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans that were suffering from negative economic effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Specifically, Hemingway pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering.  He agreed to pay $316,062 in restitution and will forfeit to the government any property derived from the fraud and money laundering scheme, including a money judgment.

A federal district court judge will determine Hemingway’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Under federal statutes, Hemingway is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and up to 10 years in prison for money laundering. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. 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 Casey Clark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in the Springfield, Missouri area, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal re-entry by an alien after being convicted of a prior felony crime.

Pedro Lopez-Dominguez, 36, entered a guilty plea to U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to the offense of illegal re-entry into the United States by an alien after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.

On January 18, 2026, deputies from Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department arrested Lopez-Dominguez during a traffic stop after learning that he had an outstanding arrest warrant from Barry County, Missouri, for a previous criminal offense and failing to appear before that court. Upon determining that Lopez-Dominguez was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement who responded and determined that Lopez-Dominguez was illegally in the United States after having been removed three previous times – once in 2017, once in 2018, and most recently in 2019.

Lopez-Dominguez had been previous convicted of the felony offense of Illegal Entry Into the United States of a Previously Removed Alien in 2019.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Greene County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who fled from Independence, Mo. Police Department officers in a highspeed vehicular chase, was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Michael A. Winchester, 22, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Brian C. Wimes to 51 months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On July 2, 2025, Winchester pleaded guilty to knowingly being a felon in possession of a Ruger, 5.7 caliber, handgun.

According to court documents, on Apr. 3, 2025, Independence, Mo., Police Department officers were patrolling the area of E. Wilson Rd. and S. Brookside Ave. when they heard multiple gunshots coming from the area just east of their position.  They went to the area where they heard the gunshots and observed a silver Dodge Caravan that had a license plate registered to a different vehicle. Officers initiated their emergency lights, and the driver, later identified as Winchester, began a highspeed chase that reached speeds of up to 107 MPH.  The vehicle finally stopped while heading westbound on E. U.S. 24 just west of the Paseo Blvd.

Winchester had two passengers in his vehicle.  An inventory search of the vehicle discovered the Ruger handgun and an expended shell casing under the driver’s gas pedal.  Officers discovered that Winchester had a prior felony conviction and accordingly placed him under arrest.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo. Police Department, and the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently receiving a $487,600 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan, a program that was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Lorenzo Boles, 56, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays today to wire fraud and money laundering.

The purpose of the CARES Act was to provide emergency financial assistance due to the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the Small Business Administration to provide PPP Loans to eligible small businesses that experienced substantial financial disruption due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By pleading guilty today, Boles admitted that on April 30, 2020, a co-defendant filed an application for a PPP loan under the CARES Act for a business, Burnes Family Investments, LLC (BFI). The application listed Lorenzo Boles as 82% owner and a co-defendant as 18% owner.

The application and supporting documents submitted stated that BFI had an average monthly payroll of $195,067. A 2019 Profit and Loss Statement for BFI, submitted as part of the application, listed gross income of $3,910,582, expenses of $3,263,451, and a net profit of $647,131. Forms 941 and 944 (Employer’s Quarterly and Annual Tax Reports) were also provided as part of the PPP application process. In fact, the income and expenses listed in the P&L Statement do not match the tax returns filed by Boles, the Forms 941 and 944 were never filed with the IRS, and the payments listed on the Forms were never received by the IRS.

On May 8, 2020, BFI received a $487,600 PPP loan in its bank account. Bank records show that Boles paid himself $50,000 in the month following the loan. Overall, Boles received approximately $90,000 of the PPP loan proceeds which he used for personal expenses.

Under federal statutes, Boles 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.   

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An El Salvadoran national has been sentenced in federal court for trafficking fentanyl, illegally possessing firearms, and unlawful entry to the United States.

Jose Navarrete-Hernandez, 42, was sentenced today by United States Senior District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 87 months in federal prison without parole.

Navarrete-Hernandez was found guilty of one count each of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and illegal entry into the United States following a one-day bench trial on May 12, 2025.  Specifically, Navarrete-Hernandez was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute; 60 months for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; 27 months for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien; 27 months for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and six months for illegal entry.  All of the sentences were ordered to run concurrent to one another, except for the 60-month sentence, which was ordered to run consecutive to the other sentences.

On May 11, 2023, officers with the Carthage, Mo., Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a gray Ford F-250 with an expired Texas license plate driven by Navarrete-Hernandez. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a black backpack containing two drug scales, two glass pipes with white powdery residue, approximately 145 fentanyl pills, a Heritage Rough Rider revolver, ammunition, and a forged social security card. Officers also found a Raven P-25 pistol with an obliterated serial number in the truck.  At the time, Navarrete-Hernandez was not a citizen or national of the United States and had entered the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; and the Carthage, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was closely associated with a local street gang known as “FTO,” was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms, one of which has been linked to multiple shootings.

Ty’lan Lamar Spencer, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 60 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on May 28, 2021, law enforcement stopped a vehicle in which Spencer was a passenger. Under the backseat officers found a loaded Pioneer Arms, Hellpup, 7.62 caliber, semi-automatic pistol. Spencer admitted the Hellpup firearm belonged to him and admitted he was a regular user of marijuana. It is a violation of Federal law for an unlawful user of a controlled substance to knowingly possess a firearm.

On June 1, 2023, Spencer was caught on surveillance footage at a gas station brandishing a firearm during an argument. A warrant was issued for this incident, and he was arrested on Aug. 4, 2023.. During Spencer’s arrest, officers found a loaded Taurus, G2C, 9mm, semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket. Spencer was with another FTO associate. During a search of the associate’s vehicle, officers found a Glock, 23 Gen 5, .40 caliber, semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine. Spencer admitted that the Glock firearm found in the vehicle belonged to him.

The Taurus pistol was submitted to the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (“NIBIN”) and leads were generated indicating that the firearm was used in two unresolved shootings, one that occurred on July 20, 2023, and the other that occurred on July 30, 2023.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud and aggravated identity theft case that resulted in more than $40,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Rasheeda McDaniel, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 87 months’ imprisonment based upon her guilty pleas to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the CARES Act.

According to court documents, prior to March 22, 2021, McDaniel and co-defendant Briauna Adams used the personal identification information of S.R. to submit an online application for a COVID-19 relief PPP loan in S.R.’s name.

The loan application listed a fictitious business with Schedule C gross receipts of $147,412 and a net income of $98,562. S.R.’s true tax return listed zero taxable income and did not have a Schedule C. The loan application provided a bank account associated with the fictitious business.

On April 2, 2021, the loan was approved and S.R.’s bank account received a $20,832 wire deposit. On the same day, $2,000 was transferred to an account controlled by Adams. An amount totaling $18,830 was transferred to defendant McDaniel’s account.

Prior to February 27, 2021, McDaniel provided personal identification information to Briauna Adams and Adams submitted an online application in McDaniel’s name for a COVID-19 relief PPP loan. The application and supporting documents stated that McDaniel was the sole proprietor of a business established July 7, 2017, that had an Average Monthly Payroll of $8,333. As part of the application, a 2019 Form Schedule C was submitted listing Gross receipts of $144,080 and profit of $99,982. McDaniel did not have a business during that time period with gross income and net income in the listed amounts. On March 4, 2021, the defendant’s personal account received a $20,832 wire deposit. The same day, McDaniel made a $15,000 cash withdrawal from the account.

On September 30, 2025, Adams was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense in St. Joseph, Mo.; transporting approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills at a train station in Kansas City, Mo.; and for possession with intent to distribute another 913 fentanyl pills in Quapaw, Okla.

Walter Antwine Moore, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 180 months’ imprisonment based on his guilty pleas to two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.   

According to court documents, law enforcement officers contacted Moore when he arrived at a train station in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 10, 2023. Moore became confrontational with the detective who questioned him and attempted to flee on foot. He was tackled by the detective and detained with the assistance of other detectives and tactical response officers. Officers found a bundle wrapped in clear cellophane on the floor close to where Moore was detained. The bundle, contained approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills.

Moore had also been detained by law enforcement officers in St. Joseph, Mo., on Jan. 7, 2023. According to court documents, St. Joseph police officers were dispatched to a convenience store to investigate a report of a man who reportedly stole a bag of potato chips and was trying to sell drugs. Officers searched his vehicle and found a baggy that contained numerous clear plastic baggies with a total of 284.8 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the car.

On Dec. 6, 2022, Moore was gambling at a casino in Quapaw, Okla. After quickly losing over $1,000 at a blackjack table, Moore became belligerent with a female blackjack dealer. Moore began cursing at her, making vague threats, and reaching into his coat as if he was armed. The pit boss asked him to leave, and Moore stated if he left it would involve “yellow police tape and lights and sirens.” The pit boss then summoned the Deputy Quapaw Marshals. Moore was asked to do a pat-down for the officer’s safety. Moore refused and reached his right hand into his jacket. Moore ultimately took his hand out of his jacket and the deputy noticed a baggie in Moore’s hand that appeared to have something blue inside of it.  Moore then tried to push past the deputy and run.  The deputy took Moore to the ground and they began to scuffle. During the melee, the bag exploded and small pills scattered.  In total, casino staff recovered 913 blue pills marked with an “M" printed on one side and “30” printed on the other side of the pill.  The pills later tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. This case was initially charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma.  Pursuant to a plea agreement, this case was transferred to the Western District of Missouri and the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Missouri Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Nation Marshals Service.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

A Kansas City, Mo., man who backed his truck into the deck of a private residence in Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing ammunition.

David E. Degerald, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 33 months in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original complaint, on June 26, 2025, Kansas City, Mo. Police Department officers were dispatched to a private residence located on N. Oakley Avenue at approximately 6:19 p.m. to investigate a disturbance.  The reporting party said he observed a male back a truck into the deck at the back of a nearby house.  The reporting party indicated that he witnessed the male arguing with a female before leaving the area in the truck.

Officers later observed a vehicle that matched the description of the truck that was reportedly used during the domestic disturbance.  While on foot, the officers tried to signal the truck to stop, but it continued driving north.  Officers got into their patrol vehicles, caught up to the truck, and activated their emergency lights and sirens.  The truck drove several hundred more feet before coming to a stop at the intersection of NE 48th Street and N. Oakley Avenue.  The officers ordered the driver, and only occupant of the vehicle, out of the car and placed him in handcuffs.  Officers immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver’s breath.  The officers asked him how much he had to drink, and he replied, “too much.”  The driver was later identified as Degerald.

Officers asked Degerald if he would agree to submit to a battery of field sobriety tests.  Degerald refused.  Officers placed Degerald under arrest and arranged for his vehicle to be towed.  During an inventory search of the truck, officers discovered eight rifle rounds and an extended black magazine that contained approximately 28 rounds of 9mm caliber ammunition.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of ammunition.  Officers conducted a criminal background check and discovered that Degerald had several prior felony convictions, to include a 2001 conviction in Clay County, Mo. for murder in the second degree.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was charged with child pornography offenses in a now-unsealed federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri.

Luis Leony Valentin, 34, was charged by federal criminal complaint with production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography over the internet, and possession of child pornography. Following his arrest today, Valentin had his first appearance in court.

An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Valentin communicated over the internet with a 14-year-old to obtain depictions of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Valentin possessed numerous videos of child pornography of minor females.

The charges contained in this complaint 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 Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and the FBI.

Project Safe Childhood

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Sedalia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to rob a local bank.

Cleburn Bruce Greene, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to more than three years (37 months) in prison without parole for attempting to rob a bank.

On May 22, 2025, Greene pleaded guilty to one count of attempted bank robbery that occurred on October 1, 2024.

According to statements of bank employees and surveillance videos, Greene entered the bank at approximately 10:08 a.m. and went to the customer service counter where he wrote on a piece of paper.  Greene then approached a teller and showed the note that read: “Give me your money.” The teller asked Greene if the male had an account at the bank and Greene stated: “No. this is a robbery.” Greene further stated: “Don’t play with me” and “don’t make me do something crazy,” or words to that effect.  While the teller was typing on his computer to get access to emergency cash, Greene exited the bank and threw the note in a dumpster adjacent to the bank. Investigators later recovered the note.  Surveillance video footage captured Greene flee the scene in a nearby Kia Sportage vehicle.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Kansas City, Missouri Police Department Officers observed Greene in a restaurant parking lot in Kanas City, Mo. Greene was wearing the same clothing he had on during the attempted bank robbery. Greene drove to a gas station where officers arrested him without further incident.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford.  It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Glock 9mm caliber handgun.

Sergio Marquez, 35, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to almost 13 years (155 months) in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Dec. 12, 2024, Independence, Mo., Police Department officers noticed a Mercedes vehicle that had been spray-painted black, had tinted windows, and had tags assigned to a different vehicle.  Police officers attempted to pull over the vehicle for further investigation and a high-speed chase ensued.  The Mercedes vehicle went westbound on U.S. 24 highway and reached speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour.  On Independence Avenue near the Winner Road intersection, the Mercedes vehicle crashed while attempting to avoid stop-sticks deployed by police.  Marquez had difficulty exiting the vehicle after the crash and was seen by multiple officers tossing a firearm under the vehicle while he was on his hands and knees.  Marquez had a large laceration on the right side of his neck.  Officers provided medical assistance until EMS arrived. Law enforcement officials later recovered the Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun that Marquez had thrown under the Mercedes vehicle.  Marquez had previously been convicted of a felony offense.   It is against federal law for a convicted felon to knowingly possess a firearm.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford It was investigated by Independence, Mo. Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced to four years imprisonment in federal custody today for conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons.

Michael Dewayne Hardy, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  The court also ordered Hardy to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $6,500.

On April 7, 2025, Michael Dewayne Hardy admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law and he admitted to illegally trafficking a machinegun. According to the plea agreement, the conspirators trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law.   Michael Dewayne Hardy admitted that on at least three occasions he worked with co-conspirators to sell seven firearms to a prohibited person.  One of the firearms Hardy sold had been converted into an unregistered machinegun.

On Feb. 21, 2024, co-defendant Dejohuan Mietz Huntley, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons, one count of possessing an unregistered machinegun, and one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of a firearm.  On June 26, 2024, Huntley, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 70 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On April 14, 2025, co-defendant Antonio Manning, Sr., 23, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the conspiracy to illegally traffic firearms. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun. On Aug. 7, 2025, Antonio Manning was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun.  On May 21, 2025, Sheron Manning was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 57 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On Apr. 17, 2025, co-defendant Fedo Manning, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons. On Aug. 21, 2025, Fedo Manning, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 66 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.  One of the recovered firearms originally purchased by Fedo Manning and later trafficked to an unknown individual was discovered at the scene of the shooting that occurred during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory on Feb. 14, 2024.  The recovered firearm was an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, .223-caliber pistol. The loaded pistol was found along the wall with a backpack next to two AR-15-style firearms and backpacks. Because the pistol was in “fire” position and there were 26 live rounds in the magazine, which is capable of holding 30 rounds, it may have fired several rounds before it was discarded.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Oak Grove, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and possession of machine gun conversion devices.

Kal J. Nay, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 3 years in federal prison without parole.

His co-defendant, Robert J. Turnage, 22, was sentenced on Sept. 24, 2025, to 4 years in federal prison without parole for his role in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

On Oct. 9, 2025, Nay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of machine guns.

Between May 2, 2024, and June 11, 2024, the Jackson County Drug Task Force utilized a Confidential Informant to purchase “M30” pills, which contained fentanyl, from Nay and Turnage.  The Confidential Informant purchased 10 pills from Nay on May 2, 40 pills from Nay on May 23, and 20 pills from Nay and Turnage on June 11. On June 18, 2024, members of the Jackson County Drug Task Force were granted a state search warrant to search Nay’s residence in Oak Grove.  Investigators seized 6 machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches,” that were 3D printed from a 3D printer which was found in the residence.  Nay admitted to investigators that he sold fentanyl pills and that he made the “switches” with his 3D printer.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings.  It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to using a GPS tracking device to surveil an individual who was shot to death in a grocery store parking lot.

Michael Smith, also known as “Black Mike,” 39, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to one count of cyberstalking resulting in death.

Co-defendant Dontay Campbell, 36, formerly of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to the same offense on Nov. 6, 2023.

By pleading guilty today, Smith admitted that he was hired to kill the victim in late January or early February 2019. To carry out the murder, Smith and Campbell obtained a GPS tracking device and on March 5, 2019, Smith and Campbell deployed the GPS device on the victim’s red Chevrolet Tahoe by placing the device under the vehicle. Smith used the GPS device to track the victim through the movements of the Tahoe. On several occasions, Smith used the GPS tracking service to physically locate the victim.

On March 16, 2019, Smith surveilled the victim as they drove to a Kansas City grocery store. When the victim left the store and walked back to the Tahoe, Campbell and a co-conspirator pulled up next to the Tahoe in a Chrysler Sebring. The co-conspirator exited the Sebring and shot at the victim several times with a Ruger .40-caliber handgun that belonged to Campbell. During the shooting spree, Campbell attempted unsuccessfully to remove the GPS tracker from the vehicle.

Campbell and the co-conspirator then ran back to the Sebring, briefly drove around the parking lot, and parked again near the Tahoe. The co-conspirator again fired multiple shots into the Tahoe while Campbell again tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the GPS tracker. Campbell and the co-conspirator then sped out of the parking lot in the Sebring.

The victim died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Smith was paid in cash for the murder.

Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, the government and Smith agreed to a sentence of 30 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. Attorneys Trey Alford, Nicholas Heberle, and Matthew Wolesky. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally reentering the United States after he was previously deported.

Javier Luis Arias-Zamudio, aka Jose Luis Cordova, 34, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge David P. Rush, to a federal indictment charging him with one count of illegal reentry after a felony conviction.

According to court documents, on Oct. 23, 2025, deputies with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Arias-Zamudio and determined that he was unlawfully present in the United States.

Arias-Zamudio has previously been convicted of felony illegal reentry, in the District of Arizona, in 2021, and removed from the United States on April 21, 2021, through Nogales, Ariz. Additionally, Arias-Zamudio was previously removed from the United States on May 5, 2017, and August 29, 2019, at Laredo, Tx.

Under federal statutes, Arias-Zamudio 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 Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Sparta, Missouri Police Department, and the Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted bank robbery and bank robbery.

Ernest A. Wilcox, 66, of Independence, Mo. was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. on Nov. 21, 2025.

The indictment was unsealed and made public following Wilcox’s arrest.

The indictment alleges Wilcox attempted to rob a bank in Kansas City, Mo. on May 8, 2024.  The indictment also alleges that on June 11, 2024, Wilcox robbed a bank in Independence, Mo., and attempted to rob the same bank on July 3, 2024.

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.

Under federal statutes, each count of bank robbery, or attempted bank robbery carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment 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 Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Missouri Police Department, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two southwest Missouri residents were charged federally for possession with intent to distribute over 40 pounds of methamphetamine.

Michael Wilson, 49, of Lamar, Mo., and Amber Beck, 34, of Eagle Rock, Mo., were charged by federal criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Wilson and Beck had their first appearances in court today, following their arrests on Feb. 9, 2026.

According to court documents, on Feb. 7, 2026, following a traffic stop on I-44 in Jasper County, Mo., an officer with the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) discovered Wilson and Beck were in possession of approximately 44 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.

An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Wilson and Beck have regularly been making trips to the Pheonix, Ariz., area to purchase methamphetamine for distribution.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and are 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 Hannah Lucas. It was investigated by the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, Missouri State Highway Patrol, the DEA, and the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Glock .45 caliber handgun.

Aaron T. Fant, 35, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to 12 years (144 months) in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On March 20, 2023, Fant attempted to push his way into the apartment of a female acquaintance. As the adult female resisted and tried to close the door, Fant punched the female in the chest to gain entry. The adult female’s 16-year-old son tried to intervene, stepping between his mother and Fant. Fant then produced a black and silver handgun from his waistband and struck the juvenile in the head with the firearm. The adult female was able to push Fant back from the doorway and lock the door. As Fant walked away, he yelled, “If you call the police, I will kill you.” The juvenile was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital where he received three staples to close the wound.

On March 29, 2023, Fant was arrested following a prolonged standoff with law enforcement at a hotel he was staying at in Kansas City, Mo. During the standoff, Fant made several threatening statements, including “I have a gun,” “I’m armed,” “You’ll have to kill me” and “Come in and get me.” Ultimately law enforcement deployed a gas projectile through the window of the hotel room, and Fant came out of the room without further incident. In Fant’s vehicle at the hotel, officers located a Glock, Model 37 Gen 4, .45 caliber handgun that was loaded. 

Fant, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of nineteen prior felony offenses.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three men from the Kansas City metropolitan area have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their receipt of $440,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Robert Turner, Kansas City, Mark Crosby, Kansas City, and Earl Howard, Grandview, were charged in separate sealed indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on January 28, 2026.   These indictments were unsealed following the initial appearance of these individuals in court this week.

These federal indictments allege that Robert Turner’s company, Handy Hands Services LLC, submitted a fraudulent application for a PPP loan. Based upon false payroll records, Turner received a $324,900 PPP loan. Mark Crosby submitted fraudulent applications for two companies, Crosby Auto LLC and MSC & Sons Trucking LLC. Crosby Auto received $71,400 based upon false payroll records submitted with the application and MSC & Sons Trucking received $20,832 based upon similar false statements regarding the company’s payroll.  Howard’s company, Turn 2 LLC, also submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application. Turn 2 received a $30,800 PPP loan. The applications allegedly caused more than $447,000 in fraudulent PPP loans to be issued to these three ineligible borrowers, all of which were forgiven by the SBA even though the funds were not used for the purposes specified in the PPP.

The charges contained in these indictments 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 Paul S. Becker. They were investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire, felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of a previous term of federal supervised release.

Thomas D. Clegg, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 30 years in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Clegg was also sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for a violation of his supervised release on a felon in possession of a firearm case from 2012. He committed the conspiracy and weapons offenses while on that term of supervision.  All sentences imposed were ordered to run consecutively for a total of 32 years.

Clegg and others conspired from Aug. 19, 2021, to June 13, 2022, to murder a victim identified as “J.C.” and his family members for payment in cash and marijuana.

The conspiracy included two occasions when Clegg shot J.C. On Aug. 19, 2021, Clegg shot J.C. in the leg and back in the parking lot of Ugly Joe’s bar in Kansas City, Mo.  On May 25, 2022, Clegg shot J.C. multiple times in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 4010 Sterling Ave., Kansas City, Mo. The businesses in and near the strip mall included an accounting firm, daycare, and fitness center.  One witness had two children in her vehicle and was picking up her third child from the daycare when her vehicle was struck by gunfire. Her driver’s side window was shot out, but no one in her vehicle was injured.

Investigators seized Clegg’s cellphones when he was arrested. Investigators obtained search warrants for Clegg’s cellphones and discovered several text messages between Clegg and co-conspirators demonstrating that Clegg was hired to murder J.C.  The messages also showed a persistent pattern of Clegg and others tracking members of J.C.’s family in attempts to locate and murder them.

In May 2025, Clegg pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Clegg was found guilty of the conspiracy to commit murder for hire at the conclusion of a five-day jury trial.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh A. Ragner and Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Independence, Mo. Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo., man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction.

Gerrell Eugene Lawrence, 30, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., admitting that he possessed a Glock 27, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun on Oct. 1, 2025, in Columbia, Mo. Due to a prior felony conviction, Lawrence is not permitted to possess a firearm.

Under federal statutes, Lawrence is subject to up to 15 years’ imprisonment for his possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction. This maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes, but Lawrence’s ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on 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 Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Los Angeles, Ca., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his leadership role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy involving over 122 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Dejuan Tyrone Parker, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 25 years in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 20 years in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. These sentences will run concurrently. Parker will also have to pay a money judgment in the amount of $400,000, which represents proceeds he obtained directly and indirectly from his distribution of methamphetamine during the charged conspiracy. Parker pleaded guilty on Mar. 31, 2025.

According to court documents, in 2023, law enforcement received reliable information that Parker was bringing large quantities of methamphetamine from Los Angeles, Ca., to the Springfield, Mo., area for distribution. While investigating Parker’s drug-trafficking activities, law enforcement learned that Parker was recruiting women to transport the methamphetamine on commercial flights from California to Missouri.

The investigation culminated on May 9, 2024, when investigators, who were tracking Parker’s cell phone, observed him at the Los Angeles International Airport. Investigators subsequently learned that Parker and a co-defendant were scheduled to arrive in Springfield just after midnight on May 10, 2024. Parker and his co-defendant were detained upon their arrival at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, and investigators subsequently located 11 vacuum-sealed bags containing approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine inside her suitcase. The bags of methamphetamine were wrapped inside men’s clothing. At the time of his arrest, Parker was wearing over $111,000 of jewelry.

Parker is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case. Defendants Richard Allen Thomas, 43; Brian Edward Davidson, 45; Robert Dean Miller, Jr., 43; Cassidy Elden Conner, 36; DeShaunda Nicole Wells, 36; Dawn Marie Klapp, 47; and Victoria Marie Jenkins, 25, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kentucky Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Taney County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, and the Branson, Mo., Police Department.

Homeland Security Task Force

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Homeland Security Investigations; with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Chicago, Ill., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for transporting more than 4 kilograms of methamphetamine through Kansas City, Mo., aboard a train.  The man also pleaded guilty to possessing a revolver in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

Larry L. Radcliffe, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of possession with intent to distribute an amount of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Members of the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN) were conducting interdiction activities at a Kansas City, Mo., train station on Sep. 30, 2024. As passengers disembarked from a train that originated in Los Angeles, Ca., officers conducted consensual encounters with other passengers who remained on the train.  While one detective was interviewing a passenger, Larry L. Radcliffe jumped from his seat and exclaimed: “What’s going on?”  Another detective believed this response was strange and was concerned for the safety of his colleague and accordingly engaged with Radcliffe and asked Radcliffe to step away from the officers.  The detective identified himself and showed Radcliffe his law enforcement credentials.  Radcliffe reported that he was traveling from Los Angeles, Ca. and going to Chicago, Ill.  Radcliffe claimed that he did not have any form of identification on his person.  The detective then noticed three pieces of luggage in an overhead bin and asked Radcliffe if they belonged to him. Radcliffe acknowledged ownership of two pieces of luggage but stated he was unsure if a third piece, a gray colored backpack, was his.  The detective grabbed the gray colored backpack so that Radcliffe could get a closer look at it.  The detective asked if the detective could look inside the backpack to ensure there was not a weapon in it and Radcliffe stated: “go ahead.”  Upon searching the backpack, the detective discovered 10 bundles of methamphetamine wrapped in clear cellophane.  A forensic drug testing laboratory later determined the bundles contained approximately 4.33 kilograms of pure methamphetamine.   In a subsequent search, investigators found a .357 revolver in one of Radcliffe’s other backpacks.  Pursuant to a plea agreement, Radcliffe admitted that he knowingly possessed the methamphetamine and that he was transporting it to a person that he knew would distribute it.  Radcliffe also admitted that he knowingly possessed the firearm to protect himself and the methamphetamine he was transporting.

Under federal statutes, Radcliffe is subject 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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight defendants have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

William Lee Bailey, 38, Eric S. Poston, 48, Brandon M. Beadel, 40, Alyssa Enlow, 31, and Donald R. Potts, 65, all of Independence, Mo., Dennis L. Morris, 51 of Raymore, Mo.; and Savannah Smith, 35, and Travis Bailey, 35, both of Blue Springs, Mo., have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark.

Each defendant previously admitted to taking part in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from on or about Aug. 1, 2019, to March 26, 2021. According to court documents, the conspiracy involved the distribution of roughly 105 kilograms of methamphetamine worth over $1,000,000.  A search warrant executed at a residence in Independence, Mo., used by the conspiracy revealed a large amount of methamphetamine as well as a surveillance video system that had been recording portions of the residence’s interior. A search warrant executed for the video system and its videos revealed the inner workings of the conspiracy—the conspirators involved, packaging and weighing methamphetamine, conducting drug deals, counting cash, and possessing firearms to further this conspiracy.

As to each defendant, the Court imposed the below-listed sentences:

• William Lee Bailey, who was the leader and organizer of the conspiracy, was sentenced to a 168-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count, and an additional 60 months for his plea to an additional count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense for a total of 228 months, and ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
• Poston was sentenced to a 120-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count, and an additional 60 months for his plea to an additional count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense for a total of 180 months, and ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
• Beadel was sentenced to a 120-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
• Travis Bailey was sentenced to a 96-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve four years of supervised release.
• Morris was sentenced to a 78-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
• Potts was sentenced to a 72-month term of imprisonment for the drug conspiracy count and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
• Smith and Enlow were both sentenced to terms of probation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Independence, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Ozark, Mo., timeshare salesman was sentenced in federal court today for attempting to evade taxation.

Ryan J. McMillin, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 18 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. McMillin was ordered to pay $460,283.00 in restitution and an additional $149,396.68 in interest.

McMillin, who pleaded guilty on June 18, 2025, admitted that he did not report income he received while employed as a timeshare salesman with four different companies from 2018 to 2023. McMillin submitted eight different forms to his employers falsely claiming exempt status during those years. Because McMillin claimed exempt status on his W-4s his employers did not withhold taxes from McMillin’s paychecks. McMillin then failed to make an income tax return or pay the $581,981.00 in income taxes he owed to the IRS for those six calendar years.

“This time of year, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) is especially focused on investigating tax fraud.  This sentence is an important victory for every taxpayer who plays by the rules, and it sends a message to those who attempt to shirk their responsibilities,” said Special Agent in Charge William Steenson, IRS-Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field Office.  “Thanks to our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, those who defraud the U.S. government through tax evasion will be held accountable.”

“Don’t become a convicted felon because you think you can get away with cheating the government on paying your fair share of taxes,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney.

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Odessa, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing a firearm used in a shooting in Kansas City, Mo.

Gary D. Holcomb II, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that he admitted he used in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to the written plea agreement, Holcomb admitted that during the early morning hours on Sept. 30, 2025, he was in an alley behind a residence in Kansas City, Missouri.  Holcomb admitted that he possessed a semi-automatic AR style rifle with a large capacity magazine and shot at another individual in the alleyway, before fleeing the area in an SUV.  Holcomb further admitted he had multiple felony convictions, to include a prior federal felony conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Under federal statutes, Holcomb 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. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Wimes to 12 months in federal custody for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

Lisandro Garcia-Ramirez, 23, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Garcia-Ramirez was arrested on Feb. 20, 2025, traveling on I-70 in Saline County, Mo. Garcia-Ramirez admitted to transporting individuals he knew were present in the United States illegally.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegal firearms and distribution of marijuana.

Nathan Caldwell, Jr., 34, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 12 years in federal prison without parole.  Caldwell, Jr. was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions.

His father and co-defendant, Nathan Caldwell, Sr., a/k/a “Prince Bossalinie”, 54, was sentenced on Aug. 7, 2025, to 21 years and 8 months in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 4, 2025, Caldwell, Jr. pleaded guilty to engaging in firearm sales without a license, three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, and three counts of distribution of marijuana.

Between Dec. 20, 2023, and April 17, 2024, a Confidential Informant purchased 19 firearms, one bulletproof vest, approximately 606.29 grams of methamphetamine, 3.4 grams of powder cocaine, 3.3 grams of crack cocaine, and 9.4 grams of marijuana from Caldwell, Sr.  Between Dec. 20, 2023, and April 20, 2024, the Confidential Informant purchased three firearms and approximately 460 grams of marijuana from Caldwell, Jr.  Each of the transactions occurred at Caldwell Sr.’s residence.  On May 8, 2024, Caldwell, Sr. sold the Confidential Informant a Glock, Model 19x, 9mm pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch”, on the slide of the pistol.  The Confidential Informant also purchased three extra firearm magazines from Caldwell, Sr.  The Confidential Informant left the residence, and investigators executed a search warrant on the residence.  During the execution of the search warrant, investigators recovered the firearm and magazines the Confidential Informant purchased, along with approximately 14.2 grams of crack cocaine and 15.3 grams of cocaine from Caldwell Sr.’s dining room table.  Investigators also recovered approximately 4 grams of cocaine from Caldwell, Jr.’s vehicle.

Caldwell, Jr. has prior felony convictions for assault in the first degree, aggravated assault – use of a deadly weapon, and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings.  It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Suwanee, Ga., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a fraudulent check scheme.

Darrell C. Roseborough, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Grey Kays to 204 months in prison without parole.  The court also ordered Roseborough to pay $634,806.93 to the victims of the scheme.

On Aug. 14, 2025, Roseborough pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

“Today’s hefty sentence reiterates the seriousness of this scheme. Mr. Roseborough led a group that traveled far and wide to defraud financial institutions all over the country. The FBI will continue to work hard to ensure financial fraudsters are held accountable for their actions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus, Kansas City Field Division.

According to court documents, Roseborough was the leader of a group that traveled around the United States cashing fraudulent checks. Members of the scheme, which included co-defendants Sheldon Samuels, Derrick Walker, and Tambria Davis, used the information of identity theft victims to open fraudulent accounts at financial institutions and cashed fraudulent checks that were made payable to the identity theft victims.  Roseborough made fraudulent checks and participated in the production and distribution of fraudulent driver’s licenses.  Roseborough used FedEx to send fraudulent documents to where the scheme was operating, and Samuels and Walker passed the fraudulent documents onto Davis and other check passers who entered the banks to cash the fraudulent checks.

In 2001, Roseborough was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina for his role in a similar scheme.  “This defendant has repeatedly decided to break the law and engage in criminal activity, and his lengthy sentence reflects those decisions,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney.

Sheldon Samuels pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 78 months in prison on Jan. 21, 2026.  On Jan. 27, 2026, Tambria Davis was sentenced to time served after being in custody in the Western District of Missouri since April 2024.

Derrick Walker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Nov. 18, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the FBI. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Buckner, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug distribution.

Charles J. Dunne, 62, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to more than 15 years in federal prison without parole.  Dunne will serve 125 months for drug distribution and 60 months, consecutive, for possessing 29 firearms in connection with his drug distribution.

In early 2023, law enforcement received information that Dunne was distributing large quantities of narcotics from his home.  Between March 2023 and Sept. 2023, law enforcement intercepted numerous individuals who purchased narcotics from Dunne.  After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement searched Dunne’s home and discovered large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana.  They also discovered dozens of weapons, including six functional hand grenades.  When law enforcement arrived, Dunne ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl.  Law enforcement, assisted by emergency medical services, administered lifesaving care to Dunne. 

On March 27, 2025, Dunne pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.

Dunne has many prior narcotics-related convictions, including a federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in 1998. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick.  It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jackson County Drug Task Force.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Sinaloa, Mexico man was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 27, 2026, for his involvement in a fentanyl drug conspiracy.

Raymundo Guadalupe Felix-Perez, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 20 years’ imprisonment without parole, 5 years supervised release, and a money judgment of $80,000.  Felix-Perez previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, between Oct. 27, 2020, and Jan. 24, 2023, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in the Western District of Missouri.

Beginning the fall of 2020, Felix-Perez sold M30 fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator in the Western District of Missouri.  The initial indictment in this matter included two defendants that were charged, Troy Lee Palmer and Dallas W. Hughs, in a six-count indictment including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  During the initial investigation, other members of the conspiracy were identified, including Craig Troester, Dakota Morris, Cassidie Bumgarner, Lucas Coltrain, and Jessica Moody.  The final superseding indictment charged Felix-Perez, Joshua Stramel, and Kaden Bernard with the conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. All members of the conspiracy have been previously sentenced with Felix-Perez being the last.

Prior to his indictment, Felix-Perez returned to Sinaloa, Mexico, where he continued to distribute fentanyl to co-conspirators in Missouri, Iowa, Arizona, and Idaho.  On June 30, 2024, Felix-Perez was arrested after attempting to enter the United States in the Southern District of California.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett.  It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Grundy County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office; Trenton, Missouri, Police Department; Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation;  Buchanan County, Missouri Drug Strike Force; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Mercer County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office; Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Internal Revenue Service.

Homeland Security Task Force

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Overland Park, Ks. man was sentenced on Jan. 27, 2026, by the Honorable Roseann A. Ketchmark to 189 months imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons to be followed by 15 years of supervised release.

Jason M. Shellenbergar, 50, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography; one count of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography involving a victim under the age of 12.  At the time of these offenses, Shellenbergar was living in Independence, Missouri.

Shellenbergar will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force and the Kansas City, Missouri 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. – A Guatemalan man residing in St. Joseph, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today for fraudulently using a Minnesota man’s identity for over a decade to work legally in the United States.

Romeo Perez-Bravo, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of illegal re-entry by an alien previously convicted of a felony.

According to the plea agreement, Perez-Bravo began using the victim’s name and social security number to obtain employment at several businesses in St. Joseph, Missouri beginning as early as 2009 up to his indictment in March 2025. The victim discovered the identity theft when he began receiving tax bills from the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid income taxes assigned to his social security number. Perez-Bravo also used the victim’s identity to obtain several Missouri issued identification cards.

Perez-Bravo is a citizen of Guatemala and does not have permission to enter, remain, or work in the United States legally. Records indicate he has been deported three separate times, with at least one deportation occurring after he was convicted of a felony.

Under federal statutes, Perez-Bravo faces a mandatory two years in federal prison for the offense of aggravated identity theft. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the offense of illegal re-entry by an alien previously convicted of a felony. According to federal statute, these prison terms 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 Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the St. Joseph Mo. Police Department; and the Olivia Mn. Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Grain Valley, Mo., police officer was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge D. Gregory Kays to 20 years in the Bureau of Prisons to be followed by supervised release for Life.

August Price Gildehaus, 30, of Blue Springs, Mo., previously pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and one count of producing child pornography.

Gildehaus admitted that he engaged in illegal sexual activity with a 15-year-old female victim. Gildehaus and the victim met on an online social media platform. Gildehaus met with the victim on five separate occasions between Aug. 5, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, to engage in illicit sexual activity at different locations, including a middle school parking lot.

Gildehaus admitted that the child victim took photographs of herself when she was home, and he took photographs of himself that he sent to her. Gildehaus also admitted that he recorded videos of their sexual encounters.

Gildehaus will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Brackett. It was investigated by the Grain Valley, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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. – A Jamaican national illegally residing in Branson, Mo. was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Akeem A. Sirdine, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to two years imprisonment in federal prison without parole, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

On Aug. 26, 2025, Sirdine pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Sirdine had been issued a J1 (student) visa with authorization to remain in the United States until September 2024. Sirdine unlawfully remained in the United States after that date and, at the time of his arrest in February 2025, he was in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with an extended magazine. Under federal law it is illegal for any person who is in the United States unlawfully to possess a firearm.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Taney County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Kansas City, Mo. – U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price announced today that the Western District of Missouri collected more than $9.7 million in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $9,042,015.71 was collected in criminal actions and $684,459.72 was collected in civil actions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $5,514,787 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

“The attorneys and support staff in our Monetary Penalties Unit (MPU) are committed to collecting on behalf of victims of crime and taxpayers,” Price said. “Through the MPU’s diligent efforts, victims of crime have received restitution for what they lost at the hands of criminal defendants. In the Western District of Missouri, defendants do not – and will not – profit from their illegal activities.”

Additionally, the Western District of Missouri worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $8,624,051.35 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $52,264.86 was collected in criminal actions and $8,571,786.49 was collected in civil actions.         

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for her role in a mail fraud scheme in which false documents were submitted to the Missouri Department of Revenue to obtain mechanics liens and titles for vehicles that had previously been reported stolen.

Christie Engle, 49, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count of mail fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of money laundering.

According to the plea agreement, Engle worked as an employee for Dennis Cleveland, the owner of Affordable Towing.  Cleveland directed his employees, one of which was Engle, to submit fraudulent documents to the Missouri Department of Revenue.  The purpose of the documents was to obtain substitute or replacement mechanics liens and vehicle titles that would allow Cleveland, through Affordable Towing, to sell the vehicles.  In each instance, the documents submitted by Engle, at the direction of Cleveland, claimed to have received permission from the vehicle’s owner.  Upon reviewing the documents, it was discovered that none of the listed vehicle owners gave Engle, Cleveland, or Affordable Towing permission to seize or sell their vehicle.  Further, in all these documents, a signature in the name of the vehicle’s owner was provided and was confirmed to be a forgery.  In those instances that Engle was successful in obtaining a replacement lien or title at Cleveland’s direction, from the Missouri Department of Revenue, Cleveland sold the vehicles at his used car dealership.  In those instances that Engle was unsuccessful in obtaining a replacement title or mechanics lien at Cleveland’s direction, the vehicle was sold to a local scrapyard.  Under either circumstance, Engle carried out criminal acts at Cleveland’s direction, who then took all the proceeds from the vehicle’s sale or scrapping of these vehicles for himself.  Each of the vehicles involved in this scheme were confirmed to have been reported stolen and Engle, Cleveland or Affordable Towing did not have permission to possess, sell, or scrap any of these vehicles.

In December 2025, Cleveland also pleaded guilty to the same charges and is awaiting sentencing.

Under federal statutes, Engle is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole for the offense of mail fraud. Further, Engle is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole for the offense of money laundering.  Finally, Engle is subject to a sentence of 2 years, to run consecutively to the mail fraud and money laundering, for the offense of aggravated identity theft.  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 Missouri Department of Revenue, Compliance and Investigation Bureau, the United States Post Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms.

Aaron Wayne Williams, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 104 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by an additional three years of supervised release.

Williams pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on May 27, 2025. Williams has previous felony convictions for domestic assault in the third degree, attempted burglary in the first degree, property damage motivated by discrimination in the second degree, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon.

On Jan. 8, 2025, Springfield, Mo., Police Department officers contacted Williams after observing Williams sleeping in his running vehicle in the parking lot of the Kum & Go located at 2963 East Division Street. Officers observed a Ruger, Mini 14, semiautomatic rifle beside Williams as he slept. Officers woke Williams up and removed him from the vehicle. After a search of the vehicle, officers found three additional firearms on Williams and in the vehicle: a Taurus, G2S, 9mm pistol; an HS Produkt, XD, .40 caliber pistol; and a Star, 9mm pistol. Officers also located suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, loose ammunition, and additional firearm magazines in the vehicle. When law enforcement interviewed Williams, he admitted that he was under the influence of controlled substances when he was contacted by the Springfield Police Department officers.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.

Jose Alberto Rodriguez-Landeros (also known as Raul Garcia, Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Saul Dias Gonzalez, Miguel Angel Garcia Perez, Miguel Garcia Perez, Jose Alberto Landeros, Angel Saucedo, Jose M. Rodriguez, Ivan M. Pantoja, Guillermo Gonzalez-Dias), 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 14, 2024, Rodriguez-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported. 

Based on the written plea agreement, Rodriguez-Landeros admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential source on three separate occasions on Oct. 11, 2022, Oct. 21, 2022, and Nov. 22, 2022.  On Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of the defendant’s residence located in Kansas City, Mo.  Officers discovered the following items: a Keltec, Model P-32, .32 caliber pistol; identification documents with various aliases utilized by Rodriguez-Landeros; approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine; approximately 148 grams of powder cocaine; and $9,500 in U.S. currency.  Also on Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials arrested the defendant while driving on Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. During the arrest, officers seized approximately 380 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of cocaine found on Rodriguez-Landeros’s person and in his vehicle. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records confirmed that Rodriguez-Landeros was previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions since 2000.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mt. Vernon, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud scheme that targeted the Missouri Lottery Commission and an area gas station.

Amy Young, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool to 23 months imprisonment with the Bureau of Prisons based upon her prior guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

Young conspired with others to employ a scheme to purchase Missouri lottery tickets using stolen and fraudulent credit cards and credit card numbers at a Joplin, Mo., gas station.  Young and her co-conspirators made $62,082.50 in fraudulent transactions at the gas station in July and August of 2022. These transactions included the purchase of Missouri Lottery tickets. The perpetrators would send other individuals to collect any cash prizes associated with the tickets. The group fraudulently claimed $54,248 in cash prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission. The fraudulent cash prizes and credit card transactions totaled $116,330.50.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joplin, Missouri, Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for robbing a local bank with the use of a firearm.

Richie E. Manley, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to one count of aiding & abetting bank robbery, along with one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Oct. 3, 2024, at approximately 10:43 a.m., Richie E. Manley entered a bank in Kansas City, Missouri.  While speaking to a bank teller, Manley pulled out a handgun, later determined to be a Smith and Wesson, Model SD, .40 caliber pistol, and told the tellers “give me your money.” While pointing the pistol at the tellers, Manley told the tellers to give him the “hundreds.” The tellers provided the money from the bank drawers and Manley took the money and fled the bank. The bank reported an estimated loss of $2,155 from the robbery. The bank was federally insured by the FDIC.

Under federal statutes, Manley is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to life in federal prison without parole. The minimum and 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 Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department (KCPD).

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eleven defendants, including the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, and controller of a Joplin, Mo., corporation, have been sentenced in federal court for their role in a racketeering conspiracy to hire, harbor, and transport undocumented workers in several Midwestern states.

“Immigration issues in the country and in this district are not limited to those who illegally enter the United States. Businesses and entities who skirt the law and provide an environment that encourages and assists undocumented individuals to enter and remain in the United States unlawfully will be held accountable. My office is committed to prosecuting both individuals who illegally enter the United States as well as businesses and entities that profit off their labor,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney, Western District of Missouri. “I would like to thank our law enforcement partners at HSI Kansas City for their work on this important matter.”

“The sentencing handed down today sends an unmistakable message. If you build your business on illegal labor and criminal racketeering, you will pay a steep price,” said Mark Zito, HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. “This criminal enterprise was a calculated attack on our laws, our economy, and the most vulnerable among us. HSI Kansas City will not tolerate those who exploit workers and cheat honest business owners for profit. Today’s sentence proves that anyone who thinks they can get away with this kind of lawlessness will be hunted down, prosecuted, and held to the highest account.”

Jose Luis Bravo, 55, of Claremore, Ok.; Jose Guadalupe Razo, 44, of Carl Junction, Mo.; Anthony Edward Doll, 47, and Miguel Tarin-Martinez, 47, both of Joplin, Mo.; Antonio Martinez-Munoz, 48, of Collinsville, Ok.; Rodrigo Manrique Razo, 43, of Great Bend, Ks.; Juan Carlos Palma-Cedeno, 41, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Luis Lopez-Valadez, 45, of West Plains, Mo.; Jaime Ramirez-Ceja, 47, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Luis Rodriguez-Valerio, 61, of Tulsa, Ok.; and Veronica Razo de Lara, 51, of Great Bend, Ks., have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark.

Each defendant previously admitted to taking part in a RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations) conspiracy from Jan. 2018, to Aug. 2021, that transported and employed Mexican, Guatemalan, and El Salvadoran nationals who were not authorized to live or work in the United States. Conspirators also harbored and encouraged the unauthorized workers to remain and reside in the United States by providing them with housing and, in certain circumstances, fraudulent identification documentation.

Specialty Foods Distribution (SFD) is a Missouri corporation, based in Joplin, specializing in wholesale Mexican food products and restaurant supply products. During the racketeering conspiracy, SFD’s executive staff included Jose Bravo as chief executive officer; Jose Razo as president; Anthony Doll as chief financial officer; Miguel Tarin-Martinez as controller.

Bravo, J. Razo, Doll, and Tarin-Martinez created, maintained, and/or otherwise oversaw a network of enterprise-affiliated restaurants in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma that were serviced by SFD. The enterprise-affiliated restaurants were managed and/or staffed by coconspirators, including defendants Martinez-Munoz, R. Razo, Palma-Cedeno, Lopez-Valadez, Ramirez-Ceja, Rodriguez-Valerio, and Razo de Lara. Together, the defendants conspired to staff the restaurants with unauthorized workers—a workforce not available to law-abiding business owners—thereby gaining an unfair and illegal competitive business advantage.

As part of the conspiracy, the defendants utilized evasive and fraudulent tactics. Specifically, to keep the enterprise-affiliated restaurants staffed and profitable, the defendants kept certain unauthorized workers off official payroll records; required certain unauthorized workers to work at times when federal officials were unlikely to conduct inspections; failed to collect or maintain complete and accurate Form I-9 documentation; falsely attested to the accuracy of Form I-9 documentation; submitted inaccurate wage and hour reports to state officials; and facilitated fraudulent identification documentation being produced, transported, and provided to unauthorized workers.

To date, the Court has imposed an aggregate 164 months of imprisonment and ordered forfeiture in an amount over $6,400,000.00. As to each defendant, the Court imposed the below-listed sentences.

• Bravo, who was the leader and organizer of the racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to a 36-month term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide approximately $5,764.537.47 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise, property he acquired or maintained as part of the racketeering enterprise, and/or property that afforded a source of influence over the racketeering enterprise. Specifically, the forfeiture amount includes funds from five bank accounts; payment for his share of 12 real properties, including one personal residence and 11 commercial buildings; and payment for his share of over 20 business entities, including a portion of SFD.
• J. Razo, who was a supervisor and manager of the racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to a 30-month term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $130,700.04 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
• Doll, who was a supervisor and manager of the racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to a 10-month term of home detention as a condition of probation and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $132,303.09 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
• Tarin-Martinez was sentenced to a 24-month term of imprisonment, three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $23,094.97 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
• Martinez-Munoz, who worked as a manager at Bravo’s Mexican Grill in Overland Park, Ks., was sentenced to a 15-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
• R. Razo, who served as the manager of Playa Azul Mexican Restaurant in Great Bend, Ks., was sentenced to a 13-month term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $81,933.28 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
• Palma-Cedeno, who worked as an employee at El Banquete Mexican Restaurant in Claremore, Ok., was sentenced to a 10-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
• Lopez-Valadez, who served as the manager of two El Charro Mexican Restaurant locations in West Plains, Mo., was sentenced to an eight-month term of home detention as a condition of probation and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $345,791.86 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
• Ramirez-Ceja, who served as the manager of El Charro Mexican Restaurant in Lebanon, Mo., was sentenced to an 11-month term of imprisonment and a one-year term of supervised release.
• Rodriguez-Valerio, who served as a manager at Bravo’s Mexican Grill in Overland Park, Ks., was sentenced to a 13-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
• Razo de Lara, who served as the manager of Maria’s Mexican Grill, in Great Bend, Ks., was sentenced to a 12-month-and-one-day term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.

Defendants Eusebio Ramirez-Ceja, 55; Alejandro Castillo-Ramirez, 44; and Lorenzo Castro-Manzanarez, 43, all three citizens of Mexico, have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, Nicholas Heberle, David Wagner, and Leigh Farmakidis. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Kansas Department of Labor; Kansas Department of Revenue; Kansas Highway Patrol; Missouri State Highway Patrol; and Butler, Mo., Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Raytown, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to using a firearm during an armed robbery of a CVS pharmacy in Kansas City, Mo.

Ta’Rod Glenel Perkins, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuan M. Counts to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, specifically a robbery of a CVS pharmacy store.

According to the written plea agreement, Perkins admitted that on February 13, 2025, he entered a CVS in Kansas City, Mo., wearing a Nike mask, black Nike coat, blue jeans, and gloves. Witnesses reported that the robber had a handgun and stated: “I want promethazine and oxy. I don’t want any trouble. Just give me promethazine and oxy.” Perkins jumped over the counter and grabbed a red tub that was filled with controlled substances.   CVS employees were able to place a tracking device in the red tub that Perkins stole.  This tracker led investigators to a residence in Belton, Mo., where Perkins was found. Investigators obtained a search warrant of the residence and found clothing worn by the robber during the robbery. A firearm was later recovered from a neighbor who found it hidden under a barbeque grill on his deck.  Law enforcement officials swabbed the firearm for genetic material and DNA comparative analysis tended to show that Perkins’s DNA was present on the firearm.

Under federal statutes, Ta’Rod Glenel Perkins is subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison and a minimum sentence of five years of imprisonment 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 Trey Alford. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Belton, Mo. Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court today for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien.

Gilberto Javana-Zuniga, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Bough to one year and one day imprisonment in federal prison without parole followed by one year of supervised release.

On July 8, 2025, North Kansas City Police Department officers saw the defendant rummaging through trash bins in a business area.  Upon contacting the defendant, Officers determined he was driving a van which had been reported stolen.  Javana-Zuniga gave officers a false name.  Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identified Javana-Zuniga was illegally in the United States after having been removed three times before – once in 2011 and twice in 2013.

Javana-Zuniga had been convicted of misdemeanor battery in 2011 and had six pending cases for theft, driving under the influence, driving without a license, and displaying license plates of another.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Mahoney.  It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty to willfully dealing firearms without a license.

Delron Montrez Pickens, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of engaging in the business of firearms sales despite not having a federal firearms license.  According to the plea agreement, Pickens admitted that he purchased or attempted to purchase 23 firearms from federal firearms licensees to obtain firearms that he would later sell to other persons for profit. Pickens admitted that he made false statements on the required ATF Form 4473 documents that he was required to complete at the time he purchased the firearms.  On these forms, Pickens intentionally provided an incorrect address for his residence and falsely claimed he was purchasing the firearm for himself.  In his plea agreement, Pickens admitted that he was purchasing the firearms for third parties.  Pickens acknowledged that on several occasions he was serving as a “straw purchaser” of firearms – Pickens was buying the firearms for persons whom he knew were legally prohibited from possessing them.   Pickens engaged in this business for profit despite not having a valid federal license to sell firearms.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Honduran National illegally residing the Springfield, Missouri, area, was sentenced in federal court today for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien after subsequently being convicted of a prior felony crime.

Rubin Arturo Pinot-Banegas, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool to 10 months imprisonment without parole followed by one year of supervised release.

On June 27, 2025, Nixa Police Department officers responded to a traffic accident involving a two-car collision.  Officers contacted five Honduran nationals, who had been involved in the traffic collision.  The defendant, Pinot-Banegas, provided local officers with his name.  Identity documents were then obtained by law enforcement, and it was determined that Pinot-Banegas had a Honduran passport, but did not have documents showing that he was legally within the United States.  Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE) Agents responded and determined that Pinot-Banegas was illegally in the United States after having been removed four time before – once in 2007, once in 2009, once in 2015, and once in 2017.

Pinot-Banegas had been convicted of domestic battery, as well as a misdemeanor conviction for illegally entering the United States in 2015, and a felony conviction for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported in 2017.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Nixa, Missouri, Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction.

James Arthur Tatum, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 46 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His sentence also includes three years of supervised release.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, Tatum was encountered by a Columbia, Mo. Police Department officer on June 8, 2024. Tatum was alone in a vehicle, and while the officer was checking Tatum’s identification, he saw Tatum making what he believed were furtive movements in the front passenger area. During a subsequent search of the car, officers located a Glock 43X firearm under the driver’s seat. Tatum has prior felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction, and is not permitted to possess a firearm.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia, Missouri Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for fentanyl distribution and illegally possessing firearms.

Darius Burnett, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a total sentence of 13 years in federal prison without parole.

Burnett pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on May 8, 2025.

On Nov. 8, 2023, investigators with the ATF, DEA, and Springfield Police Department executed a search warrant at Burnett’s residence. During the search of Burnett’s apartment and vehicle, officers located four loaded semi-automatic pistols, including two with extended magazines, body armor, ammunition, marijuana, over 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, and $78,935.80 in cash. In an interview, the defendant described himself as the “top dude” in Springfield, Missouri, for fentanyl sales, stated that he was purchasing 5,000 pills a month from a source in St. Louis, Missouri, and admitted that the cash located by law enforcement were drug proceeds.   

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