District of Kansas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Indictment: Topeka Man Ran Auto Chop ShopRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of operating a chop shop trafficking in stolen auto parts, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Maurice L. Stewart, 39, who is in federal custody, is charged with one count of operating a chop shop and two counts of trafficking in stolen auto parts. The indictment alleges Stewart’s operation at 13th and Madison in Topeka received stolen autos and disassembled them for sale as parts.
The indictment alleges that while the crimes occurred Stewart was on conditional release on another federal indictment charging him with tax fraud and wire fraud.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of operating a chop shop, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the trafficking charges. A task force including the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Department of Revenue – Office of Special Investigation, the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Harley M. Edwards, 24, Narka, Kan., and Ric Meczyor, 27, Belleville, Kan., are charged with one count of conspiring to steal money orders from a post office and one count of stealing money orders. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during February to March 2016 in Narka, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy charge, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft charge. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.
Cole H. Castens, 23, Wamego, Kan., is charged with one count of theft by a postal employee. The indictment alleges he stole gift cards. The crime is alleged to have occurred in January and February 2016 in Wamego, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U. S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting.
Monty Owston Quiring, 19, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of ammunition following a felony conviction and one count of theft of government property. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 18, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years on each count and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Brandon Anthony Best, 26, who is in custody in the Shawnee County Jail, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 16, 2016, in Topeka, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years on each count and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Topeka Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
Trevon Donzell Praylow, 28, who is in custody in the Shawnee County Jail, is charged with (count one and count four) unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, (count two) possession with intent to distribute marijuana, (count three).
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Counts one and four: Up to 10 years on each count and a fine up to $250,000.
Count two: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Count three: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Topeka Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Retired Wichita Police Lt. Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement, Mail FraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A retired Wichita police lieutenant pleaded guilty Tuesday to filing false documents so he would be paid $56,400 for providing armed engagement training for law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Kevin P. Vaughn, 51, Wichita, Kan., who retired in March 2015 after 28 years with the Wichita Police Department, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of public funds and one count of mail fraud.
In his plea, Vaughn admitted he falsified reports to make it appear his company, Red Mist Tactical, had completed all of 15 eight-hour classes as the company’s contract required. The money for the training came from a grant by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) to the Kansas Highway Patrol and the North Central Regional Planning Commission.
Vaughn admitted he:
-
Falsely reported conducting training in McPherson, Kan., on May 27 and May 28, 2015. In fact, the training sessions took place on June 3 and 4, 2015, after the deadline in the contract for the training to be completed. He forged officers’ signatures on sign-up sheets.
-
Falsely reported conducting eight hours of training on May 22, 2015, during the Wichita Police Department Ladies Range Day. In fact, the training lasted four hours and it was not approved by the police department.
-
Falsely reported offering training in Sumner County on April 27 and May 1, 2015. In fact, there was no training on those days.
-
Falsely reported offering training in Sumner County on April 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2015. In fact, there was no training on those days.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 16. He faces a penalty of up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the embezzlement count, and up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count.
Beall commended the FBI, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
-
Kidnapping Victim to be Keynote Speaker at Protect Our Children ConferenceRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Jaycee Lee Dugard, who was kidnapped at age 11 and remained missing for more than 18 years, will be the keynote speaker at next month’s Protect Our Children Conference in Kansas City, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers and victim service providers from across the region are expected to attend the conference from Sept. 12 to 14 at the Kansas Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. The three-day event will cover a broad range of threats facing children including domestic violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, drug trafficking, child pornography and the effects of exposure to violence.
“Children are being robbed of the chance to live a rich and full life,” Beall said. “We have to work harder to protect them. Every child deserves to grow up free from harm, free from fear and free from the shadow of violence.”
Dugard will discuss her work with the JAYC Foundation, Inc., to help survivors of trauma. In her book, “A Stolen Life,” she tells the story of being abducted while she was walking from home to a school bus stop. On Aug. 26, 2009, she was found with convicted sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido. Investigators became suspicious of Garrido when he visited the campus of the University of California at Berkeley with Dugard.
Other presentations will cover a broad range of topics including meeting the needs of crime victims, confronting family violence and coping with stress.
Information about registering and paying for the conference is available online at http://www.pocconference.com/
There is a registration fee. The deadline to register is Aug. 31.
The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Kansas Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Midwest Criminal Justice Institute at Wichita State University.
Indictment: Car Stop Turned up 22 Pounds of Meth Bound for WichitaRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Two men were indicted Tuesday on federal charges of trying to smuggle more than 22 pounds of methamphetamine into Wichita, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Hector Daniel Vazquez, 26, Wichita, Kan., and Pedro Ruben Garibay, 28, Wichita, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
An affidavit filed in the case alleges that on Aug. 12, 2016, a deputy with the Clark County (Kansas) Sheriff’s Office stopped a gray 2016 Volkswagen Jetta in Minneola, Kan., for a traffic violation. The officer found a .40 caliber pistol and a black gym bag containing more than 22 pounds of methamphetamine in the car. When investigators learned the methamphetamine was to be delivered to buyers in Wichita, they set up a sting operation to deliver part of the shipment. In Wichita, Vazquez and Garibay were arrested when they met the load in the parking lot of a Super 8 Motel.
If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. Investigating agencies include the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Haysville Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wichita Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Bill L. Miller, 56, Wichita, Kan., and Tjay B. Miller, 28, Wichita, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition, Tjay Miller is charged with one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm following a felony conviction, one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm while being a user of controlled substances and a second count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2015 and 2016 in Wichita.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon or a user of controlled substances: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
John J. O’Neill, 62, Wichita, Kan., president of Omni Aerospace, Inc., is charged with making a false statement on a federal tax return. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 13, 2011, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $100,000. The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Paulo Ivan Garcia, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported, one count of assaulting a federal office, one count of document fraud, one count of misusing a Social Security number, one count of producing a false identification document and one count of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2012 and 2016 in Ford County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the alleged crimes carry the following penalties:
Unlawful re-entry: A maximum of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Assaulting a federal officer: Up to eight years and a fine up to $250,000.
Document fraud: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Misuse of a Social Security number: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful production of an identity document: Up to 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years to run consecutively to other sentences.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Lorenzo Mejia-Juarez, 33, a citizen of Guatemala, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 3, 2016, in Ford County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Angelica M. Mendoza-Lopez, 37, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 16, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Former Mayor of Lawrence Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A former mayor of Lawrence was charged in federal court Thursday with embezzling thousands of dollars from a food bank in Douglas County, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Jeremy Farmer, 32, Lawrence, Kan., was charged with one count of embezzlement. According to court documents, the crimes took place while Farmer was the executive director of Just Food, a food bank in Douglas County. Just Food serves more than 40 partner agencies with frozen meat and fresh produce as well as bread and food donated from community drives. The organization and its partners play a key role in fighting hunger in Douglas County.
According to court documents, prosecutors allege that from 2013 until Farmer resigned from Just Food and from his position as mayor of Lawrence in August 2015 he used his access to Just Foods’ bank accounts and accounting systems to steal more than $5,000 from the organization.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway is prosecuting.
Two KCK Men Sentenced to 12 Years in Conspiracy to Rob Drug HouseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Two Kansas City, Kan., men were sentenced Monday to 12 years in federal prison for taking part in a plot to commit an armed robbery at a drug house, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Enoch Clark, III, 26, Kansas City, Kan., and Dalevon L. Dixon, 24, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. In their pleas they admitted that in October 2014 they agreed with an undercover agent to rob a narcotics stash house where they believed they would obtain more than 10 pounds of cocaine.
They took part in several meetings in which the crime was planned and it was decided that anyone resisting would be shot. They were arrested Nov. 14, 2014, at a storage lot in Kansas City, Kan. Investigators seized three pistols and a rifle at the scene.
Co-defendants include:
Cornell Jones, who was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison.
Devronn H. Sportsman, who was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
Dwone C. Heard, who was sentenced to 12 months on supervised release.
Julian Rodriguez, who is set for sentencing Dec. 19.
Beall commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.
KCK Woman Pleads Guilty in Robbery at Stilwell, Kan., BankRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City, Kan., woman pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges that she took part in an armed robbery at a Stillwell bank before the robbers led police on a high speed chase with a child in the car, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Danille Morris, 26, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. She admitted she cased the bank, provided the getaway car and was in the car when the robbers fled the bank.
Two co-defendants already have entered pleas. Gary Jordan, 39, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. Co-defendant Jacob L. Smith, 18, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.
In their pleas, Jordan and Smith admitted they were armed with handguns when they entered the First National Bank at 7460 W. 199th Street in Stilwell, Kan. They held tellers at gunpoint before fleeing with cash stuffed in a backpack. Jordan took the wheel of the getaway car.
During the next 25 minutes, the robbers were pursued by the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Leawood Police Department and other law enforcement agencies as they fled across the Kansas/Missouri state line. During the chase, Smith fired at officers six times from the car. After the car overturned on a sharp turn, the defendants were arrested. Throughout the chase, co-defendant Morris and her 19-month-old child were in the car. She was seated in the front passenger seat at the time the vehicle crashed. The child was fastened in a car seat in the back seat.
Morris is set for sentencing Dec. 20. The crimes carry the following penalties: Up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 for robbery, not less than 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 for discharging firearms in a robbery, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 for unlawful possession a firearm by a felon.
Beall commended all the agencies that assisted in the investigation including the FBI, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Leawood Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, as well as the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Shooting Death at Fort RileyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A 19-year-old defendant pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy on Fort Riley, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Juwuan D. Jackson, 19, who lived on the Fort Riley base at the time, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter. He admitted that on Sept. 11, 2015, he handled a firearm in a reckless manner, resulting in the shooting death of 16-year-old Kenyon Givens, Jr., who also lived on Fort Riley.
At Monday’s hearing, prosecutors said when military police responded to the shooting Jackson told them an unknown intruder wearing a mask had forced his way into the home and shot Givens. Paramedics were not allowed to enter and treat Givens until military police had searched the house for an intruder. At the same time, police began searching the neighborhood to find the weapon and the masked shooter.
Investigators eventually learned that Jackson had been playing with a loaded .22 caliber handgun before the shooting. Jackson spun the chamber while holding the trigger. The revolver discharged and a bullet struck Givens in the chest.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 11. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Beall commended the Army Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi for their work on the case.
Indictment: KU Grad Student Made False Claims He Served as Translator for U.S. Army in IraqRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A University of Kansas graduate student was indicted Wednesday on charges of making false claims on an application for a visa that he had served as a translator for the U.S. Army in Iraq, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
Goran Sabah Ghafour, 34, who has been living in Lawrence, Kan., is charged with one count of visa fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Ghafour initially was charged in a criminal complaint filed July 19 in federal court. The complaint alleged that while he was a graduate teaching assistant in the journalism department at KU he applied for an immigrant visa. He submitted an application under a special provision for former Iraqi nationals who worked for the U.S. military in Iraq. To support his application he submitted letters purporting to be from two brigadier generals verifying his service and supporting his application. Investigators later determined that the letters were fabricated by Ghafour and the two officers had not written or signed the letters.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the visa charge, and not less than two years consecutive to the other count on the identity theft charges. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Joshua Grimm, 32, Leavenworth, Kan., is charged with one count of distributing child pornography. The indictment alleges he used instant messaging software to distribute images of child pornography. The crime is alleged to have occurred June 3, 2016, in Leavenworth County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Flannigan is prosecuting.
Imon L. Wright, 34, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred July 30, 2016, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the marijuana charge, not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the first firearm charge, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the second firearm charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Tobacco investigated. Acting U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Indictment: Bank Employee in Great Bend Embezzled More Than $73,600Read the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A former employee of a bank in Great Bend was indicted Wednesday on a charge of embezzling more than $73,600, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Kaden Herman, 19, Great Bend, Kan., is charged with one count of embezzlement by a bank employee.
The indictment alleges that in May 2016 Herman was working for Landmark National Bank in Great Bend when he embezzled more than $73,600 from the bank. If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Richard Earl Talmage, 35, Wichita, Kan., is charged with failing to register as required by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The crime is alleged to have occurred from March 20, 2016, to July 15, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Wichita Man Sentenced to 9+ Years on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to 115 months in prison for committing a federal gun crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Robby Alan Murphy, 35, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. He entered the plea in May during the afternoon of the second day of his trial on the charges. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Murphy was armed with a handgun on April 18, 2015, when and a co-defendant attempted to rob a drug dealer at this home near Cheney, Kan.
Murphy had a previous federal firearm conviction and was prohibited from possessing a gun.
Co-defendant Byron Cadavid was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison
Beall commended the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind of their work on the case.
Kansas City, Kan., Man Sentenced to 12 Years on Carjacking, Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas City, Kan., man who shot his way out when a gas station clerk tried to lock him in the store was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in federal prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Nathaniel Germany, 27, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In his plea, Germany admitted that on Sept. 1, 2015, he pointed a gun at a driver parked at the BP Gas Station at 900 N. 5th Street in Kansas City, Kan. Germany took the driver’s car and fled.
On Sept. 7, 2015, a clerk at the BP Gas Station recognized Germany when he came into the store with another man. The clerk, who was behind bullet-resistant glass, used a button to lock the men in the store while he called police. Germany produced a .40 caliber handgun and fired two shots into a glass door in order to escape.
Three days later, Germany’s parole officer recognized him from surveillance photos and notified police, who arrested Germany.
Beall commended the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Kansas Department of Corrections, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.
Former Army Private Sentenced for Stealing Fellow Soldiers’ IdentitiesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A former private in the U.S. Army who was stationed at Fort Riley pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison for stealing his fellow soldiers’ identities, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today. In addition, he was ordered to pay more than $23,400 in restitution.
Todd M. Newbrough, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. In his plea, he admitted he used his position with the Army to access personal identifying information about fellow soldiers in his unit at Fort Riley. The records he accessed included Leave and Earnings Statements, Enlisted Record Briefs and Alpha Rosters. They contained personal information including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and places of birth. Newbrough used the information to obtain credit cards and lines of credit in the names of the soldiers.
Beall commended the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command, Computer Crime
Investigative Unit (CCIU), the Riley County Police Department and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham for their work on the case.
Arizona Man Sentenced in Real Estate Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Arizona man was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison for taking part in a real estate fraud scheme in which developers borrowed to build townhomes at Table Rock Lake, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today. In addition, he was ordered to pay more than $14.2 million in restitution.
James B. Clarkson, 45, Casa Grande, Ariz., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
In his plea, he admitted that while he was working as a mortgage broker he entered into an agreement with co-defendants David Drake and Donald Snider to advertise and obtain investors for their Indian Ridge Project. Drake and Snider planned to construct townhomes near Table Rock Lake and sell them as vacation homes.
Clarkson prepared loan applications for buyers in which he made false statements. He inflated borrowers’ income to make sure they qualified for loans.
Drake and Snider obtained 51 construction loans for their project. The loan agreements required construction costs be paid before seeking reimbursement. Instead, Drake and Snider failed to do enough construction to justify the funding they received. Only 13 homes were started and none of them were completed. Drake and Snider used the money from the loans for personal expenses and expenses related to other construction projects.
Drake and Snider are awaiting sentencing.
Beall commended the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Lenexa Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating IRS EmployeeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Lenexa man pleaded guilty Monday to harassing former girlfriends and business partners by sending them letters on Internal Revenue Service letterhead saying they were under investigation for tax evasion, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Jeffrey Nickerson, 56, Lenexa, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of impersonating a federal employee. In his plea, Nickerson admitted he was an acquaintance of a woman who worked at the IRS Service Center in Kansas City, Mo. She brought IRS letterhead and IRS publications home. He used the information to send letters to former girlfriends and former business partners. The letters said the victims were under investigation as a result of reports being filed to the Internal Revenue Service Fraud Investigations Hotline.
Sentencing will be set for a later date. He faces a penalty of up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Beall commended the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
KCK Man Pleads Guilty in Robbery at Stilwell, Kan., BankRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City, Kan., man pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges that he took part in an armed robbery at a Stillwell bank before leading police on a high speed chase with a child in his car, Acting U.S.
Gary Jordan, 39, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. Last week, co-defendant Jacob L. Smith, 18, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.
In his plea, Jordan admitted that on March 9, 2016, he and Smith were armed with handguns when they entered the First National Bank at 7460 W. 199th Street in Stilwell, Kan. They held tellers at gunpoint before fleeing with cash stuffed in a backpack. Jordan took the wheel of the getaway car.
During the next 25 minutes, the robbers were pursued by the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Leawood Police Department and other law enforcement agencies as they fled across the Kansas/Missouri state line. During the chase, Smith fired at officers six times from the car. After the car overturned on a sharp turn, the defendants were arrested. Throughout the chase, co-defendant Danille Morris, 26, Kansas City, Kan., and her 19-month-old child were in the car. She has scheduled a change of plea hearing for Aug. 8.
Jordan and Smith are set for sentencing Dec. 19. The crimes carry the following penalties: Up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 for robbery, not less than 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 for discharging firearms in a robbery, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 for unlawful possession a firearm by a felon.
Beall commended all the agencies that assisted in the investigation including the FBI, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Leawood Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, as well as the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley.
Topeka Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy in Interstate Sex Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka woman pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to operate an interstate sex trafficking business, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Shannon Nelson, 23, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. In her plea, she admitted conspiring with co-defendants to operate a Topeka-based prostitution business. At times, as many as 20 females were working as prostitutes for the organization. The leader of the organization rented houses where some of the prostitutes were allowed to live. The organization used Web sites, social media and cell phones to advertise sexual services and to keep track of prostitutes.
Nelson admitted she worked for co-defendant Frank Boswell as a commercial sex worker. She became a trusted member of Boswell’s organization and lived in one of Boswell’s houses. She posted advertisements for herself and other women on a Web site offering sexual services. She used cell phones to communicate with Boswell and others in the course of operating the prostitution business.
Federal agents encountered her July 15, 2015, at a Motel 6 in Omaha where she and other women had gone to engage in prostitution.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 24. She faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Co-defendant Frank Boswell, 42, Topeka, Kan., is awaiting trial. Co-defendant Rachel Flenniken, 34, Topeka, Kan., is set for sentencing Oct. 17. Co-defendant Sean P. Hall, 46, Topeka, Kan., is set for sentencing Oct. 3.
Beall commended the Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Paola Couple Sentenced on Federal Tax ChargeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - The owners of a construction and remodeling business in Paola were sentenced Monday on a federal tax charge, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
Dan Casey, 41, Paola, Kan., was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. His wife, Nicole Lynn Casey, 39, Paola, Kan., was sentenced to three years on supervised release. They were ordered to pay $102,000 in restitution.
The Caseys pleaded guilty to one count of filing false tax returns. They admitted failing to report some of their income from Pro-Built, a construction and remodeling business they owned in Paola.
From 2008 through 2011 they failed to report more than $347,000 in income, resulting in tax due of more than $102,000. Dan Casey also admitted paying cash to contractors who worked on his barn following a fire. He failed to report the payments to the Internal Revenue Service.
Beall commended the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.
Office Manager Pleads Guilty to Theft from Lawrence CompanyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A former office manager for a Lawrence property management company pleaded guilty Monday to embezzlement, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Candy A. Gunderson, 44, Lawrence, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds. In her plea, Gunderson admitted the crime took place from 2007 to 2015 while she was office manager for Garber Enterprises in Lawrence. She used various means to steal money from the company including:
-
Depositing into her personal account checks made payable to Garber Enterprises.
-
Issuing forged Garber Enterprises checks.
-
Using company funds to pay bills for work performed on rental properties she owned.
-
Using the company VISA card for personal expenses.
-
Depositing cash belonging to the company into her personal accounts.
-
Forging checks on Garber’s account to pay for personal phone bill.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 7. She faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. At the sentencing hearing, the judge will determine the amount of the loss and the restitution.
Beall commended the Lawrence Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.
-
Former Tribal Casino Employee Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former tribal casino employee was sentenced Monday to five years on federal probation for embezzlement, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
Donald M. Collins, 32, Wetmore, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization. In his plea, he admitted the crime took place while he worked as a Players Club Representative for the Sac and Fox Casino, which is owned by the Sac and Fox Nation of Kansas and Nebraska.
Collins made counterfeit player cards and placed unearned free play on player cards belonging to his friends. Collins and others played the cards. The value of the counterfeit cards, along with winnings generated by the cards, caused a total loss to the casino of $30,766.
Beall commended the Kansas State Gaming Agency and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
Dodge City Woman Sentenced to 21+ Years for Producing Child PornRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Dodge City woman was sentenced Monday to 260 months in federal prison for making a video of herself engaged in a sex act with a child under five years old and uploading the video to the Internet, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Ashley Marie Kelly, 25, Dodge City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography. In her plea, she admitted she used a smartphone to record the act and posted the video to her Google Drive account. Google discovered the photographs and sent reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Beall commended the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, the Wichita Police Department, the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Wichita Man Sentenced in Massage Parlor Prostitution CaseRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man was sentenced Friday to 18 months in federal prison in a massage parlor prostitution case, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
In April, a federal jury found defendant Kay Tee, 51, Wichita, Kan., guilty on one count of attempting to entice a person to cross state lines to engage in prostitution, one count of using a telephone in furtherance of prostitution and one count of money laundering.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Tee was arrested May 28, 2015, at the airport in Wichita when he drove there to pick up a person he believed was buying a Wichita massage parlor that was a front for prostitution. In fact, the person Tee had talked with several times on the phone was one of two undercover informants working with federal investigators. In recorded conversations, Tee identified the extent of sexual services various parlors were performing and explained how he had helped other individuals establish parlors in Wichita.
Tee tried to collect fees from both undercover informants – one posing as a buyer and the other as a seller – in return for helping to arrange the sale. He also offered to provide additional services in exchange for additional compensation, including advertising on Backpage.com, filing city paperwork and doing taxes for the massage parlor. Examples of Tee’s advertisements on Backpage.com were presented at trial.
Beall commended the Wichita Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Wichita Man Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Mississippi GirlRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison for using the Internet to sexually exploit a Mississippi girl, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
James K. Arnel, 23, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography. In his plea he admitted communicating over the Internet with a 12-year-old girl and exchanging sexual images with her.
Beall commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
South Carolina Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of Kansas GirlRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A South Carolina man was sentenced Monday to 25 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a Kansas girl, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
Robert Pitya Dickson, 49, Fort Mill, S.C., pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted he communicated over the Internet with a 13-year-old Kansas girl. Dickson persuaded the girl to send him send him sexual images of herself. In March 2014 he traveled to meet the girl and engaged in sex acts with her that he recorded and transported back to South Carolina.
Co-defendant Tricia Rodarmel is set for sentencing July 25.
Beall commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Robber Who Threatened to ‘Shoot up the Place’ Sentenced to 8+ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A bank robber who threated to “shoot up the place,” was sentenced Monday to 100 months in federal prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Robert Robinson, 42, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery. In his plea, Robinson admitted that on May 30, 2014, he robbed the Commerce Bank at 9501 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kan. At the counter he pulled out a blue file folder and opened it, revealing a note that read: “Put on top of this note all 20s, 50s 100s or I will start shooting up the place.”
He also admitted to two other bank robberies: One on May 22, 2014, at the Bank of America at 15811 Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park; and the other on May 30, 2014, at Commerce Bank at 3606 Frederick Avenue in St. Joseph, Mo.
Beall commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.
Kansas Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 24+ YearsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for drug trafficking, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Jose Rios-Morales, 42, Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced Wednesday to 292 months in federal prison. He was convicted in a jury trial in October 2015 on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Rios-Morales was a member of a drug trafficking organization headed by his partner and co-defendant, Felipe Sifuentes-Cabrera. Rios-Morales assisted Sifuentes in many ways including introducing Sifuentes to the methamphetamine supplier, driving to California to pick up loads of methamphetamine, packing methamphetamine for shipping, managing the collection of drug proceeds, and wiring money to the organization’s methamphetamine supplier. Rios-Morales and Sifuentes’ drug trafficking organization was determined to be responsible for distributing over 4.5 kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine from Feb. 1, 2014, to Nov. 4, 2014.
Rios-Morales was arrested on Nov. 4, 2014, after he met with Sifuentes at an Olathe, Kan., residence to assist in unloading a car in which 13 pounds of 99-100 percent pure methamphetamine had been concealed. Rios-Morales and Sifuentes arranged for the car to be sent from California to Kansas via a car hauler. The vehicle was intercepted by the Canadian County, Okla., Sheriff’s department and delivered to Kansas
Sifuentes pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
Beall commended the Canadian County, Okla., Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Olathe, Kan., Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward for their work on the case.
U.S. Attorney Targets Human Trafficking at Conference in Manhattan, Kan.Read the Press Release
MANHATTAN, KAN. – Almost 200 law enforcement officers and victim service providers from across Kansas will be in Manhattan Tuesday and Wednesday to team up in the fight against human trafficking, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
“Human trafficking is the modern form of slavery,” Beall said. “It’s here now. It’s happening in communities across Kansas. It’s everybody’s problem.”
Beall is joining with Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center to sponsor the conference, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12, and 8 a.m. to noon July 13 at the Manhattan Conference Center, 410 S. 3rd in Manhattan.
Craig Hill of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will lead off with a presentation on domestic child sex trafficking. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett will talk about how law enforcement officers and prosecutors work with reluctant victims and witnesses. Tina Peck of Via Christ Health will discuss how Via Christi’s hospitals in Wichita work to identify trafficking victims who seek emergency treatment and offer them help. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart will describe how federal prosecutors are working with the Wichita Police Department to target businesses that are fronts for human trafficking.
Other speakers will include Michael Geiger, a retired detective sergeant from Portland; Chris Baughman, author of “Off the Streets,” Anna Brewer, a retired FBI agent; Deb Kluttz, executive director of The Homestead in Manhattan; Kent Bauman of the Wichita Police Department’s Exploited and Missing Children Unit, Dorothy Sucky Halley and Jeff Wagaman of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office; Katie Cronin of Stinson Leonard Street; and Vivian VanVleet of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Registration is required, including a $50 fee. More information is available on the Web at http://2016htconference.weebly.com/
Wichita Man Sentenced, Partner Pleads Guilty in Gas Station RobberiesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced Tuesday to more than 15 years in federal prison for robbing two Wichita gas stations, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said. Also Tuesday, a co-defendant in the same case pleaded guilty.
Roy E. Walls-Guiden, 29, Wichita, Kan., was sentenced Tuesday to 188 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbing a commercial establishment.
Demon L. Anderson, 27, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of robbing a commercial establishment.
In their pleas, the defendants admitted that on Dec. 4, 2015, they robbed a Valero gas station at 248 S. Hillside in Wichita. They entered the store while the clerk was outside and began taking cash and cigarettes. When the clerk returned, Walls-Guiden pointed a .40 caliber handgun at him. Then the defendants fled the store.
Later that same night, the defendants tried to rob a Petro America gas station at 2838 W. Central in Wichita. The defendants did not know that a police officer had set up surveillance on the store and called for backup when he saw the defendants enter. The defendants were arrested at the scene.
Anderson is set for sentencing Sept. 20. He faces a penalty of up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Beall commended the Wichita Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Wichita Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $247,000Read the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A former bookkeeper pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling $247,000 from a Wichita steel company where she worked, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Cynthia K. Griffith, 58, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In her plea, she admitted she stole the money from Griffith Steel Erection of Wichita where she worked. She wrote unauthorized checks on the company’s operating account.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 21. She faces a penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. Beall commended the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for their work on the case.
Indictment: Car Stop on I-70 in Shawnee County Yielded 34 Pounds of MethRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Mexican man was indicted Wednesday on charges that he was stopped in Shawnee County with 34 pounds of methamphetamine in his car, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Luis Manuel Mojarro-Lopez, 33, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. An affidavit filed in the case alleges that on June 18 the defendant was driving a 2007 Ford Mustang when a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper pulled him over for running a stop sign on the I-70 eastbound exit ramp at Wanamaker.
A search of the vehicle turned up 34 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment behind the rear seat. Investigators learned Mojarro-Lopez was being paid $2,000 to drive the vehicle from Los Angeles to Kansas City, Kan. He was told to call his contact for further directions after he arrived in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Christopher Lee Evans, 30, who is currently in federal custody, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 11, 2015, in Shawnee County, Kan. The indictment alleges he possessed a .25 mm Titan pistol despite being prohibited from having a gun because of a conviction in 2008 in Shawnee County District Court on an aggravated burglary charge.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Former Osawatomie Rec Director Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $125,000Read the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - The former recreation director for the City of Osawatomie was sentenced Monday to five years on federal supervised probation for embezzling more than $125,000 from the city, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Ron Maring, 54, Osawatomie, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud and false statement, and one count of money laundering. In his plea, he admitted the crimes occurred while he was director of the Osawatomie Recreation Commission.
He wrote checks from the recreation commission’s account to himself and to American Legion Baseball. He converted the money for his own use and not for the use of the recreation commission or American Legion Baseball.
As part of the scheme, he persuaded recreation commission board members to sign blank checks, used his own signature as an endorsement and instructed a recreation commission employee to endorse checks.
When he filed his 2010 federal income tax return he failed to report the embezzled income, which would have added $14,902 in taxes owed.
Beall commended the Osawatomie Police Department, the Kansas Department of Revenue, Office of Special Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for their work on the case.
Harper County Cattle Buyer Indicted on Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A cattle buyer from Harper County was indicted Tuesday on federal fraud charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Randall D. Patterson, 62, Anthony, Kan., is charged with 14 counts of wire fraud. Patterson owned Anthony Livestock Co. (ALC), which was in the business of buying and selling cattle. He was the president of the National Livestock Marketing Association from 2004 to 2006.
The indictment alleges Patterson had an agreement to buy cattle at a “delivered price” from JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding. That price included the price paid for the cattle, the cost of freight, health costs for cattle and a commission of 50 cents per hundredweight. Five Rivers would notify Patterson of a maximum delivered price and Patterson would purchase cattle at sales barns in Kansas and Oklahoma. The sales barns would prepare invoices showing the price paid at auction.
The indictment alleges Patterson:
Caused sales barns to issue invoices falsely inflating the prices ALC agreed to pay at auction.
Caused ALC employees to fax invoices to Five Rivers falsely inflating the amount paid for cattle.
Caused at least 14 faxes to be sent to Five Rivers and other cattle feeding companies falsely inflating the amount paid ALC paid for cattle.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each fraud count. The FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Trayvon L. Williams, 21, Wichita, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition following a felony conviction, and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 1, 2015 in Wichita, Kan.
If convicted he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the firearm charges, and up to a year and a fine up to $1,000 on the marijuana charge. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
Dat T. Huynh, 26, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a user of controlled substances, one count of unlawful possession of a sawed off shotgun and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 25, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the first two firearms charges, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $10,000 on the shotgun charge, and a maximum penalty of one year and a fine up to $1,000 on the marijuana charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Alexander S. Rivera, 22, Long Beach, Calif., and Destiney L. Metzger, 18, Long Beach, Calif., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 11, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, they face penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million on possession with intent to distribute charge, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the interstate travel charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Kevin M. Jones, 30, Wichita, Kan., and Treasure N. Jones, 28, Wichita, Kan., are charged with three counts of counterfeiting $20 and $50 bills. The crimes are alleged to have occurred April 9 and 10, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Anthony Grant Oshel, 37, Wichita, Kan., is charged with three counts of counterfeiting $20 bills. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 24 and 25, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Topeka Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy in Interstate Sex Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to operate an interstate sex trafficking business, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Sean P. Hall, 46, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. In his plea, he admitted to conspiring with co-defendants to operate a Topeka-based prostitution business. At times, as many as 20 females were working as prostitutes for the organization. The leader of the organization rented houses where some of the prostitutes were allowed to live. The organization used Web sites, social media and cell phones to advertise sexual services and to keep track of prostitutes.
Hall admitted that in 2012 he started working for co-defendant Frank Boswell at Club Magic, a nightclub in Lawrence, Kan. Hall became a trusted employee and learned from Boswell how the prostitution business operated. Hall transported prostitutes to and from meetings with clients. He posted photos of prostitutes on Internet sites advertising their services. He also promoted the business by posting reviews of prostitutes on other Web sites that advertised sexual services.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 3. He faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Co-defendant Frank Boswell, 42, Topeka, Kan., is awaiting trial. Co-defendant Rachel Flenniken, 34, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty earlier this month and is set for sentencing Oct. 17.
Beall commended the Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Topeka Man Sentenced for Gas Station RobberyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was sentenced today to three years in federal prison for robbing a gas station, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Darrian Michael Stewart, 22, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on June 20, 2014, he robbed a BP convenience store at 1401 S.W. Huntoon Avenue in Topeka. He entered the store about 8:23 p.m. before approaching the clerk at the counter with what appeared to be a black handgun and demanding money. He fled the store on foot. Later he was identified from surveillance video and arrested.
Beall commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Indictment: Undocumented Workers Forced to Pay Kickbacks to KCK Roofing CompanyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A federal grand jury indictment unsealed here today alleges the owners of a Kansas City roofing company intimidated and coerced undocumented workers to pay kickbacks in violation of federal forced labor statutes, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
The indictment alleges the owners of Century Roofing knowingly employed undocumented workers, using coercion, extortion and threats to control workers and force them to pay kickbacks. Their goal was to make money by cutting Century Roofing’s costs and giving the company a competitive advantage.
“Unlawful business practices alleged in the indictment paint a picture of undocumented workers being manipulated by employers who played on their vulnerabilities – particularly their fear of being caught and deported from the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
The indictment alleges the owners of Century Roofing at 6 South 59th St. Lane, Kansas City, Kan., used primarily undocumented workers who were paid in cash to complete commercial and residential roofing projects in the Kansas City metro area. The defendants are alleged to have used unlawful tactics to enrich themselves at the expense of workers including:
-
Threatening to fire roofing crew leaders unless they paid cash kickbacks to the defendants.
-
Threatening to cause roofing crew leaders to be fired from jobs working for other companies -- or to be unable to get jobs with other companies -- unless they paid kickbacks to the defendants.
-
Threatening to take back work trucks provided to crew leaders unless they paid kickbacks, even when crew leaders were making loan payments, and paying for insurance and maintenance on the trucks.
-
Threatening to report them to U.S. immigration authorities unless they paid kickbacks.
-
Threatening to report them to U.S. immigration authorities if crew leaders or crews worked for other roofing companies without the defendants’ approval.
-
Threatening to report them to U.S. immigration authorities if crew leaders or crews failed to complete work by deadlines set by the defendants.
-
Evicting or threatening to evict crew leaders from housing provided by defendants if they didn’t follow the defendants’ orders.
“This joint operation reflects our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice human traffickers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James Gibbons of HSI Chicago. “We are resolute in our efforts to not only arrest human traffickers, but also to rescue the victims.”
Defendants named in the indictment are in custody and scheduled to make an appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. The defendants are:
Tommy Frank Keaton, 70, Shawnee, Kan., co-owner of Canadian West, Inc., and RAM Metal Products, doing business as Century Roofing.
Graziano Cornolo, 55, Lenexa, Kan., co-owner of co-owner of Canadian West, Inc., and RAM Metal Products, doing business as Century Roofing.
Alberto Diaz-Hernandez, 33, a citizen of Mexico, and employee of Century Roofing.
Charges in the indictment include:
-
Conspiracy to obtain forced labor and benefit from forced labor (count one).
-
Obtaining and attempting to obtain forced labor (counts 2,3 and 4)
-
Benefitting from forced labor (counts 5, 6 and 7)
-
Conspiracy to transport undocumented workers in the United States and encouraging undocumented aliens to remain in the United States for the purpose of financial gain (count eight)
-
Transporting an undocumented worker in the United States (counts nine and 10).
-
Harboring an undocumented worker (counts 11, 12 and 13)
-
Encouraging or inducing undocumented workers to reside in the United States (count 14-17)
Upon conviction the charges carry the following penalties:
-
Counts 1-7 labor trafficking: Up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
-
Count 8: Up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
-
Counts 9-17 Transporting, encouraging undocumented workers to remain unlawfully in the United States: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Investigating agencies include: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Department of Revenue, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Overland Park Police Department, the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Lenexa Police Department and the Shawnee Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting. keaton_indict_2_.pdf
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
-
Federal Bank Robbery, Firearm Charges Filed Against Three Wichita MenRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - Federal bank robbery and firearm charges were filed Tuesday against three Wichita men, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
The defendants are:
Raishat McGill, 34, Wichita, Kan., one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to the robbery.
Andre Bryant, 29, Wichita, Kan., one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to the robbery.
Elijah Shelton, 25, Wichita, Kan., one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to the robbery.
An investigator’s affidavit filed in the case alleges that on June 13, 2016, three men robbed the Carson Bank at 4641 E. Douglas in Wichita. At about 10:30 a.m., two of the robbers entered the bank brandishing firearms and shouting orders to bank employees. One of the defendants shouted: “If you guys don’t open up in 30 seconds, I’m shooting.” The defendants forced two bank employees to enter codes to open a vault. The robbers seized cash from the vault and fled from the bank.
Police spotted the robbers’ car in the 800 block of South Martinson and followed until the robbers ran from the car on foot and were arrested.
If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of up to 25 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the bank robbery charge, and not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Emporia Man Sentenced for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - An Emporia man was sentenced Monday to six years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Zachary E. Krueger, 33, Emporia, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. In his plea, he admitted he distributed child pornography over the Internet using an encrypted peer-to-peer network. The investigation began with an Internet chat between Krueger and an undercover agent in Delaware. Krueger gave the agent a password to access and download files including images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activities. Investigators traced Krueger’s IP address back to his home in Emporia.
Beall commended Homeland Security Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Indictment: Former Guard Took $200,000 in Bribes for Smuggling Tobacco into Leavenworth PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A former prison guard was indicted Wednesday on federal charges alleging he received more than $200,000 in bribes for smuggling tobacco to prisoners in Leavenworth Penitentiary, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Marc Buckner, 46, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of accepting bribes. The indictment alleges that from 2005 to 2014 while he worked at the prison he accepted more than $200,000 in bribes. He received approximately $750 from inmates each time he smuggled tobacco into the prison.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to three times the value of the contraband. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Latoya Trent, 34, Kansas City, Mo, is charged with one count of theft of public funds and one count of bank fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from 2012 to 2014 in Johnson County, Kan.
The indictment alleges she was paid more than $43,000 in unemployment benefits that she was not qualified to receive.
If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft charge, and up to 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on the bank fraud count. The U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
**
Samfin Ondieki Ogega, 36, a citizen of Kenya, is charged with attempting to evade a lawful order for his removal from the United States. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 26, 2016, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to four years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
**
Anthony Barajas, 24, is charged with escaping from custody at the Grossman Residential Reentry Center in Leavenworth, Kan., on May 6, 2016.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.
**
Ronald Hudson, 58, Mulberry, Kan., is charged with one count of theft of public funds and 11 counts of wire fraud. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from 2008 to 2014 in Crawford County, Kan.
The indictment alleges he received Supplemental Security Income payments to which he was not entitled.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft charge, and up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each wire fraud count. The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting.
**
Azar Reed, 56, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of theft of public funds, one count of making a false statement to the Social Security Administration, and 14 counts of mail fraud. The indictment alleges he received benefits to which he was not entitled. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from 2010 to 2013 in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft charge, up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the false statement charge, and up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of mail fraud. The Social Security Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting.
**
Kevin Wayne Clark, 51, Parsons, Kan., is charged with one count of theft of public funds, three counts of mail fraud and three counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleges he received benefits to which he was not entitled. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2014 in Labette County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft charge, up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each mail fraud count, and up to 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each wire fraud count. The Social Security Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Topeka Woman Pleads Guilty to Participating in Interstate Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part in an interstate sex trafficking business, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Rachel Flenniken, 34, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of using an interstate facility in furtherance of prostitution. In her plea, she admitted working for a male co-defendant who was running a prostitution business in Topeka. At times, as many as 20 females were working as prostitutes in the organization. Flenniken’s employer rented houses where some of the prostitutes were allowed to live. He used Web sites, social media and cell phones to advertise sexual services and to keep track of the prostitutes.
Flenniken admitted she began working for the male co-defendant as a prostitute in 2008. By 2010, he put her in charge of other prostitutes. She was responsible for keeping track of their meetings with clients and collecting the money they received. She arranged interstate travel for the purpose of prostitution, posted on-line advertisements for workers, and maintained communication with prostitutes while they were working.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 17. She faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Co-defendant Frank Boswell, 42, Topeka, Kan., is awaiting trial.
Beall commended the Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Kansas Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $2 Million in Government FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Stillwell, Kansas, man pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of theft of government funds, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Richard Drake, 60, admitted that he obtained more than $2 million from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false tax returns in the names of his clients. Those false returns claimed refunds that Drake directed into accounts he controlled. In his plea agreement, Drake admitted that he used the identities of his clients to perpetrate his fraud without their knowledge. The tax returns that Drake filed caused the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue large income tax refunds that Drake then converted to his own use.
As part of his plea agreement, Drake has agreed to serve 48 months in prison and to pay $2,432,147 in restitution to the IRS. The sentencing hearing date has not yet been determined.
Acting Assistant Attorney General and Acting U.S. Attorney Beall commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorney Ryan Raybould of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt of the District of Kansas, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Exporting Firearms to Overseas PurchasersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to six counts of exporting and attempting to export firearms illegally from the United States to individuals located in other countries, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Michael Andrew Ryan, 35, of Manhattan, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree of the District of Kansas, who set sentencing for Sept. 12, 2016.
“With a computer and an internet connection, Ryan hosted an international arms trafficking business on the dark web, peddling firearms and ammunition throughout the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Criminals of all stripes take advantage of technological advances to further their crimes and attempt to avoid identification and arrest. In this case, thanks to the hard work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers involved, we were able to shut down dangerous criminal activity and secure the defendant’s conviction – but we must remain vigilant to ensure that law enforcement retains the necessary capabilities to keep up with criminals.”
“The fact that international firearms trafficking has reached Kansas shows the power of the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beall. “This prosecution shows our law enforcement efforts are working.”
In connection with his plea, Ryan admitted that he used a hidden internet marketplace website that sold illegal drugs and other illegal goods to unlawfully export or attempt to export firearms from the United States to Cork, Ireland; Pinner, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Victoria, Australia; and Mallow, Ireland.
In his plea, he admitted unlawfully exporting or attempting to export to:
Cork:
-
a Beretta 9 mm pistol;
-
a Taurus .38 Special revolver;
-
a 15-round 9 millimeter magazine;
-
32 rounds of 9 mm ammunition;
-
one round of .380 ammunition; and
-
41 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Pinner:
-
a .22 caliber UZI;
-
a .22 caliber magazine for an UZI;
-
98 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition; and
-
89 rounds of .270 long ammunition.
Edinburg:
-
a Highpoint .45 caliber pistol;
-
a .45 caliber magazine; and
-
19 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.
Victoria:
-
a Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol; and
-
a .22 caliber magazine.
Mallow:
-
a Glock model 27, .40 caliber pistol;
-
a Glock model 22, .40 caliber pistol;
-
a 9- round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock;
-
a 10-round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock; and
-
10 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division investigated the case with assistance from ATF’s Washington, D.C., Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas, Police Departments. Senior Counsel Marie-Flore Johnson of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough of the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.
-
Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Exporting Firearms to Overseas PurchasersRead the Press Release
A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to six counts of exporting and attempting to export firearms illegally from the United States to individuals located in other countries, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall of the District of Kansas.
Michael Andrew Ryan, 35, of Manhattan, Kansas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree of the District of Kansas, who set sentencing for Sept. 12, 2016.
“With a computer and an internet connection, Ryan hosted an international arms trafficking business on the dark web, peddling firearms and ammunition throughout the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Criminals of all stripes take advantage of technological advances to further their crimes and attempt to avoid identification and arrest. In this case, thanks to the hard work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers involved, we were able to shut down dangerous criminal activity and secure the defendant’s conviction – but we must remain vigilant to ensure that law enforcement retains the necessary capabilities to keep up with criminals.”
“The fact that international firearms trafficking has reached Kansas shows the power of the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beall. “This prosecution shows our law enforcement efforts are working.”
In connection with his plea, Ryan admitted that he used a hidden internet marketplace website that sold illegal drugs and other illegal goods to unlawfully export or attempt to export firearms from the United States to Cork, Ireland; Pinner, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Victoria, Australia; and Mallow, Ireland.
In his plea, he admitted unlawfully exporting or attempting to export to:
Cork:
- a Beretta 9 mm pistol;
- a Taurus .38 Special revolver;
- a 15-round 9 millimeter magazine;
- 32 rounds of 9 mm ammunition;
- one round of .380 ammunition; and
- 41 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
Pinner:
- a .22 caliber UZI;
- a .22 caliber magazine for an UZI;
- 98 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition; and
- 89 rounds of .270 long ammunition.
Edinburg:
- a Highpoint .45 caliber pistol;
- a .45 caliber magazine; and
- 19 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition.
Victoria:
- a Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol; and
- a .22 caliber magazine.
Mallow:
- a Glock model 27, .40 caliber pistol;
- a Glock model 22, .40 caliber pistol;
- a 9- round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock;
- a 10-round magazine for a .40 caliber Glock; and
- 10 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division investigated the case with assistance from ATF’s Washington, D.C., Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and the Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas, Police Departments. Senior Counsel Marie-Flore Johnson of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Hough of the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.
Kansas City, KS, Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Drug Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City, Kan., man was sentenced Monday to life in federal prison for drug trafficking, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Juan Manuel Lopez-Garcia, 27, a citizen of Mexico who lived in Kansas City, Kan., was convicted by a jury in January on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Lopez-Garcia was the main supplier of methamphetamine to a drug trafficking ring that operated in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Lopez-Garcia, who was from Sinaloa, Mexico, received 50 to 60 kilograms of methamphetamine from his brother, who was a high ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Lopez-Garcia paid for methamphetamine shipments he received by arranging to send payments in the form of $50,000 to $80,000 in cash at a time to Mexico in vehicles with hidden compartments. Lopez-Garcia was arrested Sept. 5, 2014, at a residence in the 400 block of Shawnee in Kansas City, Kan.
Beall commended the FBI, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania for their work on the case.
Kansas Sex Offender Charged with Transporting Virginia Teen for SexRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A registered sex offender from Kansas was charged in federal court here Thursday with picking up a 16-year-old girl in Virginia and taking her across state lines to have sex with him, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
Logan Viquesney, 20, Kansas City, Kan., was charged with one count of interstate transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
An affidavit filed in the case alleges the victim was staying with her grandparents in Virginia when she and Viquesney began communicating over the Internet. On May 30, the victim was reported missing from her grandparents’ home. Investigators learned that Viquesney had driven to Virginia, picked up the girl, and taken her with him on a trip that took them from Virginia to Maryland, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. While on the trip, Viquesney had sex with the girl.
Viquesney was arrested after he arrived in Kansas City, Kan., with the girl.
If convicted, he faces a penalty not less than 10 years in federal prison. Investigating agencies include the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Lenexa Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Topeka Real Estate Developer Indicted on Bankruptcy Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - Topeka real estate developer Kent E. Lindemuth was indicted Wednesday on federal bankruptcy fraud charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lindemuth, 64, Topeka, Kan., with 103 counts of bankruptcy fraud. In November 2012 Lindemuth filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reporting to the court he had more than $3.5 million in debt. Under federal law, any property acquired after the date of the bankruptcy filing belongs to the bankruptcy estate, which includes assets that may be used to reimburse creditors and pay off or reduce the debt.
The indictment alleges that from August 2013 to December 2014 Lindemuth purchased more than 100 firearms valued at more than $80,000. The indictment alleges he did not disclose to his creditors or the bankruptcy trustee either the firearms or the money used to purchase the firearms. The indictment contains a list of firearms, charging Lindemuth with one count of bankruptcy fraud for each firearm. The indictment seeks a money judgment of $80,000 against Lindemuth in addition to a criminal penalty.
If convicted, Lindemuth faces a penalty of up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
John McNett, 50, Yates Center, Kan., is charged with one count of assaulting two U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs police officers. The crime is alleged to have occurred Jan. 29, 2016, in Topeka, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to eight years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Veterans Administration – Office of the Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Former Bel Aire Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Theft ChargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A former Bel Aire police chief has pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge of theft of public funds, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said today.
John R. Daily, 63, Haysville, Kan., pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of theft of government funds. In his plea, he admitted he filed paperwork falsely representing that certain firearms were purchased for the exclusive use of the Bel Aire Police Department. As a result, no sales tax was collected on the purchase of the following firearms:
-
$72 in sales tax was not collected on the purchase of a Sig Sauer 1911R TACOPS handgun
-
$231 in sales tax was not collected on the purchase of three FNP90 rifles.
Daily knew or believed that the firearms would be owned by individuals, not by the department, although the firearms would be available for work use as well as personal use.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 17. He faces a penalty of up to one year in federal prison and a fine up to $100,000. Beall commended the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
-
District Count Enters Permanent Injunction Against Kansas Food ManufacturerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Native American Enterprises LLC (NAE), of Wichita, Kansas; its vice president and part-owner, William N. McGreevy; and its production manager, Robert C. Conner, to stop the distribution of adulterated food, the Department of Justice announced today.
The department filed a complaint in the District of Kansas on March 21, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the complaint, NAE manufactures and distributes ready-to-eat (RTE) refried beans and sauces. The complaint alleged that the company’s RTE refried beans and sauces are adulterated in that they have been prepared, packed and/or held under insanitary conditions whereby the food may have become contaminated with filth or have been rendered injurious to health. According to the complaint, the insanitary conditions include the presence of Listeria Monocytogene (L. mono) in NAE’s facility and insanitary employee practices.
“Listeria Monocytogenes is a very dangerous bacteria, and its presence in a food production facility is of great concern,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work aggressively with the FDA to ensure a safe food supply.”
On May 27, the parties filed a consent decree of permanent injunction, by which the defendants agreed to resolve the litigation. The consent decree of permanent injunction, entered by the district court, requires the defendants to cease all manufacture or distribution of food (including RTE refried beans and sauces) other than meat products. Meat products are regulated separately by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the event that defendants intend to resume the manufacture or distribution of food other than meat products, they will only be allowed to do so with FDA approval and under strict supervision. The defendants will also be required to destroy, under FDA’s supervision, any such products already in existence.
With respect to meat products, USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) conducts daily on-site operations inspections at all firms manufacturing USDA FSIS regulated products pursuant to the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Egg Products Inspection Act.
According to the complaint filed in this matter, FDA inspected NAE’s facility, located at 230 N. West Street in Wichita, in August 2015, collected environmental samples, and observed numerous insanitary practices, including the defendants’ failure to manufacture and package food under conditions necessary to minimize microorganism growth, take necessary precautions to protect against contamination and maintain buildings in good repair. Specifically, according to the complaint, FDA observed rain water leaking through the roof in the packaging room, directly above where NAE employees packaged RTE refried beans. In addition, FDA observed cracks and holes in the walls and floor junctures that allow water and debris to collect, prohibit adequate cleaning and could harbor Listeria, according to the complaint.
FDA inspected NAE’s facility twice in 2014. As alleged in the complaint, FDA collected environmental samples during RTE refried beans production during each of the 2014 inspections and found Listeria in the facility. In addition, as alleged in the complaint, FDA also observed a failure to maintain equipment in an acceptable condition through appropriate cleaning and sanitizing.
As alleged in the complaint, L. mono thrives in moist environments, such as food-manufacturing environments. Unless proper precautions are taken, L. mono may become established and grow and it is difficult to eliminate once it becomes established in a food-manufacturing environment. It is capable of surviving and growing at refrigerated temperatures and in high-salt environments. The complaint alleges that L. mono is a significant public health risk in RTE refried beans and sauces.
The government is represented by Trial Attorney Heide L. Herrmann of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Metzger of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, with the assistance of Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement Sonia W. Nath of the Food and Drug Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ks.
Indictment: $3.5 Million ID Theft Conspiracy Stretched from Mailboxes to Car LotsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - Thirteen people are charged in a federal indictment unsealed today alleging they used stolen identities in an effort to spend or access more than $3.5 million of other people’s money and credit, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
The indictment alleges the conspirators divided up the work of stealing from mailboxes, forging identification documents, obtaining fraudulent credit cards and shopping with stolen identities. Some of the conspirators are alleged to have been paid in drugs for their labor. Among the items purchased were a $43,500 Jaguar automobile and a $62,000 Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
The joint federal and local investigation was based on the fact that as early as October 2013 the U.S. Postal Inspection Service recognized that a significant volume of mail was being stolen from blue postal collection boxes, residential mailboxes and mail rooms in the Wichita area.
The indictment alleges the conspirators:
-
Stole mail from the U.S. Postal Service’s blue boxes, a post office and residential customers’ mailboxes.
-
Altered checks.
-
Used stolen information to manufacture new checks.
-
Made purchases using altered and manufactured checks.
-
Created profiles of victims using information from stolen mail.
-
Obtained credit cards using stolen identities.
-
Manufactured false identification documents with stolen information including driver’s licenses.
-
Used stolen identities to obtain credit and merchandise based on the victims’ credit history and incomes.
The government alleges the loss in this matter is approximately $3.5 million.
The 50-count indictment includes charges of aggravated identity theft, trafficking in stolen identities, receipt of stolen mail, unlawful production of identity documents, conspiracy, bank fraud, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and firearms charges.
“This case highlights the importance of the strong working relationships among federal, state and local law enforcement,” said Inspector in Charge Craig Goldberg, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Denver Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to working with our partners to ensure the continued trust people place in the mail and protecting the public from financial victimization by enforcing the laws that defend the nation's mail system from illegal use.”
The following defendants are named in the indictment:
Samuel Below, 29, Phoenix, Ariz.
Chad Michael Abildgaard, 25, Goddard, Kan.
Krysalias Lynn Bernhardt, 20, Clearwater, Kan.
Jacob Michael Martin, 31, Wichita, Kan.
Melanie Marie Morey, 41, Wichita, Kan.
Jillian N. Parker, 34, Wichita, Kan.
Jeremy Peterson, 42, Wichita, Kan.
David Allen Babedew, 24, Wichita, Kan.
Dustin Michael Reida, 28, Wichita, Kan.
Thomas Rye, 36, Phoenix, Ariz.
Daniel Christian Thomas, 31, Wichita, Kan.
Justin Alan Vanley, Rose Hill, Kan.
Jacey Jane Vidricksen, 27, Goddard, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
-
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine (counts one and 33): Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.
-
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and attempted bank fraud (counts two, six, 10, 12, 22, 25, 27, 29, 31, 40 and 43): Up to 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on each count).
-
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and receipt of stolen mail (count three): Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
-
Conspiracy to produce identification documents, production or use of identification documents (counts four, 13, 17, 32, and 50): Up to 15 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
-
Unlawful possession of a firearm (counts five, eight and 11): Up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
-
Aggravated identity theft (counts seven, 19, 21, 23, 38, 41, 44, 46, 47 and 48): A mandatory two years consecutive to the underlying offense and a fine up to $250,000.
-
Theft or receipt of stolen mail (counts nine, 24, 26, 28, 30, 39 and 42): Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
-
Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (count14): Up to 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
-
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (counts 15, 16, 34, and 35).
-
Possession of a stolen firearm (count 36): Up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
-
Possession of an unregistered silencer (count 37): Up to 10 years and a fine up to $10,000.
-
Making a false statement during a federal investigation (count 49): Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000)
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, the Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger are prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
-
Federal Charges Filed in Armed Robbery at Park City Liquor StoreRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Federal charges were filed Thursday in Wichita against two men accused of trying to rob a Park City liquor store where a store employee shot one of them and held the other at gunpoint until police arrived, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Wichita charged Roland Donnell Ross, 28, Wichita, Kan., and Michael Ray Phillips, 37, Wichita, Kan., with one count of commercial robbery and one count of brandishing firearms during the robbery.
An investigator’s affidavit alleges that on May 24 the two men were carrying guns when they tried to rob MGS liquor at 6200 N. Broadway in Park City, Kan. A store employee said when one of the robbers asked him if he was ready to die the employee grabbed a gun he had in the store and fired two shots. One robber, identified later as Phillips, ran from the business and escaped. The store employee forced the other robber, identified later as Ross, to put his gun down. The employee held Ross at gunpoint until the police came.
On May 25, Phillips was admitted to Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., with a wound to the chest. He claimed he had been injured by falling on a stick, but an examination revealed he had been shot.
If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the robbery charge and a penalty of not less than seven years consecutive to the underlying sentence on the brandishing charge. The Park City Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Atchinson Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping, Killing 5-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Atchison man pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of kidnapping and killing a 5-year-old girl. The charges carry a penalty of life in prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall and Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said.
Marcas McGowan, 32, Atchison, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping resulting in death, and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In his plea, he admitted that on July 18, 2014, he shot and killed the girl after he kidnapped her and exchanged gunfire with police.
The incident began with a domestic dispute between McGowan and his girlfriend, Christina Harris, the mother of the 5-year-old victim. During the argument McGowan threatened Harris with a gun and she called 911. McGowan put Harris’ daughter in his car and drove away as police arrived.
Police pursued McGowan as he drove through downtown Atchison, across the river into Missouri and then back to Leavenworth, Kan., at speeds up to 95 miles an hour. While fleeing from law enforcement, McGowan fired his gun at the officers. On a highway near the northwest corner of Leavenworth he crashed through a barricade and stopped the car. When he got out of the car, he ignored police orders to drop the weapon. The officers returned fire and shot McGowan, who eventually stopped pointing his gun at the officers.
In the car, police found the girl dead from a gunshot wound. Forensic evidence revealed McGowan had shot her at close range with a 9 mm handgun while she was in the car.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 6. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of life on the kidnapping charge, which is the statutory minimum penalty. The firearm count requires a statutory minimum penalty of 10 years consecutive to the other sentence.
Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the purpose of the federal prosecution. Beall commended Thompson, the Atchison Police Department, the Platte County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Office, the Weston (Mo.) Police Department, the Leavenworth Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.