District of Kansas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
False Income Tax Returns from Inmates Part of Tax Preparer’s SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Preparing false income tax returns in the names of prison inmates was one of the schemes a Kansas City tax preparer used to defraud the Internal Revenue Service of more than $400,000, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Tuesday.
Prayshana Washington, 28, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of preparing false income tax returns and one count of aggravated identity theft. In her plea, she admitted that from 2012 to 2015 she was in the business of preparing individual income tax returns for clients, who generally paid between $500 and $1,000 for her services. She admitted:
- Preparing a 2012 return for a client that included false claims about dependents, false household help income, and false American Opportunity Credits.
- Directing the IRS to deposit fraudulent returns onto prepaid debit cards and mail them to addresses she controlled.
- Obtaining names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers for prison inmates and preparing fraudulent income tax returns in their names.
Sentencing will be set for a later date. The parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 37 months in federal prison. Grissom commended the Internal Revenue Service, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask and Matthew Kluge, Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, for their work on the case.
Topeka Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to $400,000 EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka woman pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling more than $400,000 from her employer, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Lisa M. Davenport, 42, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of embezzled funds. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she was an officer manager for Kansas Associates, Inc., which was the Prudential Real Estate franchise in Topeka. The company is now known as Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. She embezzled money from KAI by taking proceeds from the company’s commissions and depositing them into her personal account. A forensic audit determined she embezzled approximately $416,000 from the company.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 4. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.
Man Hired to Drive 15 Pounds of Heroin to Kansas City Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A California man who was arrested in Kansas with 15 pounds of heroin was sentenced Monday to 46 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Juan Carlos Ahumada, 21, San Fernando, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. In his plea, he admitted he was hired to drive a load of heroin from California to Kansas City. On June 25, 2014, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper stopped Ahumada on eastbound Interstate 70 in Wabaunsee County, Kan. Investigators discovered a hidden compartment in the cowl of the vehicle where approximately 15 pounds of heroin was concealed.
Grissom commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard for their work on the case.
Gun Dealer Sentenced for Conspiracy in Bribes, Kickbacks for Glock FirearmsRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – An Olathe gun dealer was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for paying bribes to employees of the company that makes Glock firearms, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
John Sullivan Ralph, III, 42, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud Glock by paying bribes and kickbacks to Glock employees for preferential treatment. Ralph owned Global Guns & Hunting, Inc., of Olathe, Kan., doing business as OMB Guns. From 2003 to 2009 Ralph paid 140 bribes and kickbacks to co-defendants totaling approximately $900,000.
Co-defendants include:
Lisa Delaine Dutton, who was sentenced to 12 months and a day.
Welcome D. Wood, Jr., who is set for sentencing Nov. 16.
James Craig Dutton, who is set for sentencing Nov. 9.
Paula Ann Wood, who is set for sentencing Nov. 16.
Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway is prosecuting.
Prison Terms Don’t Change for Former Haysville Doctor and WifeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A federal judge Thursday resentenced a former Haysville physician and his wife without changing the amount of time they must spend in prison for illegally distributing prescription pain killers to patients who overdosed on them, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Stephen J. Schneider, 62, currently in federal custody, was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in federal prison. His wife, Linda K. Schneider, 57, also in federal custody, was sentenced Thursday to 33 years in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Monti Belot originally sentenced the Schneiders in October 2010 after they were convicted in an eight-week jury trial on charges including conspiracy, unlawful distribution of controlled substances, health care fraud and money laundering. Belot set the case for resentencing after a Supreme Court ruling last year that a victim’s drug use must be the actual cause of death – not just a contributing factor – to impose the harshest penalties under the federal Controlled Substances Act. The judge threw out some of the original sentences.
During trial, the government=s case centered on the years from 2002 to 2008, when Stephen Schneider saw patients and Linda Schneider, a licensed practical nurse, managed the business of Schneider Medical Clinic at 7030 S. Broadway in Haysville. Prosecutors presented evidence that the Schneiders billed more than $4 million to Medicaid and other health insurance providers while they operated the clinic unlawfully, distributing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose, falsifying insurance claims, and engaging in unlawful financial transactions with the proceeds of the crimes.
Grissom commended the following agencies and individuals who worked on the case: The Department of Health and Human Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas Attorney General=s Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanya Treadway, Jon Fleenor, and Jabari Wamble, who prosecuted the case.
Indictment: Phone Threat to Bash Lawyer’s Head in Violated Federal LawRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - An Ottawa man was indicted Wednesday on a charge of making an interstate phone call threatening to bash in the head of a Kansas City, Mo., lawyer, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Rick Draskovich, 52, Ottawa, Kan., is charged with one count of making a threat. The indictment alleges that on Aug. 31, 2015, Draskovich made a phone call in which he said: “I am about to go to the law firm and bash his … head in.” Draskovich went on to suggest the lawyer get a restraining order, adding that, “…honestly that restraining order is not going to help him, just by the time he even understands what’s happening, he’s going to get his head bashed in.”
If convicted, Draskovich faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Renard Alston, 19, Topeka, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, one count of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a robbery. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 28, 2015, in Topeka, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the robbery charge, and a penalty of not less than seven years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of brandishing a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
Juwuan D. Jackson, 18, who lives on the Fort Riley Army base, is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. The indictment alleges that on Sept. 11, 2015, he handled a firearm in a reckless manner resulting in the death of 16-year-old Kenyon Givens, who also lived on Fort Riley.
Jackson initially was charged in a criminal complaint filed Sept. 16, 2015, in U.S. District Court in Topeka.
If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Army Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi are prosecuting.
Travis Ray Crum, 43, who is in custody in Topeka, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, and one count of knowingly possessing stolen firearms. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 27, 2015, in Topeka, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the felon in possession charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $1 million on the stolen firearms charge. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway is prosecuting.
Phillip Scott Krites, 31, who is in custody in Topeka, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 22, 2015, in Shawnee County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Wichita Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA KAN. - A Wichita man pleaded guilty Monday to a bank robbery that ended when he rolled his car in a residential neighborhood, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Harold Carl Deloach, Jr., 41, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to robbing the Credit Union of America at 212 S. Ridge Road in Wichita on Jan. 15, 2015. He entered the credit union at about 5 p.m. and gave the teller a note saying, “Put the money in the bag.” He was arrested after rolling his car in a homeowner’s front yard near 13th North and Tyler, about three miles from the bank.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 14. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney for their work on the case.
Leavenworth Man Sentenced for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Leavenworth man was sentenced Friday to a year in federal prison for fraudulently collecting more than $46,000 in government benefits, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Michael James Munsterman, 42, Leavenworth, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In his plea, he admitted he received Supplemental Security Income, food stamps and Medicaid even though he did not qualify for those benefits. In April 2011 he applied for SSI benefits claiming that he had a drug-induced heart condition that prevented him from working. He did not reveal to the government that he owned and operated a heating and cooling company and received substantial income from the business while he was receiving benefits. He also admitted that he concealed from the federal government his financial resources that far exceeded the eligibility criteria of the aforementioned needs-based programs.
He fraudulently received a total of approximately $46,367 in government funds.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Munsterman must also pay restitution to the victim-agencies. Grissom commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford for their work on the case.
Kansas Receives $593,000 in Justice Department Hiring GrantsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Law enforcement agencies in Kansas will receive more than $593,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services program, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Monday. The grants are aimed at expanding community based policing as recommended by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
The list of this year’s grantees includes:
- The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department, one officer position, $125,000.
- The Concordia Police Department, one officer position, $118,568.
- The Linn County Sheriff’s Office, one officer position, $123,398.
- Osage City, one officer position, $125,000.
- Unified School District 501, one officer position, $101,344.
“These grants put more officers on the streets and support law enforcement efforts to build trust and work more closely with the communities they serve,” U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
The grants pay for salaries and benefits for officers for three years.
Nationally, more than $107 million is being awarded through the COPS Hiring Program. Priority consideration was given to agencies that are focusing on building trust or school based policing through school resource officers as recommended in the report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The report is online at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/policingtaskforce .
Federal Grants Will Buy Body Cameras in Wyandotte County, Wichita, Dodge CityRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded federal grants to buy law enforcement body cameras in Wyandotte County, Wichita and Dodge City, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
The grants awarded through the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance are designed to support body cameras as a law enforcement strategy aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime, and improving trust between police and the public.
The agencies receiving the grants are:
- Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., $352,500.
- City of Wichita, $250,000.
- Dodge City Police Department, $45,205.
“Body cameras are a big step forward in our efforts to protect officers and the public – and to build trust between police and the communities they protect,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Nationally, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch Monday announced grants totaling more than $23.2 million to 73 law enforcement agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body cameras. The grants are part of President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.
The grants, which require a 50/50 local match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing information from body cameras will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance has launched a comprehensive online toolkit that consolidates research, promising practices, model policies and other tools that address issues surrounding body cameras including implementation requirements; image retention; concerns of policy makers; prosecutors; victim and privacy advocates; and community engagement and funding considerations. The tool kit is online at https://www.bja.gov/bwc/
Cherryvale Man Sentenced to 7 Years on Federal Child Porn ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA KAN. - A Cherryvale, Kan., man was sentenced Monday to seven years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Daniel Hosier, 35, Cherryvale, Kan., was convicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on March 28, 2013, Hosier emailed images of child pornography on Yahoo. They also presented evidence that on July 13, 2013, he possessed child pornography on laptop computers and on a smartphone.
Grissom commended the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Twin Peaks Company Pleads Guilty to Hiring Unauthorized WorkersRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Le Grande Tetons, LLC, the company that owned and operated the Twin Peaks bar and restaurant in east Wichita, has pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern or practice of employing aliens not authorized to work in the United States, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Grissom said the guilty plea was entered by a lawyer for the company in federal court Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer. Pursuant to a plea agreement in the case, Judge Birzer imposed a fine of $50,000. Companies or persons who engage in a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens can be fined up to $3,000 for each person so employed.
Le Grande Tetons, LLC, has sold or is in the process of selling its Twin Peaks location and franchise, which is at 8310 E. 21st St.
According to plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s office has agreed not to pursue any additional charges against the owners, current employees or former employees of Le Grande Tetons, LLC, with the exception of two former management employees who remain under investigation.
“The word is getting out: Employers who knowingly hire foreign workers who are not authorized to work in the United States face criminal prosecution,” Grissom said. “I blame employers for this practice, not the employees. It isn’t very hard to figure out whether someone from another country has permission to work in the United States.”
According to the plea agreement, the Twin Peaks east location underwent an I-9 employment authorization form inspection by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in September 2013 that identified more than 20 unauthorized workers employed primarily in the east Twin Peaks kitchen area. A Twin Peaks manager agreed to fire the employees immediately, but HSI received word several months later than many of the same employees had been rehired. Federal search warrants were executed at both Wichita Twin Peaks locations in July.
Grissom praised HSI for its investigation of the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson for its prosecution. Other agencies, including the Wichita Police Department, the Kansas Department of Labor, the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General also assisted in the case.
Shawnee Mission Man Pleads Guilty to $6 Million EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Shawnee Mission man pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges he embezzled more than $6 million from an Overland Park company, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Kenneth Voboril, 46, Shawnee Mission, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. In his plea, he admitted he was hired in 2005 by Commodity Specialists Company to run its subsidiary, TransMaxx. TransMaxx brokered trucking deliveries for customers and occasionally provided services to CSC.
Voboril devised a scheme to defraud CSC by creating fake companies and billing CSC for deliveries that never occurred. He caused false truck load information to be entered into TransMaxx’s computer system, resulting in invoices being created by TransMaxx’s account software program.
Over the course of time, he embezzled more than $6 million from CSC. In addition, he failed to report the income on his federal tax returns.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 7. He faces maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of three years and a fine up to $250,000 on the tax count. Grissom commended the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Indian Tribes in Kansas Receive More than $950,000 in Public Safety GrantsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Indian tribes in Kansas are being awarded more than $950,000 in public safety grants from the U.S. Dept. of Justice, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
“Our goal is to strengthen and sustain native communities in Kansas by improving public safety and promoting the fair administration of justice,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
The grants, awarded through the Justice Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance program, include:
- Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska: $426,465 for justice systems and alcohol and substance abuse through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and $449,741 for prevention of violence against women and tribal governments program through the Office of Violence Against Women, for a total of 876,206
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation: $74,764 for comprehensive tribal justice systems strategic planning from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Nationally, the Justice Department announced 206 awards for FY 2015 to American Indian tribes totaling more than $97 million to enhance law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. The grants are awarded in purpose areas including public safety and community policing, justice systems planning, alcohol and substance abuse, corrections and correctional alternatives, violence against women, juvenile justice and tribal youth programs.
A listing of the awards is available at www.justice.gov/tribal/ . A fact sheet on is available at /media/791821/dl?inline.
Federal Charge of Involuntary Manslaughter Filed in Shooting Death at Fort RileyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – Federal prosecutors Wednesday filed an involuntary manslaughter charge against a Riley County man in connection with a shooting death at Fort Riley, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Juwuan D. Jackson, 18, who lives on the Fort Riley base, is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. A criminal complaint alleges that on Sept. 11, 2015, Jackson handled a firearm in a reckless manner, resulting in the shooting death of 16-year-old Kenyon Givens, who also lives on Fort Riley.
If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Army Criminal Investigations Division and the FBI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi are prosecuting.
Seven Wichita Area Residents Charged with Federal Unemployment Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - Seven Wichita area residents were indicted in separate cases Tuesday on federal charges of fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
The indictments allege each of the defendants submitted false information to the Kansas Department of Labor in order to receive unemployment benefits to which they were not entitled.
Each of the defendants was charged with one count of wire fraud. The defendants include:
John C. Hutchinson, 36, Wichita, who worked for The Specialists Group, LLC and Home Depot USA Inc., and is alleged to have fraudulently received $25,888 in benefits.
Ricky J. Henderson, 32, Wichita, Kan., who worked for CNH America, LLC, and is alleged to have fraudulently received $12,405 in benefits.
Edward L. Schwartz, 46, Colwich, Kan., who worked for CNH America, LLC, and Angela D. Schwartz, 41, Colwich, Kan. They are alleged to have fraudulently received $10,320 in benefits.
Terrance Turner, 32, Wichita, Kan., who worked for CNH America, LLC, and is alleged to have fraudulently received $10,879 in benefits.
David J. Smith, 34, Wichita, Kan., who worked for CNH America, LLC, and is alleged to have fraudulently received $9,582 in benefits.
Ignacio Calderon, 49, Wichita, Kan, who worked for CNH America, LLC, and is alleged to have fraudulently received $15,401 in benefits.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Department of Labor investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster are prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Brandon L. Hutchinson, 30, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 13, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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 Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Jose Francisco Beltran, 39, Tucson, Ariz., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 27, 2015, in Lincoln County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
Martin A. Garcia-Corona, 23, and Ana L. Armenta, 31, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 3, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Joel Zamarripa-Favela, 28, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Sept. 3, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 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.
Fernando Delgado-Ornales, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 10, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 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.
Roberto Castro-Alaniz, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 27, 2015, in Seward County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
McPherson Couple Pleads Guilty to Employing Undocumented WorkersRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A married couple from India having no lawful status in the United States pleaded guilty Thursday to charges related to unlawful employment of undocumented workers, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
The couple, Satishkumar A. Patel, 47, and Daxaben S. Patel, 36, both of McPherson, Kan., entered their guilty pleas Thursday before U.S. District Eric F. Melgren. Judge Melgren set sentencing for Nov. 25.
Satishkumar Patel pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern or practice of employing undocumented workers, failure to collect federal income and Social Security taxes, and operating an unlicensed money remitting business. His wife, Daxaben Patel, pleaded guilty to the unlicensed money remitting business charge. The charges carry maximum penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
As part of the plea agreement, the Patels agreed to forfeit more than $700,000 in cash, money from bank accounts, and gold seized by the government in the case. Those assets represent proceeds of the Patel’s unlawful activities.
“This is what happens when employers ignore U.S. employment, business and tax laws,” Grissom said. “They face prosecution for their crimes and the loss of assets obtained in connection with those crimes. Contrary to what some may think, it is not legal to employ people not authorized to work in this country, nor is it legal to ignore our business and tax laws.”
The case came about when inspectors from the Kansas Department of Revenue Alcohol Beverage Control division observed employees at the Route 56 Express gas station and convenience store in McPherson selling tobacco products to minors. The investigators determined that several employees at Route 56 Express were not lawfully in the United States, nor were they authorized to be employed. Local and federal investigators then assisted, which led to the return of federal indictment in June.
Grissom praised the investigative agencies that worked on the case, which included the KDOR Office of Special Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the McPherson, Kan., Police Dept., the Kansas Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson.
Pittsburg, Kan., Man Sentenced to 11+ Years on Federal Firearms, Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Pittsburg, Kan., man was sentenced Thursday to 136 months in federal prison on federal firearms and drug charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
James D. Russian, 57, Pittsburg, Kan., was convicted June 17 on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on March 27, 2013, Russian led police on a car chase from Barton County, Mo., to Crawford County, Kan., when they tried to stop him to investigate a report he threatened two people with a machete and a gun. Russian abandoned his car and hid in a wooded area before he was arrested. Investigators found marijuana, firearms and ammunition in his possession. Because of a prior felony conviction, Russian was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Grissom commended the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberal (Mo.) Police Department, the Pittsburg Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
Indictment: Storage Unit in Liberal Concealed Four Pounds of MethRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - Two people living in Liberal were indicted Wednesday on charges of trafficking more than four pounds of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Jose Alaniz-Hernandez, 37, and Anna Noreiga-Perez, 20, both of whom have been living in Liberal, Kan., were charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In court records, prosecutors allege that on Aug. 26, 2015, investigators served a search warrant at Space Station Secure Storage, 1120 E. Second Street in Liberal, Kan. In the unit, which was being used by the defendants, investigators found three Tupperware containers and 17 clear plastic bags containing approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine is a principal drug threat in Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom. “Whether it comes from laboratories in Mexico or it is locally produced, it is readily available in our communities, along with the violence and related crimes it supports.”
If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Azucena Garcia-Ferniza, 21, who has been living in Salina, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States. The crime is alleged to have occurred May 7, 2015, in Saline County, Kan.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 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.
Calvin M. Hymon, 31, Topeka, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 2, 2015, in Shawnee County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
Antonio Garcia-Viveros, 32, Kansas City, Kan., and Asuncion Cortez-Chavez, 27, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition, Garcia-Viveros is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 6, 2015, in Kansas City, Kan.
Upon conviction, the methamphetamine charge carries a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million; and the firearm charge carries a penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting.
Jose Luis Garcia-Flores, 44, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 21, 2015, in Finney County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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.
Victor Ruiz-Arias, 45, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 22, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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.
Darnell Sharon O’Connor, 34, Overland Park, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 8, 2014, in Lawrence, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Lawrence Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward is prosecuting.
Stephen M. Nelson, 26, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred March 8, 2014, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy in Kickbacks on Glock FirearmsRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Georgia woman was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison for helping conceal bribes an executive of the company that makes Glock firearms received from a Kansas firearms distributor for preferential treatment, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Lisa Delaine Dutton, 43, Acworth, Ga., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.
In her plea, she admitted she assisted her husband, co-defendant James “Craig” Dutton, 43, Acworth, Ga., who was the Assistant National Sales Manager for Glock, to receive bribes from co-defendant John Sullivan Ralph, III, 41, Olathe, Kan. Ralph was owner of Global Guns & Hunting Inc. of Olathe, Kan., doing business as OMB Guns.
Lisa Dutton created a company called Supreme Solutions LLC and used it to receive payments from Ralph to James Dutton. The bribes were to pay James Dutton for helping Ralph to receive preferential treatment over other distributors of firearms, including directing customers to OMB Guns, giving it priority relative to the allocation of limited products, steering government contracts and sales to government agencies of firearms and accessories to OMB , as well as providing confidential Glock information to Ralph and OMB Guns.
Co-defendants include:
John Sullivan Ralph, II, who is set for sentencing Sept. 28.
James Craig Dutton, who is set for sentencing Sept. 22.
Welcome D. “Bo” Wood, Jr., who is set for sentencing Nov. 16.
Paula Ann Wood, who is set for sentencing Nov. 16.
Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway for their work on the case.
Kansas Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison in Plot to Explode Car Bomb at AirportRead the Press Release
Airport Worker Intended to Use his Access to Secure Areas to Commit Terrorist Attack
A Wichita, Kansas, man working as an avionic technician for an aeronautics company and possessing restricted access to secure airport areas, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today for attempting to explode a car bomb at the airport in Wichita, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and U.S. Attorney Barry R. Grissom of the District of Kansas announced.
Terry Lee Loewen, 60, pleaded guilty on June 8 to one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Loewen was arrested in December 2013 when he tried to enter the grounds of the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport for the purpose of exploding a bomb. (The airport was recently renamed the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport).
“Terry Loewen abused his privileged airport access to attempt to perpetrate a terrorist attack in Wichita,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is protecting the United States against terrorist threats. We will continue to pursue justice against those who seek to carry out violent attacks against Americans, whether at home or abroad.”
“Here in the heartland, terrorism will never shake our faith in the things this country stands for – freedom, fairness and opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Grissom. “We won’t give way to those who would inflict violence on their fellow citizens.”
In his plea, Loewen admitted he came to the attention of the FBI late in May 2013 when he became a Facebook friend of a person who was posting comments advocating violent jihad. The FBI began communicating with Loewen through an undercover employee. After Loewen expressed his desire to engage in violent jihad, the undercover employee offered to introduce him to someone who could help him do it.
Loewen told the undercover employee he was waiting for what he called “the green light” from Allah to carry out a violent attack on a civilian target. He said that he did not expect to live through any of the attacks he had in mind. Loewen also said that he was inspired by the teachings of Osama bin Laden and Anwar Al Awlaki, and that he had downloaded thousands of pages of information on jihad.
In September 2013, Loewen sent photos of airplanes on the tarmac at the Wichita airport. He commented that he could have “walked over there, shot both pilots … slapped some C4 on both fuel trucks and set them off before anyone even called TSA.”
In October 2013, Loewen met with a second undercover FBI employee who Loewen believed was a “brother” and would help him blow up a plane. Loewen said that he had scouted the airport to determine a time and place for an attack that would be sure to kill as many people as possible.
Loewen assisted the second FBI employee in the final assembly of an improvised explosive device. He was not aware that the explosive materials used in the device were inert. In the early hours of Dec. 13, 2013, the second FBI employee picked up Loewen at a Wichita hotel. They drove to where the bomb was stored and finished wiring the device. When they reached the airport, Loewen used his badge twice at a card reader to attempt to get onto the tarmac before he was arrested.
Loewen was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Monti L. Belot of the District of Kansas.
Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Grissom commended the Wichita FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol. Assisting with the investigation were the FBI Kansas City, Missouri, Division, the Transportation Security Administration, the Wichita Airport Authority and the Wichita Police Department. Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Grissom also commended the prosecutors on the case, Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Smith and Tony Mattivi of the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Erin Creegan of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Kansas Man Sentenced in Plot to Explode Car Bomb at AirportRead the Press Release
WICHITA – A Wichita, Kansas, man working as an avionic technician for an aeronautics company and possessing restricted access to secure airport areas, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today for attempting to explode a car bomb at the airport in Wichita, U.S. Attorney Barry R. Grissom and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin announced.
Terry Lee Loewen, 60, pleaded guilty on June 8 to one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Loewen was arrested in December 2013 when he tried to enter the grounds of the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport for the purpose of explodig a bomb. (The airport was recently renamed the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport).
“Here in the heartland, terrorism will never shake our faith in the things this country stands for – freedom, fairness and opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Grissom. “We won’t give way to those who would inflict violence on their fellow citizens.”
“Terry Loewen abused his privileged airport access to attempt to perpetrate a terrorist attack in Wichita,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is protecting the United States against terrorist threats – both international and domestic. We will continue to pursue justice against those who seek to carry out violent attacks against Americans, whether at home or abroad.
In his plea, Loewen admitted he came to the attention of the FBI late in May 2013 when he became a Facebook friend of a person who was posting comments advocating violent jihad. The FBI began communicating with Loewen through an undercover employee. After Loewen expressed his desire to engage in violent jihad, the undercover employee offered to introduce him to someone who could help him do it.
Loewen told the undercover employee he was waiting for what he called “the green light” from Allah to carry out a violent attack on a civilian target. He said that he did not expect to live through any of the attacks he had in mind. Loewen also said that he was inspired by the teachings of Osama bin Laden and Anwar Al Awlaki, and that he had downloaded thousands of pages of information on jihad.
In September 2013, Loewen sent photos of airplanes on the tarmac at the Wichita airport. He commented that he could have “walked over there, shot both pilots … slapped some C4 on both fuel trucks and set them off before anyone even called TSA.”
In October 2013, Loewen met with a second undercover FBI employee who Loewen believed was a “brother” and would help him blow up a plane. Loewen said that he had scouted the airport to determine a time and place for an attack that would be sure to kill as many people as possible.
Loewen assisted the second FBI employee in the final assembly of an improvised explosive device. He was not aware that the explosive materials used in the device were inert. In the early hours of Dec. 13, 2013, the second FBI employee picked up Loewen at a Wichita hotel. They drove to where the bomb was stored and finished wiring the device. When they reached the airport, Loewen used his badge twice at a card reader to attempt to get onto the tarmac before he was arrested.
Loewen was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Monti L. Belot of the District of Kansas.
Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Grissom commended the Wichita FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol. Assisting with the investigation were the FBI Kansas City, Missouri, Division, the Transportation Security Administration, the Wichita Airport Authority and the Wichita Police Department. Assistant Attorney General Carlin and U.S. Attorney Grissom also commended the prosecutors on the case, Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Smith and Tony Mattivi of the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Erin Creegan of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas City man who pointed a gun in the face of a bank employee during a robbery in Overland Park pleaded guilty in federal court Monday, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Landein Craddock, 33, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on Jan. 20, 2015, he displayed a revolver when he and another man robbed the Bank of the West at 9400 Antioch in Overland Park, Kan. Both robbers wore masks and gloves. Craddock shouted at employees and customers to get on the ground and he pointed a gun in the face of one of the bank employees, while the other man jumped the counter and collected money from tellers.
Shortly after the robbery, police spotted Craddock and the other man in a black Honda and pursued them until the driver crashed his car in Kansas City, Mo. Craddock fled on foot and was arrested about a block from the scene of the accident.
Sentencing will be set for a later time. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 20 years or less. Co-defendant Jerome Davis, 32, Kansas City, Mo., is scheduled for jury trial Dec. 7.
Grissom commended the Overland Park Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask.
U.S. Attorney: Let’s Give Police Officers Credit When They Meet Our High StandardsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A policeman’s life was never easy – and it’s harder now.
Time magazine described it well recently in an article called “What It’s Like Being a Cop Now.” The article said: “There are some 680,000 sworn police officers in the U.S. And in the past 12 months every one of them has had to answer in one way or another for the actions of colleagues they will never meet except on the screens running the latest viral incident.”
Law enforcement officers don’t have the luxury of being like everybody else.
Nobody pulls out a cell phone and posts a video on the Internet of you and me turning in anything less than perfect performance at our jobs. We aren’t responsible for life and death decisions. We don’t have to respond to every call for help, and nobody holds a news conference to demand we explain why we used the stun gun, the hand cuffs or the service revolver we carry on our belts.
Most of us would quit a job that routinely required us to chase a burglar down a dark alley, stop an angry husband from beating his wife or put up with a stranger’s drunken tirade.
In recent months, we’ve seen a series of tragedies in cities across the country that has turned our attention to the devastating consequences when police are not trusted and respected in the communities they serve. Those of us in law enforcement have a lot of work to do to restore that trust. I hope that is clear to every one of us, from the rookies on the streets to the chiefs behind their desks.
At the same time, I want everyone to remember that there is no question we need the police in our communities. They ensure our safety by patrolling our neighborhoods, defending the rights of victims and deterring crimes. They are our first responders in many emergency situations. They are role models for our young people. The overwhelming majority of women and men who police our streets do their jobs with honor, pride and distinction.
We have every right to hold our law enforcement officers to the highest standards of conduct, of course. At the same time, I hope we remember to give them credit when they are brave, honest and patient while performing a difficult job in even more difficult circumstances.
Barry Grissom is the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.
Federal Jury Finds Junction City Man Was Not War Hero He Claimed to BeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. –A federal jury Thursday returned a guilty verdict in the case of a Junction City man who stole his father’s identity to apply for a loan to buy a $490,000 house, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Matthew Williams, 47, Junction City, Kan., was convicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Williams filled out a loan application with Pulaski Bank using his father’s name, Social Security number and other identifying information in an attempt to get a loan to buy a house in Shawnee, Kan. The defendant was in bankruptcy proceedings at the time.
The government presented evidence that Williams claimed to be an Army veteran and recipient of a Purple Heart award for valor in Vietnam. In fact, Williams’s father, Earl, fought in both Vietnam and Desert Storm and earned a Purple Heart, as well as other commendations.
Sentencing will be set for a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the bank fraud charge, and a penalty of 2 years consecutive to any other sentence on the identity theft charge. Grissom commended the Veterans Administration – Office of Inspector Genera, Special Agent Tim Mugrage and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.
El Dorado Company Sentenced for Mishandling ChemicalsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - An El Dorado company was ordered Wednesday to pay $97,612 in restitution and a $10,000 fine for mishandling waste chemicals, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. The company also must pay a $400 special assessment and serve three years on probation to include participating in a compliance and ethics program.
Integrated Plastic Solutions, LLC, a plastics recycling company in El Dorado, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful storage of a hazardous waste. In its plea, the company admitted that from 2009 to July 16, 2013, the company knowingly stored hazardous waste without a permit at its facility in El Dorado. The waste included paints and solvents. Many of the chemicals were highly inflammable and subject to flash fire or explosion if not properly stored.
Co-defendants include: company owner Sean M. Riley, who previously was sentenced to 18 months on probation and restitution of $118,807, and company owner Brian J. Riley, who was sentenced to three years on probation and $118,807 restitution.
Grissom commended the Environmental Protection Agency and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
Man Who Pushed Woman Out of Car Pleads Guilty to Carjacking, Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City, Kan., man pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges he pointed a gun at a woman and pushed her out a driver’s side door before stealing her car, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
John Michael Devosha, 25, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of carjacking.
In his plea, he admitted that on Oct. 22, 2013, was already under federal indictment in another case when he wrecked a stolen pickup truck near 59th and Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kan. He abandoned the car and fled on foot in search of another car.
A woman who was driving a 2002 Cadillac Deville was stopped in traffic congestion created by the wreck. Devosha used the handle of his gun to break the woman’s front passenger window and enter her car. He pointed a gun at the woman and told her to drive away fast. Before she could do it, he pushed her out the driver’s side door and onto the road, where she stumbled and injured herself. Then he drove away in her car.
Three days later, Pottawatomie Tribal Police arrested him in Jackson County, Kan., after a 45-mile high speed chase on U.S. Highway 75.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 2, 2015. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 180 months to run consecutively to a 10-year sentence in the previous federal case. Grissom commended the Pottawatomie Tribal Police, he Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic, as well as agencies that participated in the arrest including officers from Brown, Jefferson and Jackson counties, as well as police from Holton and Sabetha and the Kickapoo and Sac and Fox tribes.
Topeka Man Sentenced for Downloading Child PornRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was sentenced Monday to 84 months in federal prison for downloading child pornography from the Internet, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Mark A. Hastert, 55, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography.
“Consumers of child pornography help create a market and demand for the production of images of sexual abuse and exploitation of real children,” Grissom said. “They contribute to the cycle of abuse and are in part responsible for the harm suffered by children.”
In his plea, Hastert, admitted that the investigation began in September 2011 when a task force with the FBI cyber crime unit in Kansas City, Mo., downloaded child pornography from Hastert’s computer using a file sharing program. Investigators followed an electronic trail to Hastert’s home in Topeka. A forensic examination located 875 images and 58 videos of child pornography on Hastert’s computer.
Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
Topeka Man Gets 13 Years in Federal Prison in Valero Robbery, ShootingRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was sentenced Monday to 13 years in federal prison for robbing a Valero gas station and shooting the clerk, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Corey Eugene Johnson, 41, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on July 28, 2013, he robbed a Valero gas station at 1161 S.W. Gage in Topeka.
In his plea, Johnson admitted he was carrying a .40 caliber handgun when he entered the gas station and demanded money from the cash register. Seeing a customer at the counter, Johnson ordered him to the floor and put his foot on the customer’s head. When a clerk refused to turn over money from the cash register, Johnson shot the clerk several times. Then Johnson ordered the customer to open the cash register. Johnson fled the store in a black Monte Carlo. Police found the wounded clerk, who was taken to the hospital and survived the shooting.
In June, co-defendant Shawn Michael Sneed, 22, Topeka, Kan., was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Man Who Put Gun to Girlfriend’s Head Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man who was arrested after putting a gun to his girlfriend’s head pleaded guilty Monday to a federal firearm charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Teagan C. Gulley, 35, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted that Wichita police officers responding to a report of domestic violence saw him pointing a gun at his girlfriend. He was arrested and officers seized a .45 caliber handgun. He was a previously convicted felon at the time and he was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 9. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 77 months in federal prison.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
Prison Escapee Who Was Arrested in Kansas Sentenced on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA KAN. – An escapee from an Oklahoma prison who was arrested with a gun in Kansas was sentenced Thursday to 53 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. The sentence will be served consecutively to his prison term in Oklahoma.
Lance D. Colbert, 40, who was an inmate at the Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown, Okla., pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction.
On March 11, 2015, two days after escaping from the Oklahoma prison, Colbert was arrested in Spivey, Kan. (Kingman County). He had a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver in his pants pocket.
Grissom commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Kansas Highway Patrol and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.
Topeka Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Carjacking, RobberyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA,KAN. - A Topeka man pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of carjacking and robbery, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Wesley Lavern Harris, Jr., 26, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of commercial robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on June 7, 2015, he took a man’s keys, money and car and left the victim in a bathtub at the Econo Lodge Motel at 2950 S.W. Topeka Blvd. Harris and others had placed an ad on a Web site advertising sexual services in order to lure a victim to a hotel room and rob him. Harris left the motel driving the victim’s 2002 Hyundai Sonata.
In his plea, Harris admitted that on June 8, 2015, he entered the back door of the Heartland Perma Column store at 1841 E. 1450 Road in Lawrence, Kan. He threatened to kill an employee and forced her and another employee to give him money from a box in the front office.
Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 86 months in federal prison. Sentencing will be set at a later date determined by the court.
Co-defendant Crystal Marie Jaimez, 23, Topeka, Kan., is set for jury trial Oct. 26. Co-defendant Christal Renee Aponte, 30, Topeka, Kan. has scheduled a change of plea hearing for Sept. 23.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Indictment: Crystal Meth Was Shipped FedExRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - Three people living in Wichita were indicted Tuesday on federal charges they used FedEx to smuggle a pound of crystal methamphetamine to Wichita, U.S. Barry Grissom said.
Mario Murillo-Arteaga, 20, Wichita, Kan.; Marcela Acuna-Ramirez, 30, Wichita, Kan.; and Elisa Anchondo-Loya, 25, Wichita, Kan., were charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crystal meth.
In court documents, prosecutors alleged that on Aug. 11, 2015, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration kept the three defendants under surveillance while FedEx delivered a parcel to an apartment at 2715 S. Topeka in Wichita. When no one answered the door, the driver left the parcel at the apartment complex office. After picking up the package, Murillo-Arteaga left in one vehicle and the two women left in another vehicle.
Police stopped the women’s car, where they found the parcel, which contained approximately a pound of crystal meth. When police stopped Murillo-Arteaga’s vehicle they found $2,000 in cash in the console. Investigators learned that the women were being paid $1,000 each to pick up the parcel for Murillo-Arteaga.
If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $2 million. The Wichita Police Department and the DEA investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Anthony G. Moore, 50, Wichita, Kan., and Randy L. Perry, 54, Wichita, Kan., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately a pound of methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred Aug. 13, 2015, in Wichita, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million. The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Miguel Concepcion, 25, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of counterfeiting a $970 postal money order and one count of possessing a stolen blank money order. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in October 2014 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting.
Ismael Saldana-Vasquez, 45, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 30, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Luis Felipe Lopez-Vivas, 27, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 10, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Jesus Reyes, 40, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred May 29, 2015 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the drug charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the firearm charges. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Maria S. Alvidrez, 30, Plains, Kan., is charged with two counts of theft of mail while she was employed as a postal worker at the post office in Kismet, Kan. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in April and May 2015.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General 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.
Johnson County Water District Network Manager Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A former network manager for Water District No. 1 of Johnson County was sentenced Monday for wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Jason P. Lee, 41, Shawnee, Kan., was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months home confinement. He paid more than $129,000 in restitution as part of his plea agreement.
In his plea, Lee admitted the crime occurred while he worked for WaterOne, an independent public water utility serving more than 400,000 customers in Johnson County. As part of his duties, Lee was responsible for ordering cellular phones for water district employees. In July 2010 he devised a scheme to defraud WaterOne by ordering cellular telephones from WaterOne’s providers and selling the phones on eBay and other Internet sites. He carried out the scheme by making electronic transactions from Kansas to Colorado, California, Texas and Washington.
Grissom commended the FBI and U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Former Analyst Sentenced for Child Porn on DEA ComputerRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A former analyst was sentenced Monday to 63 months in federal prison for downloading child pornography to a laptop computer assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Matthew Barnes, 34, Overland Park, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In his plea, he admitted that on March 21, 2012, a detective with the Overland Park Police was able to download child pornography over the Internet from a laptop computer assigned to Barnes.
Investigators determined that the computer was located at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s offices in Overland Park, Kan. Barnes, who was a member of the Missouri National Guard, was assigned the laptop as part of his work as an analyst with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was able to identify 19 images from nine different known series of child pornography on Barnes’ computer.
Grissom commended the Overland Park Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.
Wichita Man Who Tried to Run from Police Gets 5+ Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to 63 months in federal prison for a firearm violation, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Aaron M. Belcher, 33, Wichita, Kan., already is serving time in state prison for a 2013 case in which he shot at police who were chasing him from the scene of a burglary. He will serve the federal consecutively to the sentence in the state case.
In the federal case, Belcher pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition following a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted that on Oct. 29, 2012, he was driving a stolen Corvette when a Wichita police officer tried to pull him over. After a high speed chase, he pulled into a driveway of a home in the 100 block of Alexander in Haysville. When the owner of the home heard police sirens, he confronted Belcher. The home owner wrestled Belcher to the ground and held him until police arrived. Police found the ammunition in the stolen car.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
Lawrence Police Chief, State NAACP President to Appear at Kansas Civil Rights SymposiumRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - The chief of the Lawrence Police Department and the president of the Kansas State Conference of the NAACP will take part in the Kansas Civil Rights Symposium next week, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib and state NAACP president Renee Wiggins will join U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom and Rita Valenciano of the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service to discuss building trust between police and the communities they serve.
The symposium is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, in the auditorium of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site at 1515 SE Monroe in Topeka. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
Valenciano, a conciliation specialist with the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service (CRS), will speak on how the agency works to build stronger relationships between police departments and communities. She was a member of the CRS team that went to Ferguson, Mo., following the death of Michael Brown in August 2014.
Other presenters will include Anthony Fadale, Kansas State ADA Coordinator, speaking on the Americans with Disabilities Act; and Jennifer White and Stacie Donaldson of ICT-SOS speaking on human trafficking.
Registration is still open for the symposium, but seating is limited to 100. The symposium annually attracts law enforcement officers and civil rights leaders from across Kansas.
To register, download the registration form at:
http://www.justice.gov/usao-ks
Email the completed form to [email protected]. For more information, contact Heather Buller at 620-694-1537 or Jim Cross at 316-269-6552.
Indictment: Prison Guard Took Bribes to Smuggle Tobacco into Leavenworth PenitentiaryRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A prison guard was indicted Wednesday on a federal charge of accepting bribes to smuggle tobacco to inmates at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Michael Harston, 52, Kansas City, Mo., was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and four counts of accepting bribes. The indictment alleges that from October 2013 to August 2014 Harston took bribes to carry tobacco, which is contraband, into the penitentiary.
The indictment alleges payment was made via wire transfers from inmates’ relatives. Harston was caught on video surveillance in the process of distributing tobacco to inmates.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy charge, and a maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the bribery counts.
The FBI investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Leena Ramana is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Justin A. Jacks, 26, Wichita, Kan., is charged with two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in May and July 2015, in Wichita.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each distribution county, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge. Homeland Security Investigations and the Wichita Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
Cruz Lopez-Perez, 39, a citizen of Guatemala, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 26, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Department of Revenue and Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Luis Antonio Garcia-Gomez, 25, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 28, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Department of Revenue and Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Cortez I. Mumford, 41, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 20, 2015, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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 Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Ferguson “Peacemaker” to Speak at Kansas Civil Rights SymposiumRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A federal peacemaker who spent months working with community and police in Ferguson, Mo., will be a featured speaker at the U.S. Attorney’s Kansas Civil Rights Symposium in Topeka.
The symposium is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 in the auditorium of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site at 1515 SE Monroe in Topeka. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
Rita Valenciano, a conciliation specialist with the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service (CRS), will speak on how the agency works to build stronger relationships between police departments and communities. She was a member of the CRS team that went to Ferguson, Mo., following the death of Michael Brown in August 2014.
“Rita and other representatives of the Community Relations Service are our peacemakers,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom. “They don’t investigate or prosecute. They work to build mutual understanding.”
Registration is still open for the symposium, but seating is limited to 100. The symposium annually attracts law enforcement officers and civil rights leaders from across Kansas. Other topics will include human trafficking and a presentation on the Americans with Disabilities Act by Anthony Fadale, ADA Coordinator for the State of Kansas.
To register, download the registration form at:
http://www.justice.gov/usao-ks
Email the completed form to [email protected]. For more information, contact Heather Buller at 620-694-1537 or Jim Cross at 316-269-6552.
Topeka Man Indicted on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was indicted Wednesday on a federal firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Royelle Lamont Miller, 35, Topeka, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 17, 2015, in Topeka, Kan. The indictment alleges Miller possessed a Ruger nine millimeter pistol even though he was prohibited from doing so because of felony convictions in 2012 (flee/attempt to elude police), 2006 (attempted sale of a narcotic) and 1997 (aggravated battery).
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Topeka Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Dante Rovon Peppers, 37, Topeka, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 18, 2015, in Topeka, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Topeka Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.
Daimon Sentrell Jackson, 26, Topeka, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred June 25, 2015, in Topeka, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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 Duston Slinkard is prosecuting.
Santos Benjamin Ramos-Valdez, 28, who is in custody in the Dickinson County Jail, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute powder cocaine. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 6, 2015, in Dickinson County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million. The Dickinson County Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi is prosecuting.
Jose Antonio Nunez-Aguilar, 24, Kansas City, KS, and Gerardo Rene Garcia-Rodrigues, 39, Kansas City, KS, are charged with one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred from January through June 29, 2015 in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. The Drug Enforcement 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.
Salina Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Salina man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Cory Dale McQuillan, 37, Salina, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He had a prior conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child in a 1999 case in Dickinson County, Kan.
In his plea, he admitted that while he was on parole in 2013 he used a cell phone to receive images of child pornography, which he would keep for a short period of time before deleting. Investigators found child pornography on McQuillan’s laptop computer.
Grissom commended the Kansas Department of Corrections, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Topeka Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Sex Trafficking of 15-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was sentenced Tuesday to 14 years in federal prison on a federal charge of offering a 15-year-old girl for commercial sex, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Dominique Emanuel Tyson, 25, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a child. In his plea, he admitted he took a 15-year-old girl to a motel to meet a man who had seen her picture in an advertisement on Backpage.com. Tyson did not know that the customer was working undercover for the Topeka Police Department and the FBI.
The investigation began when Topeka police received a call from a community corrections officer saying the girl had run away from her placement. The officer spotted a photo of her on Backpage.com listing her as an escort. On June 11, 2013, an undercover investigator called the number on the advertisement and arranged to meet the girl at a motel in Topeka. Tyson dropped her off and drove away. Officers stopped his car, where they found a tablet computer with files containing the same photos of the girl that appeared in the ad.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
Wellington Man Sentenced to 8+Years on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wellington man was sentenced Monday to 100 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. In addition, he will serve 10 years on supervised release after his sentence is completed.
Steven J. Meisel, 48, Wellington, Kan., was convicted in a jury trial on one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that on May 9, 2014, a Wichita police detective downloaded child pornography from Meisel’s computer over the ARES P2P computer network. The files included images of prepubescent children engaged in sex acts. Investigators followed an electronic trail to Meisel’s computer at his residence in Wellington.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Exploited and Missing Child Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Wellington Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Hutchinson Woman Sentenced on False Tax Claim, Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Hutchinson woman was sentenced to three years on supervised release and ordered to pay more than $19,000 in restitution for filing false tax returns and violating a federal law prohibiting her from having a gun, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Rhonda J. Simmons, 41, Hutchinson, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of presenting a false tax claim and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. In her plea, she admitted that on April 15, 2012, she prepared a false income tax return seeking a refund of $3,014.
On Aug. 14, 2012, the Hutchinson Police Department executed a search warrant on the residence where she was living in Hutchinson. They seized a 20 gauge shotgun belonging to Simmons. She was prohibited from possessing a firearm because she had been convicted of a felony in 2007 in Georgia.
Grissom commended the Internal Revenue Service, the Hutchinson Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
Jury Finds Ellis County Man Guilty on Federal Drug, Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal jury Thursday found an Ellis County man guilty on drug and gun charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Joseph Anthony Ransom, 30, Ellis, Kan., was convicted on count of growing marijuana plants, 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.
During trial, the prosecution presented evidence that on Sept. 25, 2014, officers with the Ellis Police Department executed a search warrant at Ransom’s residence in Ellis. They found that Ransom was growing 181 marijuana plants inside his home and that he possessed a Zastava PAP M92 PV AK47 pistol and a .223 caliber rifle. Because of prior felony convictions, Ransom was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each of the marijuana charges; a penalty of not less than five years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and a maximum penalty of 10 years for possessing a firearm following a felony conviction. Grissom commended the Ellis Police Department, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind for their work on the case.
Denver Man Pleads Guilty to Flying A Plane Loaded with Marijuana to KansasRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Denver man has pleaded guilty to flying a plane loaded with marijuana into an airport in Iola, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Kenneth E. Weaver, 59, Denver, Colo., pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. In his plea, he admitted that on July 11, 2014, he flew his plane into the Iola airport carrying 207 pounds of medical grade marijuana.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has administratively forfeited his plane – a 1979 Israel Aircraft Industries Model 1124 jet – and $457,580 in cash.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 5. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 12 months. Grissom commended the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
Indictment: Eight Defendants Trafficked $1.7 Million Worth of Cocaine in Topeka AreaRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - Eight defendants, including six from Topeka, were indicted Tuesday on federal charges of trafficking $1.7 million worth of powder cocaine in the Topeka area, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Charged are:
Booker Zachery Johnson, III, 38, Topeka, Kan.
Quinton “Ron” Warner, 39, Houston, Texas.
Huey James Love, 57, Grandview, Mo.
Shanae Ransom, 30, Topeka, Kan.
Christopher McMillon, 32, Topeka, Kan.
Frederick Brooks, 35, Topeka, Kan.
Brannon Smith, 37, Topeka, Kan.
Trena L. Talbert, 48, Topeka, Kan.
All the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The conspiracy is alleged to have existed from October 2014 to July 9, 2015, in Topeka and elsewhere. In addition, Johnson and Warner each are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The indictment seeks the forfeiture of more than $73,000 in cash seized on July 9, 2015, and asks the court for a money judgment of $1.7 million against the defendants, which represents the proceeds of the crime.
If convicted, the defendants face a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on the conspiracy charge. The possession charges carry a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million. The Topeka Police Department, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, the Lawrence Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag are prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Ignacio Lopez-Gonzalez, 28, Fontana, Calif., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Dec. 8, 2014, in Ellis County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Gary Matthew Andrus, 43, formerly of Carmichael, Calif., is charged with one count of failing to register as required by the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The crime is alleged to have occurred from Feb. 10, 2014, to April 8, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 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.
Juan A. Garcia, 32, Exeter, Calif., is charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred from May 8 to May 18, 2015 in Liberal, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
Daniel Vega, 37, Dodge City, Kan., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately one pound of methamphetamine, and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered sawed off shotgun. The crimes are alleged to have occurred July 13, 2015, in Dodge City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million on the methamphetamine count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $10,000 on the firearm count. The Dodge City Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
Humphrey Ezekiel Etenyi, 31, a citizen of Kenya, is charged with one count of possessing wrongfully obtained documents, one count of unlawful production of an identification document, one count of aggravated identity theft, one count of unlawfully interfering with his removal from the United States, and one count of making a false statement to the government. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2015 in Sedgwick County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Wrongfully obtained documents: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful production of an identification document: A maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory consecutive two-year sentence.
Unlawful interference with removal: A maximum penalty of four years and a fine up to $250,000.
Making a false statement to the government: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Immigration and Custom Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Kalpeshkumar “Bobby” Patel, 39, is charged with making a false statement to an agent of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 29, 2014, in McPherson, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Domingo Reynoso-Ren, 37, a citizen of Guatemala, and Antonio Pastor-Larios, 24, a citizen of Guatemala, are charged with one count of document fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of sale of a Social Security card. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 6, 2015, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Document fraud: A maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory consecutive two-year sentence.
Sale of a Social Security card: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson 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 for Robbery at Dollar GeneralRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. - A Wichita man was sentenced Wednesday to 71 months in federal prison for robbery, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Eric Emmanuel Dear, 23, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of commercial robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on July 27, 2014, he robbed the Dollar General Store at 2747 E. Boulevard Plaza in Wichita.
He entered the store about 10:25 a.m., approached the cash register and demanded money. He carried what appeared to be a handgun in his right hand. During the robbery, he touched the counter with his left hand. Fingerprints taken from the counter were matched to three fingers on his left hand. No firearm was recovered.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. David Lind for their work on the case.
Kansas Prescription Drug Case Has Sent 23 Defendants to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. B Federal prosecutors have wrapped up the prosecution of a former Lenexa, Kan., doctor accused of diverting prescription painkillers to a network of users and distributors on the streets of the Kansas City metro area, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. On July 7, the last defendant in the case was sentenced to federal prison.
Dr. James R. Webb, 56, now living in Parkville, Mo., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and hydrocodone. In September, he was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. The judge entered an order of forfeiture for $7.5 million, representing the proceeds of the crime.
On Tuesday, co-defendant Michael Zona, 39, Shawnee, Kan., was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison.
In Webb’s plea, he admitted that the Drug Enforcement Administration began receiving reports in 2010 that he was selling oxycodone and hydrocodone prescriptions for cash. Webb’s so-called patients reported paying cash for their prescriptions based on the number of pills they could receive. Many of the patients were referred to Perry Drug in Overland Park, Kan.
Investigators used informants and undercover agents to make purchases from Webb. They paid Webb a fee of $870 for an office visit for a prescription for 220 oxycodone tablets, and $1,400 for a prescription for 350 tablets. Webb required they pay him in cash.
In 2011, the DEA obtained records from the Kansas Board of Pharmacy’s prescription monitoring program that identified all prescriptions Webb had issued. They used the records to identify so-called patients who frequently visited the doctor and obtained prescriptions from him for oxycodone and hydrocodone.
Defendants who have been sentenced in the case include:
James R. Webb, Jr., physician, 144 months.
Matthew R. Perry, 45, Overland Park, pharmacist, 72 months.
Gerry Divelbiss, 38, Kansas City, Kan., 72 months.
Ricky Bridges, 39, Kansas City, Kan., 78 months.
Jenna Utterback, 30, Kansas City, Mo., 16 months.
Eric Halbin, 37, Overland Park, Kan., 42 months.
Lacy Mae Morrison, 31, Gardner, Kan., 12 months and a day.
Phil Scimeca, 51, Liberty, Mo. 72 months.
Jamie Eberra, 29, Kansas City, Mo., two years probation.
Regina Ann Miranda, 45, Kansas City, Mo., 12 months and a day.
Larry Lee Ray, 35, Kansas City, Mo., 72 months.
Nick Johnson, 34, Lees Summit, Mo., 34 months.
Joshua Brown, 27, Liberty, Mo., 72 months.
Juan Gutierrez, 39, Kansas City, Mo., 47 months.
Wade Becker, 28, Kansas City, Mo., two years probation.
Beau Berry, 31, Grain Valley, Mo., 42 months.
Luke Dearinger, 35, Gladstone, Mo., 52 months.
Michael Zona, 39, Shawnee, Kan., 19 months.
Jessica Rankin, 40, Shawnee, Kan., 10 months.
Thomas O’Toole, 25, Blue Springs, Mo., 24 months.
Scott Moore, 31, 38 months.
Erica Wikel, 29, 12 months and a day.
Louis Scimeca, 44, 47 months.
Martin Leahy, 53, 42 months.
Tish Waller, 33, 42 months.
Grissom commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lenexa Police Department, the Overland Park Police Department, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the Salina Police Department, the Republic County Sheriff’s Department, the Excelsior Springs, Mo., Police Department and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug for their work on the case.
Kansas City Area Business Owner Indicted in 2014 Indicted Again on Bank FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City area business owner indicted in 2014 on federal bank fraud charges has been indicted again on charges of committing financial crimes while awaiting trail, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Brenda Wood, 47, Leavenworth, Kan., was indicted in August 2014 on ten counts, including five counts of bank fraud, one count of theft from an employee benefit program and four counts of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. On Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment adding 16 counts, including eight counts of bank fraud, seven counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of committing a felony while on pretrial release in a federal case.
Allegations in the new indictment include:
- Wood ran a check kiting scheme by opening checking accounts in the names of various businesses and exchanging and cross depositing checks among them.
- Wood used another person’s Social Security number to open a checking account for a business named “Everything Real Estate, Inc.”
- Wood used another person’s Social Security number to open a checking account for a business named “20 W 9th, LLC.”
- Wood used another person’s identity to obtain an American Express card.
- Wood used another person’s Social Security number to open a checking account for a business called “Shelter Management, LLC.”
- Wood provided false information in an application for a loan from Merchant from Merchant Advance Express.
- Wood provided false information in an application for a loan from US Funding.
- Wood used another person’s Social Security number to open a checking account for a company doing business as “Action Real Estate Services.”
Upon conviction the crimes carry the following penalties:
Bank fraud: A maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
Theft from an employee benefit program: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years to be served consecutively and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Committing a felony while on release: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the Special Investigator General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
OTHER GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS
Clifford C. Copp, 58, Overland Park, Kan., who owned Copp Trucking Co. in Kansas City, Kan., has been indicted on a federal tax evasion charge. The company closed in 2001.
The indictment alleges that while Copp Trucking was in business the defendant was responsible for paying quarterly employment taxes for the company. In 2001, he filed reports to the IRS indicating the company owed approximately $939,408 in employment taxes for that year. However, the company did not pay the employment taxes due.
In February 2004 he was assessed trust fund recovery penalties of $669,037. Since then he has provided false information to the IRS. He failed to accurately disclose his monthly income, concealed assets, and placed funds and property in the names of nominees.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Dustin E. Ash, 35, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 16, 2015, and June 26, 2014, in Kansas City, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead is prosecuting.
Oliver Kimbrel, 53, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, one count of maintaining a residence 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 in February and March 2014 in Kansas City, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
Maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction: Not less than 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Ward is prosecuting.
Yazmin Azucena Maldonado Ballesteros, 38, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported and one count of using another person’s Social Security number. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2012 and 2015.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the unlawful re-entry charge, and a mandatory two years to be served consecutively and a fine up to $250,000 on the identity theft charge. The Department of Homeland Security investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.