Southern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Damianville Man Sentenced for Attempting to Entice and Enticing a MinorRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Paul L. Jansen, 26, of Damiansville, Illinois, was sentenced on Wednesday,
February 16, 2022, to 188 months imprisonment for attempted enticement of a minor and
enticement of a minor. The sentence will run concurrently for both counts. Jansen was
also sentenced to 15 years supervised release, fined $400 ($200 per count), and ordered to pay a
$200 special assessment fee.
According to the stipulation of facts agreed to by the parties, Jansen attempted to persuade,
induce, entice, and coerce two victims he knew to be under the age of 18, to engage in sexual
activity. Jansen contacted the victims using a cellular phone and the internet. The acts occurred
between October 27, 2017, and November 25, 2018.Evidence adduced at sentencing was that Jansen would often initiate contact with females, the
majority of whom were minors, and within a short time, ask to set up a meeting. The investigation
revealed instances of this behavior in several cities in the Metro East area.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.”
The case was investigated by the O’Fallon, Illinois, Police Department and the United States Secret
Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott prosecuted the case.Two East St. Louis Men Indicted for String of Carjackings in the Metro EastRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Armon R. Simpson, 18, and Jamariante N. Burgess, 19, both of East St. Louis,
Illinois, have been charged by superseding indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking,
Carjacking, and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. Both men have been
ordered detained pending trial.
According to court documents, between July 12, 2021, and August 5, 2021, Simpson, Burgess, and
others, conspired to commit armed carjackings, including three carjackings in the
Eastern District of Missouri and the Southern District of Illinois. The final carjacking prior to
their arrest occurred on August 5, 2021. Burgess and Simpson approached a vehicle in downtown Saint
Louis, Missouri, displayed firearms at the passengers, and forcibly took their vehicle. Afterwards,
they fled to East St. Louis, Illinois, where they shot a man walking in an apartment complex and
then discarded the stolen vehicle.If convicted, Simpson and Burgess face up to 15 years imprisonment on the Carjacking charge, 5
years for Conspiracy to Commit Carjacking, and an additional sentence of 7 years for Using a
Firearm during a Crime of Violence, which must run consecutive to all other sentences.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of
the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program
proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders
work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and
develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement
efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry
programs for lasting reductions in crime.This case was investigated by the Illinois State Police Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG),
the East St. Louis Police Department, Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and Saint Louis County Police Department. PSEG is a newly formed Illinois State Police unit embedded in
and working in direct partnership with the East St. Louis Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria Burns is prosecuting the case.
St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft from Metro East Charity, Identity TheftRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill – Kenesha Burlison, 40, of St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty on Thursday,
February 10, 2022, to a two-count felony information charging her with theft from an organization
receiving federal funds and aggravated identity theft.
Burlison served as the Director of Human Relations for Call for Help, Inc., beginning in 2016. Call
for Help is a longstanding charitable organization in East St. Louis, Illinois, that helps people
overcome a variety of personal crises, ranging from sexual assault and poverty to homelessness and
mental health issues. The organization receives federal funds annually to assist in carrying out
its mission.“Federal charges, carrying a mandatory minimum prison sentence, were appropriate here because the
Defendant stole so much money that would have provided needed services to vulnerable
victims, including sexual assault survivors and the homeless,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D.
Weinhoeft.“An organization dedicated to assisting victims of trauma and families in crisis holds high
expectations for honesty and integrity from its director,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David
Nanz. “Kenesha Burlison demonstrated bold disregard for her co-workers and the people who depend
on Call for Help to survive. The FBI is dedicated to investigating those, like Burlison,
who choose to deceive and defraud others while stealing taxpayer dollars.”According to court documents, Burlison fraudulently obtained a cashier’s check from Call for Help
in the amount of $69,788.62, which she used to pay the down payment for a home she was purchasing.
Burlison told Call for Help that she needed a cashier’s check to provide to the title company and
claimed that she couldn’t get one from her bank because it was closed. In exchange for the
cashier’s check, Burlison provided Call for Help with a personal check in the amount of $70,000.
That check, as well as two others provided by Burlison in the coming months, bounced for
insufficient funds.Following her termination from the organization, Call for Help discovered that Burlison
had also fraudulently submitted requests for reimbursements that she was not entitled to from the
organization that exceeded $100,000. These reimbursements were paid to Burlison.In addition to the charge relating to her theft from Call for Help, Burlison also pled guilty to
aggravated identity theft. Court documents alleged that, in connection with her mortgage
application, Burlison submitted a fraudulent income verification with a forged signature of the
Director of Quality Assurance
at Call for Help.Theft from an organization receiving federal funds carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
and a fine of up to $250,000. Burlison faces a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment for
aggravated identity theft, which must run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the fraud count.
In addition, Burlison could also be ordered to pay restitution to her victims.Burlison is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2022. A federal district court judge will
determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory
factors.The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Springfield Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross is prosecuting the case.Centralia Man Sentenced for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Brylon Engelkins, 21, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced to 36 months in
prison for possessing a firearm by a felon. Upon his release, Engelkins will be supervised by
United States Probation for a period of three years. Additionally, Engelkins must pay a $300 fine
and a $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, Engelkins possessed a 9mm Diamondback pistol while on
supervised release for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, a prior federal
conviction from the Southern District of Illinois. Engelkins’ current sentence will be
served consecutive to the sentence previously imposed for violating his supervised release.This case was investigated by the FBI - Springfield Division Safe Streets Task Force, the United
States Marshal’s Service, and the Centralia Police Department.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Justice Department Strategy to Combat Human TraffickingRead the Press Release
Fairview Heights, Ill. – U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today released the
Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking pursuant to the
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.Rooted in the foundational pillars and priorities of the interagency National Action Plan to Combat
Human Trafficking, which President Biden released on Dec. 3, 2021, the
Justice Department's National Strategy is expansive in scope. It aims to enhance the
department's capacity to prevent human trafficking; to prosecute human trafficking cases; and to
support and protect human trafficking victims and survivors.“Human trafficking is an insidious crime,” said Attorney General Garland. “Traffickers exploit and
endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims
unimaginable harm. The Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human
Trafficking will bring the full force of the Department to this fight.”“I am especially proud of our office’s efforts to combat the scourge of human trafficking,” said
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Over the past year, we have built a
Human Trafficking Task Force that has grown to almost 100 members. We have been particularly
effective providing training and outreach on labor trafficking, child abuse, and victims’ response
to trauma.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office also hosted an event featuring “Truckers Against
Trafficking” to raise awareness to the indicators of human trafficking.Among other things, the Justice Department’s multi-year strategy to combat all forms of human
trafficking will:• Strengthen engagement, coordination and joint efforts to combat human
trafficking by prosecutors in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and by federal law
enforcement agents nationwide.
• Establish federally-funded, locally-led anti-human trafficking task forces
that support sustained state law enforcement leadership and comprehensive victim assistance.
• Step up departmental efforts to end forced labor by increasing attention,
resources and coordination in labor trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
• Enhance initiatives to reduce vulnerability of American Indians and Alaska
Natives to violent crime, including human trafficking, and to locate missing children.
• Develop and implement new victim screening protocols to identify potential
human trafficking victims during law enforcement operations and encourage victims to
share important information.
• Increase capacity to provide victim-centered assistance to trafficking survivors,
including by supporting efforts to deliver financial restoration to victims.
• Expand dissemination of federal human trafficking training, guidance and expertise.
• Advance innovative demand-reduction strategies.The department’s strategy will be implemented under the direction of the National Human
Trafficking Coordinator designated by the Attorney General in accordance with the
Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017.If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please contact
the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or Text 233733.
To read the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking click here.Centralia Man Sentenced for Maintaining Drug HouseRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – John Fodero, 53, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced on Monday, January
31, 2022, to five years in prison for maintaining a drug house within 1000 feet of a school.
Fodero will serve six years of supervised release upon his release from prison. Fodero was also
ordered pay a $5000 fine and a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, Fodero allowed numerous persons to utilize his residence to buy,
sell, and use illegal, controlled substances including fentanyl. Area emergency
personnel responded to overdose calls originating from his residence ten times within a ten-month
period during 2020 to 2021.This case was investigated by the Centralia Police Department and the FBI-Springfield Division
Safe Streets Task Force.U.s. Settles Dispute over Disadvantaged Business Enterprise FraudRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – United Ironworkers (“United”), D&K Welding Services (“D&K”), Kim Rasnick, and Dorrie Wise-Harris have agreed to pay the United States and the State of Illinois
$440,000 to resolve a civil False Claims Act investigation relating to fraud on the Disadvantaged
Business Enterprise (“DBE”) programs of the United States and the State of Illinois U.S. Attorney
Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. United and D&K are steel construction companies
operating on highway and bridge projects in Illinois and other midwestern states.The DBE program reflects Congress’s intent to combat discrimination against minority and
women-owned businesses on federally-assisted surface transportation work. Under the DBE
regulations, only businesses independently owned and operated by a minority or woman may be
certified as a DBE.The government alleged that, as a non-DBE, United and its President, Kim Rasnick, conspired with
a DBE, D&K, and its President, Dorrie Wise-Harris, to provide materially
false representations and information regarding ownership and control of D&K for DBE certification
and recertification purposes. These allegations were investigated by the U.S. Department
of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and culminated in this settlement.“The DBE program is designed to provide business opportunities to minority and women owned
businesses. Funds designated for that purpose should not be misallocated to
businesses masquerading as legitimate DBEs,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.Karl and Diana Jefferson, who own a steel construction firm in Southern Illinois,
brought the allegations to light. The False Claims Act permits private individuals to
sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. The
civil lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Illinois and is captioned United States et
al. v. United Ironworkers, Inc., et al., 17-cv-1402. The Jefferson’s will receive $79,200 from the
settlement proceeds.This matter was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois and the
Illinois Attorney General’s Office.Former Metro East Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former police officer in the Village of Alorton, Illinois, will be
spending time in federal prison after falsifying thousands of hours on his timesheets. Ricky Perry,
51, of East Saint Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 10 months confinement today, consisting of 5
months in prison and 5 months of home confinement after his release.United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The overwhelming majority of police officers are
honorable public servants who place their lives in harm’s way to protect the rest of us. But there
must be consequences for those rare situations when officers break the laws they swore to uphold.
We will continue to enforce the law in an evenhanded way against all who break it.”FBI Special Agent in Charge David Nanz said, “The cornerstone of the public’s trust
in law enforcement relies on the expectation that each person who takes the oath to protect and
serve the public will do so with integrity. The FBI is committed to maintaining trust in law
enforcement by holding all those who break the law accountable for their actions.”According to court documents, Perry started as a patrol officer with the Alorton Police Department
in August 2017. Within his first six months, Perry began falsifying his timecards to hide the fact
that he wasn’t really patrolling the jurisdiction during his shifts. In fact, nearly every shift
that Perry claimed to be patrolling Alorton, he absconded from the jurisdiction without
justification or approval. He usually went to his home outside of Alorton, where he parked his
patrol car outside his house and sometimes ignored calls from dispatchers. Perry was often the only
patrol officer on duty at the time.Between May 2018 and April 2021, Perry spent about 4,000 hours on the clock as an Alorton patrol
officer while improperly outside the jurisdiction. He received $60,346.25 based on his
misrepresentations. As part of his sentence, Perry was ordered to pay this money back in
restitution in addition to a small fine. He will also spend one year on supervised release after
his time in prison and home confinement.The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force, which
consists of agents with FBI Springfield, and the Illinois State Police.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith and Luke J. Weissler.Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public
Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.East St. Louis Man Sentenced for Distribution of Controlled Substances and Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – Anthony Wisham, 60, of East St. Louis, Illinois, was sentenced to 135 months
imprisonment in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Wisham
previously pled guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with
intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
Wisham admitted to distributing ounce quantities of fentanyl on September 15, 2020, in East St.
Louis, Illinois. On December 10, 2020, Wisham admitted he possessed, with the intent
to distribute, approximately 21.3 grams of cocaine while possessing a firearm. Wisham
is a convicted felon and prohibited from carrying a firearm.The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak.Former U.S. Postal Employee Sentenced for Stealing from Greeting CardsRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – Casey L. Neal, 31, of Belle Rive, Illinois (Jefferson County), was
sentenced this afternoon to 2 years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution to her victims.
Neal pled guilty in October 2021, to theft of mail by a postal service employee.
In January and February 2021, while working as a substitute sales and distribution clerk at the
Belle Rive, Dahlgren, and Macedonia post offices, Neal stole over $300 worth of cash and gift cards
from greeting cards that were sent through those post offices. Neal used some of the gift cards to
purchase money orders used to pay her personal creditors. After being alerted to the thefts,
investigators located other gift cards from retailers and restaurants, including Dick’s Sporting
Goods, Chik-fil-A, and Dairy Queen, which Neal had stolen from the mail.The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zoe J. Gross.Former Treasurer of Perry County Agricultural Society Pleads Guilty to FraudRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – This morning, in federal court in Benton, Illinois, Billy E. Harris, the former treasurer of the Perry County Agricultural Society (“PCAS”), pled guilty to defrauding the PCAS out of more than $100,000.
The PCAS operates all of the festivals at the Perry County Fairgrounds in Pinckneyville, including the Perry County Fair. Harris, 48, currently of St. Louis, MO, served as the treasurer of the PCAS from 2011 through October 2018. When he appeared in court this morning, Harris admitted that from June 5, 2012 through October 3, 2018, he defrauded the PCAS out of more than $100,000. Specifically, Harris acknowledged that he paid his personal expenses, and purchased items for his personal use, with electronic debits from the PCAS bank account. Many of those items were purchased through Amazon. Some of the items that Harris admitted purchasing with PCAS funds include a WiFi router, Apple AirPods, a Himalyan Salt Lamp Air Purifier, Star Wars Darth Vader and Yoda personalized pet tags, a pair of Star Wars men’s sleep pants, a floating pool fountain, a CPAP tube cleaning brush, and men’s grooming products, including beard lube. Harris also admitted writing checks on the PCAS account payable to himself and his spouse, and forging a Board member’s signature on those checks.
Harris will be sentenced on May 5, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. The mail fraud charge on which Harris has been convicted carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to 3 years. In addition, Harris can be ordered to pay full restitution to the PCAS.
The St. Louis Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Pinckneyville Police Department investigated the case. The Perry County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Verseman is prosecuted the case.East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – An East St. Louis, Illinois, man was sentenced to ten years in federal prison today for dealing crack cocaine and illegally possessing firearms. Charles Curren, 51, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for four counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine. Curren faces an additional 60 months imprisonment for possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Curren will also serve a five-year term of supervised release following his release from federal prison as part of his sentence.
The crimes occurred between November 2019 and February 2020. The Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois (MEGSI) arrested Curren and conducted a search warrant at his East St. Louis residence on February 25, 2021. Police found over 300 packages of crack cocaine and five (5) firearms during the search of his home. Curren had been dealing crack cocaine from his home for at least one and a half years prior to his arrest. A federal grand jury indicted Curren in November of 2020, and Curren pled guilty on September 22, 2021.
The investigation was conducted by MEGSI, the Illinois State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Trippi.St. Louis man pleads guilty for his role in armed robbery spreeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge John A. Ross accepted a plea of guilty from Jalon Moore on today’s date. Moore pleaded guilty to several counts of armed robbery and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence. Judge Ross set sentencing for April 6, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Moore and two co-defendants committed a string of armed robberies in 2019 within the Eastern District of Missouri. Each of the robberies involved a yellow Camaro (which was used as the getaway car), the brandishing of firearms, and the taking or attempted taking of money from local businesses, by the use of force, threatened force, or violence.
Moore and the others were responsible for robbing (or attempting to rob) the following businesses on the following dates:
- Mack Bar and Grill located at 4615 Macklind, St. Louis, Missouri on January 9, 2019;
- Jimmy John’s located at 6459 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, Missouri on February 9, 2019;
- Subway located at 1151 South Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri on February 17, 2019;
- Panda Express located at 4400 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on March 18, 2019; and
- Sprint located at 5441 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri on March 21, 2019.
The other two defendants in this matter have previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-St. Louis and the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois; the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield; and the Collinsville and Fairview Heights Police Departments.
Metro East Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care and Public Housing ScamsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Shomanicka Holly, 36, of East Saint Louis, Illinois, pled guilty today to a
two-count felony information charging her with health care fraud and making materially
false statements on a public housing form.As part of her plea, Holly admitted to defrauding a government funded health care program by
requesting payment for services that she never performed. The Illinois Department of
Human Services (“IDHS”) operates a program known as the Personal Assistant program,
which pays people to work as personal assistants for qualified disabled individuals. The
program, which utilizes federal Medicaid funds, will only pay for work performed while the
disabled individuals are present in their homes.According to court documents, Holly served as a personal assistant to a qualified disabled person
from August 2016 to June 2019. During that time, Holly submitted timesheets requesting payment for
providing personal assistant services on dates and times when she was working at another job. In
doing so, Holly defrauded the program out of funds by falsely certifying that she was at the
disabled person’s home when, in fact, she was on the clock somewhere else.In addition, Holly pled guilty to a separate charge of making materially false statements on a
public housing application. Court documents alleged that Holly received public housing
assistance through a program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(“HUD”).At her plea hearing, Holly acknowledged that she knowingly failed to disclose on her housing
assistance renewal application that another adult resided in her home and earned
income. The housing agency relied on this information to allocate its limited resources, including
in determining whether Holly was eligible for public housing assistance and the amount
of assistance. Holly withheld the information to receive more benefits than she was entitled to.Health care fraud carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. Holly faces up to five years
in prison for making a materially false statement on a housing form. She may also be fined up to
$250,000 and ordered to pay restitution on each charge.Sentencing is scheduled for April 13, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in the federal courthouse in East St.
Louis, Illinois.This case was investigated by agents of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and the Illinois
State Police, Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau (MFCB).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.
Lawrence County Resident Charged with Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Aaron E. Inboden, 50, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, was charged in a
two-count Indictment with methamphetamine related offenses. Count 1 charges that from 2018, until
on or about November 2021, in Crawford County, Inboden conspired to distribute five hundred (500)
grams or more of methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that on August 16, 2021, in Crawford County,
Inboden possessed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.If convicted of the distribution conspiracy charge in Count 1, Inboden could receive a minimum of
10 years with up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less
than 5 years. Possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a minimum of 5 years, up
to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 4 years.Inboden is set for an Initial Appearance on December 16, 2021, in federal court in Benton,
Illinois.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendant is
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.The investigation was conducted by the Robinson, Illinois Police Department, and Lawrenceville,
Illinois Police Department, the United States Marshal Service, and the Southeastern Illinois Drug
Task Force. Assistance was also provided by the Crawford County State’s Attorney’s Office and
the Lawrence County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 78 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Centralia man has been sentenced for his possession of child pornography.
Dakota Olson, 27, was sentenced on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, to 78 months in federal prison on
one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in federal court, Olson came to the attention of
law enforcement based on a cyber tip that a Dropbox user had files containing child pornography.
Law enforcement discovered that between July 19, 2019, and February 13, 2020, Olson possessed over
1,500 images and over 150 videos of child pornography in his Dropbox account. Olson
had received images and videos containing child sexual abuse material on the internet
and organized them within his Dropbox account. Olson had previously been convicted of Criminal
Sexual Abuse and was required to register as a sex offender.As part of his sentence, Olson was ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following
his incarceration.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.”The investigation was conducted by the Jefferson County Police Department and the Department of
Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria Burns.Centralia Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Chris Jamison, 18, of Centralia, Illinois, entered a plea of guilty to one
count of felon in possession of a firearm in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Tuesday,
December 14, 2021.
According to court documents, Mr. Jamison admitted possessing a Smith and Wesson handgun after
having been previously convicted of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm at an Occupied
Vehicle in Marion County, Illinois, Circuit Court, case number 20-CF-120. Jamison was
on probation for this offense when he was found with another firearm on March 1,
2021. Law enforcement officials utilized DNA testing to establish Jamison’s possession of the
firearm.Jamison is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. and faces a maximum penalty of
10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering
the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force that focuses enforcement efforts in
Centralia, Marion County, Illinois. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force consists of members of the
FBI, Centralia Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State
Police.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Hudson.Madison County Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Madison County man has been sentenced for unlawful gun possession by a
felon. Derrick D. Ingram, 48, has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison on
one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing hearing was conducted on
Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
According to court documents and statements made in Court, the crime occurred on
October 15, 2020, when Ingram fled from Granite City Police during a traffic stop. Ingram was
armed with a firearm while he ran from police and continued to grab for the gun during his
arrest. He was also found in possession of methamphetamine and cocaine. Ingram had
numerous prior felony convictions including Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Attempted
Aggravated Kidnapping.As part of his sentence, Ingram was ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of
the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program
proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders
work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop
comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses
enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based
prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.The investigation was conducted by the Granite City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria Burns.Justice Department Awards More Than $17.5 Million to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded more than
$17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. Funding will
support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence that is
often at its core. Hoyleton Youth and Family Services was awarded $94,446 to administer PSN grant
funds in the Southern District of Illinois.The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP),
will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support
local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.“This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime
threatening cities and towns all across our country,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco.
“Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but
when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We must work closely
with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies
unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it
provides allow us to do just that.”Grant funds will support the efforts to reduce crimes in East St. Louis by focusing on violent
individuals and collaborating with community partners to address conditions that contribute to
violent crimes. The grant will also support the implementation of a “co-responder
model” in responding to homicides and non-fatal shootings by having trauma teams provide
immediate services to child victims, witnesses, and their families followed by long term trauma
intervention follow up services. With approval from BJA, the Fiscal Agent will begin the process of
making subawards for PSN grant projects.“Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps
people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of
Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for
OJP. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with
jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and
violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust.”In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime,
including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was
the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program
focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the
department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General
Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities,
supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused
and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental
goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.This fall, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country have enhanced their violent crime reduction
efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction
strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies
and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their
districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are
addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer
for all.PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public
safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to
reduce violent crime.The Office of Justice Programs provide federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance,
and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial
equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More
information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Felon on Pre-Trial Release Receives Consecutive Sentence for Second Gun CaseRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An East St. Louis, Illinois, man has been sentenced for possessing a gun as
a convicted felon while on pre-trial release in another federal gun case. Tanario K. Darden, 47,
has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in federal prison for two instances of felon in
possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2020, Darden was on federal pre-trial release for a
felon in possession case when he was found in possession of another firearm. Police
located a firearm and narcotics in a hidden compartment inside Darden’s home. Darden
was sentenced in April of 2021 to 87 months imprisonment for his initial case.On Monday, December 6, 2021, Darden was sentenced to an additional 33 months, to run
consecutive to 87 months, for a total of 10 years imprisonment.As part of his sentences, Darden was ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release following
his imprisonment.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of
the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program
proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders
work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop
comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses
enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based
prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.The case was investigated by the Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG) and the East St. Louis
Police Department. PSEG is a newly formed Illinois State Police unit embedded with and working in
direct partnership with the East St. Louis Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria Burns prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois Announces Participation in National Money Mule InitiativeRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – In conjunction with a press release issued today by the Department of
Justice regarding the Fourth Annual Money Mule Initiative, the United States Attorney’s Office for
the Southern District of Illinois announced its participation in the national effort to combat
money mule activities.
Money mules are individuals who are recruited by national and international fraud schemes to help
with the laundering of fraud proceeds, or transport goods purchased with fraud proceeds. These
individuals are usually recruited over the internet, through dating websites, job
recruiting advertisements, or other types of internet solicitations. The money mules are then
asked to help move money and goods from the victims to the fraudsters, who are oftentimes located
overseas.Sometimes the money mules are themselves innocent victims who do not realize that they are
assisting with criminal activity. Other times, however, the money mules come to realize that what
they are doing is wrong and/or illegal. When this happens, the money mules become knowing
participants in the fraud schemes they are assisting and are subject to prosecution.In the past 18 months, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois
has initiated prosecutions of several money mules who have either operated from, or targeted
victims located in, southern Illinois. The individuals charged include: (1) Danny
Vaughn, 62, of Centralia, Illinois. Vaughn is charged with purchasing goods, such as computers
and cell phones, with stolen credit card numbers, and then shipping those goods to overseas
addresses, including Malaysia; (2) Jaykumar Patel, 32, of Tampa, Florida. Patel is charged with
receiving cash from fraud victims, including victims located in southern Illinois, and transporting
that cash to other participants in the fraud scheme; and (3) Talfanita Cobb, 49, of East St. Louis,
Illinois. Cobb is charged with receiving fraudulently obtained Unemployment Insurance debit
cards, withdrawing funds from the cards, and transferring the funds to other members of the fraud scheme via Bitcoin.Members of the public are reminded to be careful of individuals they meet online.
If those individuals ask you to receive or transfer funds or goods, purchase gift cards, or engage
in any type of suspicious activity, please report this activity to law enforcement.
Two Metro East Men Sentenced for Robbing Marijuana Dealer and Shooting WitnessRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – Two men have been sentenced for their role in a 2018 marijuana robbery and shooting
in Caseyville, Illinois. Deveon Humphries, 28, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison on
one count of interfering with commerce by robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during and
in relation to a crime of violence. The sentencing hearing was conducted on Monday, November 22,
2021, in U.S. District Court in Benton, Illinois. Humphries pled guilty to the charges in May of
this year. His co-defendant, Dartaniel Pruitt, 27, was sentenced in August of this year.
According to court documents, the crimes occurred on September 30, 2018, when Humphries
arranged a fake marijuana sale with the plan to rob the marijuana dealer. Humphries was armed and
had concocted a plan with his co-defendant, Pruitt, to take the marijuana at gunpoint.
During the robbery, Humphries shot a witness several times. Pruitt and Humphries fled
the scene with the marijuana. The Caseyville Police Department investigated the
robbery and later recovered Humphries’ firearm.As part of their sentences, Humphries and Pruitt were also ordered to serve a 5-year
term of supervised release.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of
the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program
proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders
work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop
comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses
enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based
prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.The investigation was conducted by the Caseyville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria Burns.Freeburg Couple Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Family MemberRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Ronald Speiser, 81, and Jean Speiser, 81, of Freeburg, Illinois, will spend
their next year in home confinement making restitution payments after defrauding an
elderly family member out of nearly $200,000. The Speisers pled guilty to two counts of fraud and
were sentenced on Thursday, November 18, 2021, in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.According to Court documents, the Speisers were designated as the victim’s power of attorney and
successor power of attorney in the victim’s estate plan. In June 2018, the Speisers exercised their
authority over the victim’s finances by opening an account at Citizens Community Bank
in Mascoutah, Illinois, and depositing a check for over $250,000 after selling the victim’s home.
Starting around December 2018, and continuing until at least June 2020, the Speisers abused their
access to these funds by spending over $200,000 of the victim’s money without the
victim’s knowledge or permission, and for purposes that did not benefit the victim. Their spending
spree included over $50,000 in personal home renovations, paying over a year’s worth of personal
credit card bills, purchasing a new camper and new truck, and making a down payment and thirteen
mortgage payments on a second home.“The FBI recognizes that seniors can be a particularly vulnerable group,” said Special Agent in
Charge David Nanz. “In this case, Ronald and Jean Speiser were in a position of trust, not only
as power of attorney but as a family member. Rather than being good stewards of the
responsibilities entrusted to them, they chose to steal money and use it for their own personal
gain. The FBI will not hesitate to investigate those who victimize and take advantage of the
elderly citizens of our community.”While on home confinement, the Speisers will be restricted to their residence except for religious
services, medical appointments, and other pre-approved activities. Their sentence also included an
additional year of supervised release after home confinement and paying full restitution to the
victim. The Speisers paid the victim an initial lump sum of $119,000 as part of
their plea agreement. They will pay the remainder in monthly installments.This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative. Information
about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at
www.justice.gov/elderjustice.If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is
standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S.
Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed
by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of
the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting
agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with
appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is
the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting
certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering
losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English,
Spanish and other languages are available.The case was investigated by Adult Protective Services, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department,
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Springfield Division.
Saint Louis Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Lamondra Beckley, 43, of Saint Louis, Missouri, was sentenced to 147 months
in prison on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. Beckley
had previously pled guilty in federal court to one count of possession with intent to
distribute methamphetamine, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of
possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
As part of the plea, Beckley acknowledged that on March 11, 2021, he possessed approximately 114
grams of methamphetamine, which he intended to sell to a customer at a gas station in Fairview
Heights, Illinois, before being arrested by DEA agents. At the time of his arrest, Beckley
possessed a firearm and was a previously convicted felon.The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak prosecuted the case.
Second Metro East Man Pleads Guilty in Bank Fraud ScamRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Aijeigh McShan, 20, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, pled guilty today to
conspiracy and bank fraud charges in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. McShan is the
second of three men charged in the indictment to plead guilty. Lagardo Wright, 20,
also of Fairview Heights, pled guilty to the same offenses on September 21, 2021.According to court documents, Wright and McShan used other people’s bank accounts to deposit
counterfeit checks at multiple banks. They obtained access to those accounts by
recruiting individuals on social media and elsewhere, promising money in exchange for personal
banking information, including online usernames, passwords, and PIN numbers. Whenever they
found someone willing to participate, they checked the person’s account balances and withdrawal
limits, and deposited counterfeit checks into the person’s account at ATMs or through mobile
deposits. Then they quickly withdrew funds before the bank could determine the checks were
counterfeit and closed the account for fraud.Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and brank fraud carry maximum sentences of thirty years in prison,
fines of up to $1,000,000, and restitution.Wright’s sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2022. McShan will be sentenced on March 9, 2022.
The third defendant, Cedric Sheard, Jr., 21, of Belleville, Illinois, is scheduled to plead guilty
on November 16, 2021.The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.
Former Massac County Official Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Mail FraudRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Christopher Thompson, 30, of Kevil, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to one count of
Wire Fraud and seven counts of Mail Fraud for engaging in a scheme to defraud the Massac County
Emergency Management Agency. Thompson was the Assistant Director of the Emergency
Management Agency in Massac County and also served as the IT Manager for the Massac County Board of
Commissioners. As part of the plea, Thompson admitted to using official business accounts to pay
for personal expenditures and admitted to opening up business lines of credit without authority for
personal use causing a loss in excess of $50,000. As part of the plea, Thompson consented to
forfeiture of items fraudulently purchased and otherwise consented to a forfeiture judgment in the
amount of $52,054.51.
Thompson’s sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2022. A federal district court
judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other
statutory factors.Each count of Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to twenty years
in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years supervised release and restitution.FBI Springfield Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Massac
County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Norman Smith and Monica Stump are prosecuting the case.
Vandalia Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Bradley L. Matthews, 39, of Vandalia, Illinois, entered a plea of guilty to
distribution of child pornography on November 2, 2021, in federal court in East St. Louis,
Illinois.According to court documents, Matthews came to the attention of law enforcement in February 2019
during an FBI undercover internet investigation of child pornography. During the
investigation, an undercover officer engaged in a conversation with Matthews during which he sent
the undercover officer three videos depicting child pornography.In an interview with law enforcement on September 5, 2019, Matthews admitted distributing child
pornography. When shown the printout of the conversation with the undercover officer that took
place on February 5, 2019, Matthews identified himself as the person in the profile picture and
admitted that he was the person who had engaged in the conversation with the undercover officer and
distributed the child pornography videos.Matthews faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years but not more than 20 years
imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 and the possibility of a lifetime term of supervised
release.Sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in East St. Louis.
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.”The case was investigated by FBI Springfield Division. Assistant United States Attorney Angela
Scott is prosecuting the case.
U.s. Settles Dispute with Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House over Its Americorps ProgramRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – Non-profit Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House (“LBDNH”) has agreed to pay the United States $100,000 and enter into a compliance agreement to resolve a civil False
Claims Act investigation relating to the operation of its AmeriCorps program, U.S. Attorney Steven
D. Weinhoeft announced today.AmeriCorps is a federally funded network of national service programs addressing
critical community needs including increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting
poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters, and more. AmeriCorps
volunteers (called members) commit to service for a period of three months to a year
in exchange for a living allowance, education awards, and other benefits. From 2015 to 2018,
LBDNH received over $1.9 million in federal AmeriCorps funding.The settlement stems from investigations conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task
Force and the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (“OIG”). The Task Force
investigation resulted in Christopher Coleman pleading guilty to embezzling more than $250,000 from
LBDNH by generating false invoices and receiving cash kickbacks. Coleman was the
Executive Director of LBDNH from July 2016 to February 2018.Leonard Johnson, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Jeremy Turner, of Dallas, Texas, were convicted in
federal court for aiding and abetting Coleman’s embezzlement. Tiffany Taylor, of
Maryville, Illinois, was charged with making false statements to federal agents during the
investigation. She successfully completed a pre-trial diversion program.AmeriCorps OIG opened a civil investigation looking for violations of the False Claims Act. As a
result of the OIG investigation, the United States alleges that from 2015 through 2019 LBDNH,
through Coleman and others, failed to implement internal controls sufficient to
prevent embezzlement of federal grant funds and misrepresented it AmeriCorps expenses on
periodic expense reports submitted to the AmeriCorps prime grantee.In addition, grant recipients like LBDNH are required to verify and certify the number of service
hours each individual volunteer completes. Each volunteer must complete a specified number of
service hours, along with other requirements, to receive an AmeriCorps education award. The
United States also alleges, from 2015 through 2019, LBDNH falsely certified to AmeriCorps that some
of its members had performed the service hours necessary to qualify for an education award, when
they, in reality, had not.“The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House was a mess, and we used our criminal and civil authority
to clean it up,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Four criminal indictments and a civil
settlement have resulted in federal criminal convictions, prison time, restitution orders, civil
payments, and a compliance agreement to ensure that this never happens again. Our decisive action
is a clear message that programs administering taxpayer funds must do so responsibly.”“The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House was easy prey to fraud because it had none of the
internal controls needed to protect the organization from unscrupulous actors,” said AmeriCorps
Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey. “Every director of a nonprofit should ask executives and
independent auditors what their organization does to prevent and detect fraud, and what more it
could do to ensure that all of its funds are being used to support community needs.”The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; no lawsuit was filed in court, and
there has been no determination of civil liability. The individuals responsible for the fraud at
LBDNH are no longer employed there. LBDNH cooperated with the OIG investigation and voluntarily
outsourced its accounting and finance functions to a third-party firm. As part of the settlement,
LBDNH entered into a five-year compliance agreement with AmeriCorps. Included among the terms of
the compliance agreement are that LBDNH must implement fraud detection and prevention
policies and trainings. The agreement also mandates certain bi-annual reporting
requirements to AmeriCorps. LBDNH has represented it intends to maintain its outsourced
accounting arrangement through the compliance agreement period.The investigation was conducted by the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General. Assistant United
States Attorney Ray M. Syrcle handled the settlement for the United States.
East Alton Woman Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Stealing Disabled Daughter’s Social Security FundsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An East Alton, Illinois, woman was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison
for stealing her disabled daughter’s Social Security funds. The sentencing hearing was conducted
this morning in Federal Court in East St. Louis, Illinois.The Social Security Administration administers the Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”)
program. SSI provides a minimum level of income to aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have
limited resources. Disabled children are eligible to receive SSI benefits. For children, SSI
benefits are paid to a representative payee, who is responsible for handling the funds and
reporting to the Social Security Administration. Federal law requires that all SSI funds must be
used for the benefit of the disabled child.According to court documents, Melissa D. Wasylak, 49, applied for her disabled daughter
to receive SSI benefits. Wasylak was appointed as her daughter’s representative payee. In
2008, Wasylak’s daughter stopped living with her and went to live with Wasylak’s ex-husband.
Despite this fact, Wasylak continued to receive her daughter’s SSI funds. As part of
her guilty plea, Wasylak admitted that she did not use those funds for her daughter’s expenses,
but instead used the SSI monies to pay her own personal expenses. This continued until the
situation was reported to the Social Security Administration in May of 2019.In addition to the 14 month prison term, the court also ordered Wasylak to serve a two year period
of supervised release following her release from prison. The court further ordered Wasylak to pay
$58,345 in restitution to the Social Security Administration.The case was investigated by the St. Louis Office of the Social Security Administration – Office of
the Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Scott Verseman prosecuted the case.O’fallon, Il Bookkeeper Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Defrauding Client Out of More Than $1,000,000Read the Press Release
O’Fallon, Ill. – An O’Fallon, Illinois, bookkeeper was sentenced to 4 years in prison for
defrauding one of her clients out of more than $1,000,000. The sentencing hearing was
conducted on Thursday, October 21, 2021, in U.S. District Court in Benton, Illinois.
“While our work on violent crimes often garners larger headlines, the public should be remined that
financial crimes remain a clear federal priority,” said Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States
Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. He continued, “Financial criminals like Dvorak
cause great harm and must be held accountable.”“For years, Dvorak bilked her employer’s accounts, choosing greed over trust,” said FBI Special
Agent in Charge David Nanz. “No matter how simple or sophisticated the fraud scheme, the FBI
won’t hesitate to bring all available resources to bear to hold criminals accountable and seek
justice for victims.”Kathleen M. Dvorak, 61, conducted a large, multi-year fraud scheme, against one of her clients.
From 2012 through 2019, Dvorak defrauded the victim out more than $1,000,000. Evidence
presented in court established that Dvorak took this money from her client in two primary ways:
(1) by writing large checks, payable to herself, that were drawn on the victim’s bank account; and
(2) by taking large amounts of cash back for herself when she deposited checks payable to the
victim into his bank accounts. Dvorak concealed her fraud from the victim by making false entries
into his Quickbooks accounting program.In addition to the four-year prison sentence, the court also ordered Dvorak to pay $1,495,072.74 to
her victim. The court further sentenced Dvorak to serve three years of supervised
release following her release from prison. As a condition of her supervised release,
the court ordered Dvorak to participa e in treatment for gambling addiction and to not
participate in any further gambling activities.The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, Fairview
Heights Resident Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Verseman prosecuted the case.Jury Convicts Missouri Man for using Online Dating App to Lure a Teen Girl to have Sex and Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A Jefferson County, Missouri, man is facing at least 15 years in prison after a
federal jury found him guilty Monday of arranging to have sexual activity with a minor, traveling
to pick her up in Belleville, Illinois, and producing sexually explicit images of her.According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Earl G. Rice, Jr., 63, chatted online
via a dating application with a teenage girl. Rice quickly indicated his interest in
traveling to Belleville, Illinois, from Dittmer, Missouri, to meet the victim and engage in sexual
acts with her. On Valentine’s Day of 2018, Rice arrived with alcohol, condoms, and a candle to take
the victim to a nearby motel. Rice engaged in sexual acts with the victim and produced sexually
explicit images of the teen girl on his cell phone. Belleville Police Department apprehended Rice
at the scene of the crime on February 15, 2018, after he was described driving a “red hooptie”.Graphic images taken by Rice of the minor victim were shown to the jury during the five-day trial
held at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois. Jurors also saw surveillance footage from the
motel and heard testimony about DNA evidence connecting Rice to the crimes.Sentencing has been scheduled for January 27, 2022, in front of United States District Judge Staci
M. Yandle. Enticement of a Minor is punishable by at least 10 years in prison and up to life;
Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct is punishable up to 30 years in prison; and
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (Production of Child Pornography) is punishable by at least 15 years
in prison and up to 30 years.Belleville Police Department conducted the investigation, along with support from the
Illinois State Police, and FBI-Springfield and Saint Louis Divisions.The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Karelia Rajagopal.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 Exploitationand 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.”Belleville Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Drugs from Elderly PatientsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Belleville nurse, Angela Mohler, 40, pled guilty to five
counts of obtaining drugs by fraud on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.According to court documents, Mohler worked as a nurse for senior care and nursing facilities from
2018 to 2021, including facilities in Edwardsville, Belleville, Lebanon, and Caseyville. She used
her position of trust to steal pain medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine from
vulnerable patients. After taking the drugs for her personal use, Mohler would often destroy or
modify the patient’s records to cover up the thefts. This meant the patient’s records would show
Mohler had given him or her pain medication, when in fact they had often suffered without it.Mohler is one of several medical professionals recently charged with stealing medication from
patients. In April, a nurse, Krista Brenner, was indicted on similar charges for
stealing pain medication while working at senior care facilities in the Metro East area in 2019.
In September, another nurse, Joseph Mattingly, was sentenced on charges of stealing pain
medication from residents while working at a center for adults with intellectual disabilities in
2018.The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of Inspector General - Office of Investigations and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud
Control Bureau.If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or
public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.
Former Bookkeeper Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Paula R. Hise, 55, of Shawneetown, Illinois, was sentenced yesterday in United
States District Court in Benton to 63 months in prison for defrauding her former employer of over
$1,500,000.00, announced Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of
Illinois. Hise had previously pled guilty on April 19, 2021 to an Indictment charging her with
two counts of wire fraud.Information introduced in support of the guilty plea and sentence showed that between 2007 and
2017, Hise used her trusted position as a bookkeeper for her employer to steal funds from her
employer by obtaining an unauthorized credit card, using that credit card for personal purchases,
and then paying the balance of the credit card using her employer’s business checking account. Hise
concealed her crime by creating false entries in the business’ account ledgers, creating false
accounting reports, and providing false information to her employer.“The FBI is committed to investigating those who commit financial fraud in order to
protect American citizens and businesses,” said Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “This sentence
holds Hise accountable for the damage she caused and sends a message that fraud is a serious crime
with serious consequences.”In addition to the 63-month term of imprisonment, Hise was also ordered to pay the United States
$200 in special assessments, and to pay a total of $1,550,379.14 in restitution to
her former employer, less any amounts received from a related civil suit. Hise was also placed
on a 3-year term of supervised release to follow her incarceration.This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Springfield Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Casey E. A. Bloodworth prosecuted the case.
St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Deandre Young, 42, of Saint Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to one count of
aiding and abetting co-defendant Lamondra Beckley’s possession with intent to
distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a
drug trafficking offense on Thursday, October 7 in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Young was charged for the offenses on April 6, 2021. Young acknowledged that on March 11, 2021,
he helped arrange the sale of approximately 114 grams of methamphetamine by his co-defendant
Lamondra Beckley to a customer at a gas station in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Young
was in possession of a firearm when agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested him.Sentencing is scheduled on February 9, 2022. Under federal law, Young faces a
mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment for these offenses.This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak is prosecuting the case.
Former Alorton Police Officer Charged with Obtaining Funds from the Village of Alorton Police Department by FraudRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. – Jay A. Cobb, 57, of Cahokia, Illinois, formerly a police officer with the
Village of Alorton Police Department, was charged in a one-count Indictment with “Obtaining Funds
by Fraud from the City of Alorton Police Department, a Unit of a Government that Received Federal
Funds.” The Indictment alleges that Cobb falsified time records for the period of January 2020
through April 2021 and acknowledges that he obtained funds by fraud from May 2018
through April 2021 claiming to be working when he was out of the jurisdiction, usually at his
residence in Cahokia, Illinois. The Indictment alleges that there was approximately 654 hours
where Cobb claimed he was working but he was outside the jurisdiction of the Village of Alorton
causing a financial loss of approximately $9,815.U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “The allegations in this indictment should reassure the
public that allegations of police misconduct are investigated seriously; but the charges should not
undermine the public’s confidence in law enforcement, which is overwhelmingly made up of good and
decent public servants who risk their lives for our safety.”Embezzling money from an organization that receives federal funds carries a maximum sentence of ten
years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution.An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendant is
presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the
satisfaction of a jury.The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force which
consists of agents with the FBI and the Illinois State Police.The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public
Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.
Six-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 37 Months Imprisonment for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A man from the Metro East will spend more than three years in prison for
illegally possessing firearm ammunition. Keithen D. Chairs, 25, was sentenced to 37 months in
federal prison for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
The crime occurred in July of 2020 when the United States Marshals Service located Chairs in an
East St. Louis apartment and arrested him for multiple active warrants. Chairs was in
possession of a backpack which contained 23 rounds of (9 mm) ammunition. Federal law prohibits
convicted felons from possessing firearms and firearm ammunition. A federal grand jury indicted
Chairs for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition in November of 2020, and Chairs pled guilty on
May 25, 2021.As part of his sentence, Chairs will serve a three-year term of supervised release following his
release from federal prison.The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF),
United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the St.
Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Hoell and John Trippi.
Man Sentenced for Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
East St. Louis, Ill. – A convicted felon from the Metro East is headed to prison for nearly six
years for his illegal possession and use of a firearm. Marrio Robinson, 39, of East
St. Louis, Illinois was sentenced yesterday to 71 months in prison, which will be followed by a
term of 3 years of supervised release. Robinson previously pled guilty to the offense in September
2020.
According to court documents and the evidence, Robinson was involved in a shooting in East St.
Louis, Illinois in 2017. Robinson shot toward the victim at least ten times using a Glock .40
caliber semi- automatic pistol, resulting in injuries to the victim’s thigh and lower
leg. At the time Robinson possessed the semi-automatic pistol, he had been previously convicted
of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the St. Clair County Circuit Court and Distribution of
Crack Cocaine, Maintaining a Drug Premise, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug
Trafficking Offense in the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Robinson was
therefore prohibited from possessing any firearm.The case was investigated by the East St. Louis Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karelia S. Rajagopal prosecuted the case.
Lutheran Pastor Sentenced for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. – Steven P. Tibbetts, 62, of Godfrey, Illinois, was sentenced to 87 months in
federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for knowingly distributing child
pornography in December 2019. The Court further ordered Tibbetts to pay $10,000 in restitution to
victims who were depicted in some of the videos and photographs.
Court documents and evidence showed that Tibbetts began viewing and distributing child pornography
starting in the 1990s and continued until his arrest in June 2020. Furthermore, while Tibbetts was
on pre-trial release for the charged offense, an officer located additional devices in his home,
which were later found to contain child pornography. The instant offense involved 2,430
images of child pornography and 408 videos containing child pornography.Tibbetts has served as a Lutheran pastor since 1992. At the time the complaint was filed, Tibbetts
was employed as the head pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois. In imposing
the sentence, the Court noted that “The defendant was living two lives of sorts.”FBI Springfield Division and Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department investigated
the case. Significant assistance was provided in the early stages of the investigation by the
Peoria (Illinois) Police Department.The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher R. Hoell and Karelia S.
Rajagopal.
Former Alorton Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Funds from the Village of Alorton Police Department by FraudRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Ricky Perry, 51, of East St. Louis, Illinois, formerly a police officer with
the Village of Alorton Police Department, entered a plea of guilty to “Obtaining Funds by Fraud
from the Village of Alorton Police Department, a Unit of a Government that Received Federal Funds.”As part of the plea, Perry acknowledged that he obtained funds by fraud from May 2018 through April
2021 claiming to be working when he was out of the jurisdiction, usually at his residence in East
St. Louis. The Information alleges that there was approximately 4000 hours where
Perry claimed he was working but he was outside the jurisdiction of the Village of
Alorton causing a financial loss of approximately $60,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January
26, 2022.U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “We proudly support the thousands of law
enforcement officers in this district who serve the public with honor, integrity, and dedication.
The Metro-East police departments are staffed by many such officers, and this guilty plea should
not undermine the public’s confidence in the work of law enforcement as a whole. This case shows
that law enforcement will police their own, and that officers are held accountable when they
violate the law.”
Embezzling money from an organization that receives federal funds carries a maximum sentence of ten
years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution.The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force,
which consists of agents with the FBI, and the Illinois State Police.The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois
Public
Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.
East St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Anthony Wisham, 59, of East St. Louis, Illinois, pled guilty to two counts
of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one
count of felon in possession of a firearm, on September 27, in federal court in East St. Louis,
Illinois.
As part of his guilty plea, Wisham admitted to distributing ounce quantities of fentanyl on
September 15, 2020, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Wisham further admitted that on
December 10, 2020, he possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 21.3 grams of
cocaine and that he possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.Sentencing is scheduled for December 29 at 10:30 a.m. in East St. Louis. Under federal law,
Wisham faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for these offenses.This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak is prosecuting the case.EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Anthony Wisham, 59, of East St. Louis, Illinois, pled guilty to two counts
of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one
count of felon in possession of a firearm, on September 27, in federal court in East St. Louis,
Illinois.
As part of his guilty plea, Wisham admitted to distributing ounce quantities of fentanyl on
September 15, 2020, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Wisham further admitted that on
December 10, 2020, he possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 21.3 grams of
cocaine and that he possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.Sentencing is scheduled for December 29 at 10:30 a.m. in East St. Louis. Under federal law,
Wisham faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for these offenses.This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak is prosecuting the case.
Former Manager of Mascoutah Trucking Company Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Company Out of More Than $600,000Read the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – This morning, Timothy P. Mayer, 42, of Waterloo, Ill., was sentenced to
serve 18 months in federal prison for defrauding his former employer, Jung Truck Service (“Jung
Truck”) of Mascoutah, Ill., out of more than $600,000.
In addition to operating its own trucks and warehouse facilities, Jung Truck also provides
maintenance services for other trucking companies. Mayer was the manager of Jung
Truck’s East St. Louis location.Mayer pled guilty to the fraud scheme in federal court in East St. Louis on May 4, 2021. When he
pled guilty, Mayer admitted that beginning in July 2019, he started charging expensive tires to
Jung Truck’s accounts at a local tire supplier. Mayer then sold the tires on the side and
pocketed the cash. The value of the tires that Mayer fraudulently charged to Jung Truck exceeded
$590,000. Mayer also stole tires and brakes from Jung Truck’s inventory and sold those items on
the side. In total, Mayer caused Jung Truck to sustain a loss of more than $620,000. The scheme
lasted until Mayer was caught in May 2020.In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Mayer to serve a period of 3 years of
supervised release following his prison sentence. The court further ordered Mayer to
pay $624,807.63 in restitution to Jung Truck.The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division,
Fairview Heights Resident Agency. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Scott A. Verseman.
Carterville Nurse Sentenced on Felony Drug and Health Care Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A Carterville man was sentenced on Thursday, September 16 to four years of probation
for drug diversion and health care fraud charges. Joseph M. Mattingly, 42, was also ordered to pay
a $500 fine along with a $200 special assessment.According to court documents, Mattingly diverted Schedule II controlled substance (Hydrocodone)
pills from a patient and defrauded the Medicare program of the cost of the pills.In 2018, Mattingly was employed as a nurse with Progress Port, a center for adults with
intellectual disabilities in Williamson County. Between August 20, 2018 and October 30,
2018, Mattingly obtained possession of 25 Hydrocodone pills he falsely claimed he
dispended to a Progress Port resident, which he diverted for his own personal use.
Mattingly took three Hydrocodone pills intended for the same Progress Port resident and
replaced those pills with Tylenol, an over-the-counter medication at three separate locations.The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of Inspector General - Office of Investigations and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud
Control Bureau.If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or
public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.
Four-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 30 Months for Illegally Possessing Firearm AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – A Troy, Illinois man will spend more than two years in prison for illegally
possessing firearm ammunition. Troy A. Schrage, 37, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal
prison for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
The offense occurred in April of 2020, when the United States Marshals Service located Schrage in
Belleville, Illinois, and arrested him for multiple active warrants. The ammunition was
found in Schrage’s possession during the arrest. Federal law prohibits convicted felons
from possessing firearms and firearm ammunition. A federal grand jury indicted Schrage in June of
2020, and a Benton, Illinois, jury convicted Schrage of the offense after a two-day trial in June
2021.As part of his sentence, Schrage was ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release after
release from prison.The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive
Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Cahokia Police
Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Trippi and Daniel Kapsak.Effingham Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Prison for Manufacturing Counterfeit MoneyRead the Press Release
An Effingham man was sentenced yesterday to four years and ten months in prison and a $1,000 fine for manufacturing counterfeit money.
According to court documents, counterfeit bills manufactured by Jared Sapp, 29, were recovered in Madison, St. Clair, and Effingham counties, and as far away as Colorado. Sapp’s counterfeiting dates back to at least 2016. A number of businesses in Effingham, Illinois reported in 2017 and 2018 that they had been paid counterfeit money that was later traced back to Sapp. Sapp would also use counterfeit money to pay for used goods on websites or applications like “letgo.com” and “craigslist.com.” All told, law enforcement recovered at least 201 counterfeit bills manufactured by Sapp with a total face value of $4,715.00. The operation came to an end when Sapp was arrested in April 2020 with two printer/scanners and a pile of counterfeit $20s in the trunk of his car.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Effingham City Police Department, the Granite City Police Department, and the Caseyville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Reed prosecuted the case.Belleville Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Armed Robbery of Four Local BusinessesRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Belleville man will be spending over two decades behind bars for stealing cash from four local businesses at gunpoint. Cameron J. Blake, 23, has been sentenced to 252 months in federal prison on four counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and three counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Blake pled guilty to the charges back in April.
According to court documents, the crimes occurred in December of 2019. On December 2, 2019, Blake entered two different ZX gas stations, one in Swansea and one in Belleville, and a Huck’s Food and Fuel in Belleville, and demanded money. Blake brandished a gun with a flashlight attachment and took cash from employees by force. On December 27, 2019, Blake entered a Domino’s Pizza in Belleville, and again displayed a firearm with a flashlight attachment when he demanded cash.
As part of his sentence, Blake was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The investigation was conducted by Belleville Police Department, Swansea Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexandria Burns.Dark Web Child Porn Leads to 12 Year Sentence for Randolph County ManRead the Press Release
SPARTA, Ill. – A Randolph County man is heading to federal prison today after years of downloading
and sharing child pornography on the dark web. Kory R. Schulein, 37, of Sparta,
Illinois, was sentenced this afternoon to 151 months in prison for knowingly receiving child
sexual abuse material over the internet. Schulein pled guilty to the charge in April.According to court documents, Schulein first came to the attention to law enforcement in 2018
during an FBI investigation of child pornography on the dark web. Agents were able to track his
internet protocol address and executed a federal search warrant at his home. Schulein served as a
moderator of a dark web site dedicated to child exploitation and had been an active participant on
other sites. Prosecutors told the court that on one of the sites, Schulein had posted 13,733
messages, many of which included links to child exploitation images and videos. Schulein also
collected and stored over 9,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on an encrypted
hard drive.In handing down the sentence, which fell at the low end of the advisory sentencing guidelines,
United States District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn observed that the guidelines called for a lengthy
sentence “because of the colossal and immensely harmful impact” child pornography has on children.
Schulein was unemployed and had for years actively participated in online forums where he
interacted with people who were producing child pornography. Judge McGlynn noted that some of the
images and videos collected by Schulein depicted children in bondage and adults raping children,
including 5- year-old girls and toddlers. “You must have felt no mercy or empathy for these
children you were watching being humiliated and tortured,” McGlynn told the defendant.During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors also submitted evidence that Schulein had engaged in an
online “romantic relationship” with an 11-year-old girl in the United Kingdom. Judge McGlynn called
Schulein’s involvement with the girl “classic grooming behavior.”Some victims of the child pornography that Schulein received and shared with others
submitted statements to the court. In their statements, they describe how impossible it is for them
to live any semblance of a normal life while images of their sexual abuse are traded online. “Every
time someone views this trash,” one survivor wrote, “he is once again making me re-live the most
horrific part of my childhood. I can never truly heal....” The mother of another victim
wrote: “Thousands upon thousands of people, all over the world have access to images of our
little girl during her darkest days.... A person can download her image, create their own child
pornography movie, share it with
other monsters, or keep it for themselves to continually exploit our daughter in their own private
bedroom.” Knowing that her abuse is memorialized on the internet for people like the defendant to
view and share forever “will shatter her soul,” the victim’s mother wrote.As part of his sentence, Schulein was ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release and pay a
$5,000 special assessment. He previously paid $12,000 in restitution to several of the victims.The case was investigated by FBI-Springfield, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S.
Marshals Service.Trial Attorneys Jessica Urban and Alicia A. Bove of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and
Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump of the U.S.
Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the
growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of
Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state,
and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via
the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe
Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Knowingly Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material Through Dark Web SitesRead the Press Release
An Illinois man was sentenced today in the Southern District of Illinois to 151 months, or 12 and a half years, in prison for knowingly receiving child sexual abuse material over the internet.
According to court documents and statements made in connection with the sentencing, Kory R. Schulein, 37, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to knowingly receiving child pornography over the internet. According to court documents, Schulein first came to the attention to law enforcement in 2018 during an FBI investigation of child pornography on the dark web. Agents were able to track his internet protocol address and executed a federal search warrant at his home. Schulein served as a moderator of a dark web site dedicated to child exploitation and had been an active participant on other sites. Schulein had posted 13,733 messages, many of which included links to child exploitation images and videos. Schulein also collected and stored over 9,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on an encrypted hard driveThe FBI’s Springfield Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Trial Attorneys Jessica Urban and Alicia A. Bove of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Federal Charges Filed in Deadly East St. Louis Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Two East St. Louis men are facing federal charges today for a deadly bank
robbery over the weekend. Jaylan D. Quinn, 22, and Andrew R. Brinkley, 19, have been charged in a
two-count criminal complaint for the August 27 armed robbery of the First Bank in East St. Louis
that resulted in the murder of security guard Ted Horn.“The shooter rightly faces life in federal prison. Armed violence is intolerable in any civilized
society, and we are resolved that a firm and definite measure of justice will be imposed in this
case,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The public should be reassured by the professional
work led by the FBI, with outstanding support from the Illinois State Police Public Safety
Enforcement Group and the East St. Louis Police Department. These officers worked around the clock
from the moment of the killing to ensure that the suspects will face a swift and certain outcome in
the federal system.”“The FBI offers our deepest condolences to the family of security guard Ted Horn, whose life was
senselessly taken in a vicious act of violence,” said FBI-Springfield’s Acting Special Agent in
Charge Timothy Ferguson. “This case demonstrates the tenacity of the FBI and our law enforcement
partners in investigating and identifying the subjects swiftly. We thank the public for their
vigilance, as well as our media partners who provided critical details to the communities. The
FBI’s commitment to justice remains at the forefront of every investigation, and we remain
dedicated to ensuring those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”The federal complaint filed this afternoon alleges that at approximately 4:00 pm on August 27, two
masked men entered the First Bank located at 350 River Park Drive in East St. Louis. After they
approached the tellers, one of the men, who was wearing a white face mask, put a demand note on the
counter which read, “I GOT A BOMB STRAPPED TO MY CHEST PUT ALL THE MONEY IN OR EVERYONE DIE.” The
bank teller gave the man some money, and the two robbers turned away from the counter and headed
toward the doors.Ted Horn, 56, of St. Libory, Illinois, was working at the bank that day as a uniformed security
guard. Horn moved to intercept the two men before they could leave. The man wearing the white face
mask pushed past Horn and ran out of the bank. The second man, who was wearing a black face mask,
drew
a semi-automatic handgun and shot Horn in the head. The robbers then fled in a white Lexus sedan.Horn was pronounced dead at the scene. He is survived by his wife, two adult sons,
and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at noon on September 4 at
Wenneman Park in Marissa, Illinois.The release of photos from the bank surveillance video quickly led to the identification of Andrew
R. Brinkley as a suspect. By 2:00 p.m. the following day, FBI surveillance of Brinkley’s residence
on North 13ᵗʰ Street in St. Louis resulted in the arrest of Brinkley and Quinn. Agents executed a
search warrant at the residence and recovered a loaded 9mm handgun, two marked bills that were
taken during the First Bank robbery, and clothing that matched what the robbers wore. A white Lexus
sedan was found parked outside the residence.The complaint identifies Quinn as the man who shot Horn and charges him with armed bank robbery
resulting in death. By law, he could receive life in prison or possibly even the death penalty.
Brinkley is charged with bank robbery, which carries up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and
up to 3 years of supervised release.A criminal complaint is a formal charge against a defendant that is comprised of the essential
facts constituting the offense charged. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a
charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.A date for the defendants’ initial appearance in federal court has not been set.
The case is being investigated by FBI-Springfield, with assistance from the Illinois State Police
and the East St. Louis Police Department.
Missouri Army National Guardsman and Department of Defense Subcontractors Indicted for Conspiring to Steal and Sell Military GearRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury in East St. Louis, Illinois, has returned an indictment charging three area men with conspiring to steal and sell sensitive equipment and other property belonging to the United States military.
Brandon Schulte, 43, of Jefferson City, Missouri, Jody (“Joe”) Stambaugh, 50, of Nashville, Illinois, and Gary Stambaugh, 77, of Fayetteville, Illinois, are accused of conspiring with each other and others unnamed to steal military uniforms, tactical robots, night vision sights, high frequency radios, and other functional military equipment.
“These allegations are very serious,” U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said. “The indictment charges a conspiracy to steal and sell sensitive military items. Any theft of government property harms the taxpayers, but worse, items such as equipment and uniforms could easily fall into the wrong hands and threaten the safety of our service members.”
“As the investigative arm of the Department of Defense, the DoD Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is charted to protect our warfighters, DoD equipment, funds and other resources,” said Michael Mentavlos, Special Agent-in-Charge – DCIS, Southwest Field Office. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment, along with our law enforcement partners, to aggressively pursue those that attempt to illegally profit from taxpayer funded resources.”
According to the indictment, Gary Stambaugh and Joe Stambaugh were co-owners of Stambaugh Enterprises, a scrap metal company located in Mascoutah, Illinois. Stambaugh Enterprises allegedly operated as a subcontractor on a DoD contract to pick-up, transport, and recycle scrap metal items from multiple DoD facilities in Illinois and Missouri, including Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois, and a Missouri Army National Guard facility in Jefferson City, Missouri.
The indictment alleges that the Stambaughs were obligated to mutilate and destroy all military property they hauled away from each DoD facility and were prohibited from reusing or refurbishing any military items for their own use or selling any military items to be reused or refurbished by someone else.
The Stambaughs allegedly removed truckloads of military property from DoD facilities but did not destroy or mutilate every item, in violation of their contracts. According to the indictment, the Stambaughs transported the military property to their place of business in Mascoutah and sorted through the items to determine what could be converted to their own use or sold to others.
From January-October 2017, Joe Stambaugh allegedly provided an unnamed person identified as J.S. with numerous military items to be sold for profit, including LED video screens, a high frequency radio, military night vision sights, a military antenna system, military flight helmets, and a military infrared thermal imager.
The indictment further alleges that the Stambaughs submitted “certificates of destruction” that falsely showed they had properly mutilated and destroyed the property when, in fact, they had stolen and retained items off the scrap piles for their own use and for sale.
Brandon Schulte was a national guardsman responsible for properly storing and disposing of military property at the Missouri Army National Guard facility in Jefferson City. According to the indictment, the Stambaughs received military uniforms and other unauthorized, sensitive military property from Schulte, even though Schulte allegedly knew the Stambaughs were authorized to receive only scrap metal.
The indictment charges that Schulte understood he was required to follow specific procedures to dispose of sensitive military items, including uniforms. Such procedures are vital to national security, as terrorist groups overseas have previously acquired U.S. combat uniforms and used them to impersonate American soldiers, endangering American troops. Nevertheless, Schulte allegedly supplied the Stambaughs with thousands of pounds of military uniforms and other non-scrap military equipment. The indictment charges Schulte with conspiring with the Stambaughs from 2015-2018, as well as making a false statement about his conduct to federal agents in 2019.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The Stambaughs and Schulte are due in federal court for their initial appearances and arraignments on Sept. 1, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Beatty in the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. If convicted, the Stambaughs face up to 10 years in prison on each of their three theft counts and up to 5 years in prison for the conspiracy. Schulte’s conspiracy count and separate charge for making a false statement each carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by agents with DCIS, the Defense Logistics Agency-Office of Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), FBI-Springfield, and the Department of Commerce.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.Madison County Business Owner Sentenced to Prison for Payroll Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Troy, Ill. – A Madison County businessman who failed to submit payroll taxes will be spending the
next few years behind bars. Gary Hunsche, 56, of Troy, Illinois, was sentenced today to 48 months
in prison for willfully failing to pay millions of dollars in employment taxes to the IRS. Hunsche
pled guilty to the charge on May 13.
“Tax fraud is not a victimless crime,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Stealing from the
public fisc hurts all Americans, and those who flaunt the federal tax laws will be prosecuted.”Court records show that Hunsche owned and operated a pair of Troy-based staffing
companies: Unique Risk Management and Unique Personal Consultants. The businesses employed
thousands of employees who were then leased to clients as temporary workers.Between 2011 and 2016, Hunsche withheld federal incomes taxes, Social Security, and Medicare taxes
from his employees’ paychecks but never paid them over to the IRS, resulting in a loss to the
United States in excess of $9.4 million.Hunsche used approximately $4 million in unpaid payroll taxes for improvements to his personal
residence, located on 41 acres in Troy, including an indoor basketball court, a barn, a lake, and
partial construction of a home with a swimming pool.“Today’s sentencing of Mr. Hunsche shows that the courts do not take lightly those individuals that
willfully fail to pay over millions in federal payroll taxes,” said Tyler Hatcher,
Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “Thousands of
employees trusted Mr. Hunsche to properly collect and pay employment taxes but Mr. Hunsche admitted
that he chose to spend the money he collected to build his empire. IRS Criminal
Investigation will vigorously investigate employers who betray their duties to employees.”As part of his sentence, Hunsche was also ordered to spend 18 months on supervised release. The
investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Norman R. Smith and Luke J. Weissler.