District of Kansas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 13 YearsFor Robbing Bank in Shawnee, Kan.Read the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Missouri man was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years and a month in federal prison for a robbery at a bank in Shawnee, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Scott Thario, 22, Lee’s Summit, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
A grand jury indictment filed in December 2013 alleged that on Dec. 16, 2013, Thario robbed Intrust Bank at 19501 West 65th Terrace in Shawnee, Kan. The indictment alleged he was carrying a short-barreled shotgun during the robbery.
Grissom commended the Shawnee Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel for their work on the case.
Federal Indictment: Topeka Store Clerk Aided in Robbery, CarjackingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Topeka store clerk was indicted here Wednesday on federal charges of aiding and abetting an armed robbery and carjacking at the store where he worked, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Ahmad Salim Salti, 20, Topeka, Kan., was charged with one count of aiding and abetting armed robbery, one count of aiding and abetting carjacking and one count of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during the robbery.
The indictment alleged that Salti aided and abetted a Sept. 16, 2014, armed robbery and carjacking at the Low Cost Plus convenience store at 3101 S.E. 6th Avenue in Topeka.
In September, Pattrick J. Towner, 24, Topeka, Kan., was indicted on one count of armed robbery and one count of carjacking. According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2014, Towner held at gunpoint a technician who was working on the ATM in the Low Cost Plus convenience store. Towner forced the technician to give him the keys to a Ford Freestar van containing cash used for restocking ATMs. Then Towner fled with the van.
If convicted, Salti faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the robbery charge, a maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the carjacking 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 Topeka Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Leo Jimenez, 25, Adelanto, Calif., and Monica Sarenana, 25, Chino Hills, Calif., are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 5 kilograms of methamphetamine, and one count each of traveling from California to Kansas in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Nov. 6, 2014, in Ellis County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million.
Interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Briand L. Welch, 33, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on a premises where children reside and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred May 22, 2013, 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 each of the drug charges and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Charles Taylor, 43, Wichita, Kan., is charged with escaping from federal custody at Mirror Inc., Incorporated, which is a halfway-house at 3820 N. Toben in Wichita. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 22, 2014.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting.
David E. Parker, 27, Wichita, Kan., is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition following a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in October 2013 and July 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
Toni R. Beerbower, 40, Redfield, Kan., is charged with one count of theft of federal funds and three counts of making false statements. The indictment alleges she fraudulently received more than $150,000 from the Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program that provides benefits to eligible survivors of U.S. military service members who die in the line of duty or from a military service related injury or disease. The crime is alleged to have occurred from April 2001 to September 2014 in Bourbon County, Kan.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the theft charge, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the other counts. The Veterans Administration - Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
Francisco Guadalupe Banuelas-Carpio, 30, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Oct. 22, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years 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.
Brandon Thomas Finnesy, 25, Plainsville, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 7, 2014, in Ellis 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 Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
Lamont Alfonzo Ward, Jr., 24, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred May 8, 2013, in Geary County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million on the drug charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and a penalty of not less than five years on the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The Junction City Police Department and 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.
Missouri Tax Preparer Sentenced on Federal Tax Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Missouri tax preparer was sentenced Monday to 51 months in federal prison for preparing false income tax returns resulting in a total tax loss of more than $316,000, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Cynthia M. Raymond, Jackson, Mo., pleaded guilty to five counts of filing false tax returns and one count of aggravated identity theft. In her plea, she admitted submitting approximately 98 false tax returns under the names of 36 clients for the tax years 2007 through 2010. Her clients were not aware that she prepared returns including false deductions for business losses, charitable contributions, unreimbursed business expenses, medical expenses and false tax credits including education and residential energy credits.
She filed the returns electronically and provided her clients with different tax returns than she filed with the IRS. She routinely directed the Internal Revenue Service to deposit part of the refund to her clients’ accounts and to deposit the rest of the refund into her personal account.
Grissom commended IRS-Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.Topeka Massage Parlor Operators Sentenced for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A man and a woman who operated massage parlors in Topeka were sentenced in federal court here Friday for running a prostitution business, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Yong Jin Zhang, 56, Topeka, Kan., and Yu Lan Su, 50, Topeka, Kan., was sentenced to time served and a year on supervised release. They were arrested
Zhang and Su pleaded guilty to one count of transporting women in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution. In his plea, Zhang admitted the crime occurred while he and Su were operating Life Long Foot Massage at 5620 SW 29th Street in Topeka and JJ’s Massage at 1107 SW Gage in Topeka. Working undercover, a detective with the Topeka Police Department posed as a customer and arranged for an Asian female employee of Life Long Foot Massage to perform a sexual act. The employee was a citizen of China who was in the United States unlawfully. The defendants were aware employees were performing sex acts with customers.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot for their work on the case.Federal Charge Filed in Lenexa Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Federal charges were filed Thursday in a Lenexa bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Donald Rucks, 42, was charged with one count of bank robbery. Rucks is accused of robbing the Arvest Bank in Lenexa on Nov. 4, 2014. Investigators alleged he entered the bank and was talking on a cell phone for several minutes before giving a teller a note saying, “BE QUIET, 100s, 50s and 20s PLEASE.” He put the money in the pocket of the white hoodie sweatshirt he was wearing and fled with the money.
After surveillance footage from the bank was made public, police received tips leading them to Rucks. He was arrested Nov. 5 in Olathe, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Olathe Police Department and the FBI investigated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.
Olathe Man Sentenced on Federal Computer Fraud ChargeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Olathe man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in federal prison for computer fraud, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Ryan Cauble, 41, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud. In his plea, he admitted he committed the crime while he worked for G.E. Consumer Finance, a saving and loan holding company with an office in Merriam, Kan. Cauble sent an email to a vice president of the company claiming there was a security breach and credit card numbers of the company’s customers had been compromised. The email – sent from an address of [email protected] – included 20 credit card numbers. The email stated, “If you want to identify the person who is responsible, message me immediately to discuss compensation for the information.”
A review of the 20 account numbers confirmed that there were fraudulent ATM transactions on those accounts in New York and California. Cauble used various employee credentials to login to the company’s databases and transfer account numbers and information including customers’ names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers in exchange for Bitcoins. He told investigators he sold the account numbers in batches of 40 for $1,000. He said that over time he sold 250 to 300 account numbers.
Grissom commended the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.
Eight Kansas Hunters Charged with Violating Migratory Bird ActRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – Eight Kansas hunters were charged in federal court here Tuesday with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
A criminal complaint alleged the men violated the federal law protecting migratory birds when they participated in an annual opening weekend dove hunt in Graham County, Kan., on Sept. 1-2, 2013.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act classifies mourning doves as migratory game birds. It classifies owls as migratory non-game birds. Restrictions on hunting mourning doves include a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of twice the daily bag limit.
Charged are:
Daniel R. Dinkel, 63, Hill City, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
Kent A. Webber, 52, Derby, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
Evan Webber, 25, Derby, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
George Morgan, 52, Gordonville, Texas, one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
Kenneth R. Beran, 67, Derby, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
Clark Law, 57, Hill City, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.
Tracy D. Higgins, 54, El Dorado, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves, and one count of taking an owl.
John Kobler, 62, Topeka, Kan., one count of exceeding the daily bag limit for mourning doves.If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of six months in prison on each count and a fine up to $15,000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.
Kansas City Kan., Man Gets 10 Years in Federal Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas City, Kan., man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison for selling stolen firearms, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Joshua S. Bailes, 32, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of stolen firearms. In his plea, he admitted that on Aug. 16, 2012, he and two co-defendants sold a total of four firearms to undercover agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On Aug. 21, 2012, Bailes and one co-defendant sold a total of 17 firearms to undercover ATF agents. It was determined later that the firearms were stolen. Among the firearms Bailes sold were handguns, rifles and shotguns. At the time of the crime, Bailes was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a prior convicted felon.
Co-defendant Richard Fisher was sentenced to 15 years. Co-defendant Vincent Leuzinger was sentenced to 70 months.
Grissom commended the ATF and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.Wichita Chiropractor Sentenced in Health Care Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Wichita chiropractor was sentenced Monday to five years in federal prison for defrauding health care insurers, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. He also was ordered to pay restitution of more than $1.8 million.
Jeffrey D. Fenn, 33, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of tax evasion. In his plea, he admitted that from March 2011 to October 2013 he executed a health care fraud scheme through his businesses, including Wichita Health and Wellness, Fenn Chiropractic, P.A. and Wichita Pain Associates, P.A. Fenn submitted false claims to Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas and Coventry Health Care of Kansas, Inc., and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Chiropractors have a limited scope of practice. They are not allowed to perform injections, dispense drugs or supervise ARNPs and physicians. Fenn developed what he called an “integrated practice,” hiring physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners and physical therapists and ostensibly having them perform procedures he was not qualified to perform. He misrepresented to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts that medical doctors had an ownership in his clinic. He used the names of physicians he employed to submit false claims for services.
Fenn fraudulently billed for nerve conduction tests, nerve block injections, subcutaneous infiltrate proceedings, fine needle aspirations and ultrasound procedures.
He also made fraudulent claims for business and personal income taxes. For example, he claimed a $9,400 business expense for purchasing a server. In fact, he spent the money to make a down payment on a residential lot in Wichita. He claimed a $15,100 expense for advertising. In fact he used the money to make a down payment on a ski boat.
Grissom commended Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, the FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Treadway for their work on the case.
Crawford County Man Sentenced to Three+ Years for Collecting Millions from False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A man from Crawford County, Kan., was sentenced Monday to 41 months in federal prison for receiving millions of dollars in refunds based on filing false federal tax returns, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution of more than $4 million.
Jerold D. Fisher, 49, Arma, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false federal tax return. In his plea, he admitted that from 2006 to 2009, while he was a registered agent for Fisher Alfalfa Farms, he prepared false federal tax returns both for himself and for his mother in order to receive tax refunds that were not owed to them.
In 2006, he started to test the tax system by filing false income tax returns claiming Fisher Alfalfa Farms had withheld taxes from his wages and paid them to the federal treasury. As a result, he fraudulently received a refund of $17,175. As he continued to fraudulently receive tax refunds without being detected, he increased the amount of his claims. By 2009, he fraudulently claimed withholding of more than $3.8 million on income of more than $8 million.
Grissom commended the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.
Federal Charges: Employee Dragged by Her Hair During Bank Robbery in Overland ParkRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A bank employee was dragged by the hair during an armed robbery at a bank in Overland Park, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Friday.
Clifton B. Cloyd, 53, and Steven A. Watts, 54, were charged with one count of bank robbery and one count each of brandishing a firearm during the robbery.
A criminal complaint and affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., alleged Cloyd and Watts were arrested Oct. 29 as they fled with money they stole from the Bank of America at 9500 Mission in Overland Park, Kan.
The affidavit alleges that during the robbery:
- Five bank employees and a customer where held at gunpoint.
- Cloyd, who was carrying a handgun, grabbed one of the bank employees and pulled her by the hair and scarf to the teller station. He struck her in the face three times with a handgun.
- Cloyd struck a customer so hard her glasses flew off and she was knocked to the floor.
- Cloyd struck a male bank employee with such force that his head started bleeding.
- Watts pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded she open the safe.
U.S. Attorney Will Monitor Election Complaints in KansasRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A federal prosecutor will be on duty during election day to respond promptly to complaints of possible election fraud and voting rights violations in Kansas, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton will be available to the public at 913-551-6730 while the polls are open on Nov. 4.“Anyone who has evidence of possible electoral corruption or voting rights abuses should call my office immediately,” Grissom said.
Grissom said he does not expect any problems during the voting, but warned that there are penalties under federal law for any efforts to fraudulently influence the outcome of the election or to improperly prevent another person from exercising the right to vote.
As the lawyer in the Kansas U.S. Attorney’s Office responsible for election matters, Patton will join other federal prosecutors across the nation as part of the election-day program of the U.S. Department of Justice. They will be responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department headquarters.
The FBI’s Kansas City Field Office will also have Special Agents available to receive allegations of election fraud, intimidation, suppression, and other election abuses. The public can provide information regarding possible election crimes to the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office’s toll-free hotline, 1-855-527-2847, or email [email protected] .
Citizen complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767, by fax at 202-307-3961, by email to [email protected], or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
Any questions involving state or local issues may be referred to the Elections Division of the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office at 785-296-4561 or 1-800-262-8683, or to the pertinent county election office.
Federal Indictment: Lawrence Man Distributed Child PornRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Lawrence, Kan., man was indicted Wednesday on a federal charge of distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Tyler B. Padden, 33, Lawrence, Kan., was charged with one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The crimes are alleged to have occurred on May 1 and May 2, 2013, in Douglas County, Kan.
The indictment alleges he used peer-to-peer software and a computer connected to the Internet to distribute child pornography.
If convicted, he faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 20 years on the distribution charge, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the possession charge.
The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Paxton L. Graves, 25, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 16, 2014, in Mission, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.
Stephen Loren Clark, 42, is charged with one count of failing to register as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The indictment alleges that he traveled to Kansas where he did not register. The indictment alleges he had been convicted in St. Charles County, Mo., on a charge of rape.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshall Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom to Speak at Wichita State UniversityRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom will speak on the fifth anniversary of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crime Prevention Act Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Wichita State University.
Grissom’s speech will be titled, “Protecting Our Communities Against Violence and Bigotry.” The presentation will begin at 1 p.m. in Room 209 of Hubbard Hall at Wichita State University
Five years ago, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. Written as a response to the brutal murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., the act makes it a federal crime to injure anyone because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Grissom will talk about how the act marked a new milestone in the pursuit of the goal of equal justice for all.
The School of Community Affairs at Wichita State University is hosting the free event.
Grissom was appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2010. The U.S. Attorney has three offices in Kansas – Kansas City, Kan., Topeka and Wichita – and a staff of approximately 100 employees, including about 50 Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
Topeka Man Sentenced in CarjackingRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man was sentenced Monday to 70 months in federal prison on a carjacking charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Shaun Lee Kendall, 29, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking. In his plea, Kendall admitted that on Jan. 29, 2014, he and a co-defendant threatened a driver with violence in order to steal a 1999 Dodge Dakota truck.
Co-defendant Michael Richard Wilkins is set for sentencing Dec. 15.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Army's Family and Morale FundRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A man pleaded guilty Monday to stealing public funds from the Army’s family and morale fund at Ft. Riley, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Michael Steffens, 59, Junction City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of stealing public money. In his plea, he admitted the crime occurred while he was a business manager at Ft. Riley for the U.S. Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program (MWR). The fund provides programs and services to soldiers and their families.
Steffens managed the change fund, which consisted of non-appropriated funds generated from MWR sponsored programs and activities. From August 2013 through August 2014, he stole approximately $62,000 in cash and coins.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 9. Both parties have agreed to recommend two years’ probation and restitution in an amount yet to be determined. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.
Former Technology Director for City of Lenexa Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - The former technology director for the City of Lenexa pleaded guilty Monday to a federal wire fraud charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Andrew L. Davey, 44, Overland Park, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea, he admitted the crime occurred from 2010 to 2012 while he was the director of technology for the City of Lenexa. After he left the city to take another job, city officials discovered he had purchased numerous electronic devices, such as iPads, computers, digital cameras and televisions which he gave to friends, traded for other merchandise or services, or sold on eBay and kept the proceeds.
For instance, he gave iPads to members of his church, and traded an iPad to another city employee for wheels and tires. The other employee was not aware the iPad belonged to the city. He gave his mother a 50-inch television and iPad that were purchased with city funds. He told her the equipment was obsolete and the city no longer needed it.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 20. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 12 months and a day in prison and restitution of approximately $103,677. Grissom commended the Lenexa Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Three Found Guilty on Drug CountsIn Federal Jury Trial in TopekaRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – Three defendants were convicted on drug charges Thursday during a federal jury trial in Topeka, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Convicted were:Raymond Alcorta, 41, Downey, Calif., one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Adrienne Lopez, 27,Pico Rivera, Calif., one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Angela Marie Lopez, 35, El Monte, Calif., one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine,and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.During trial before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Crabtree, prosecutors presented evidence that Adrienne and Angela Lopez were arrested June 21, 2013, in Seward County, Kan., when they were caught hauling approximately four pounds of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Kansas City. Subsequent investigation tied them to Alcorta, who headed the drug trafficking organization.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 9, 2014. They face a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $10 million. Grissom commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi for their work on the case.
Federal Indictment: Topeka Man Robbed Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man was indicted Wednesday in federal court here on a charge of robbing a convenience store, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Wesley Lavern Harris, 25, Topeka, Kan., was charged with one count of robbery. The indictment alleges that on Sept. 25, 2014, he robbed the Kwik Shop at 102 S.W. 37th Street in Topeka. He is alleged to have stolen cash and Kansas Lottery tickets.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Topeka Police Department and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Ramiro Madrigal, 19, Kansas City, Kan., and Armando Rodriguez, Jr., 19, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count each of traveling from Nevada to Kansas in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Oct. 15, 2014, in Thomas County, Kan.
If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million on each of the first two counts and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the third count. The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery at Wendy's in TopekaRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A man pleaded guilty Monday to an armed robbery at a Wendy’s restaurant in Topeka, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
George Christopher Walton, Jr., 37, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during the robbery. In his plea he admitted that on Aug. 4, 2014, he entered the Wendy’s restaurant at 728 S.W. Topeka Blvd. dressed all in black, wearing a mask and brandishing a firearm. He demanded cash from the register and then fled with the money.
Walton got into a car driven by his daughter and co-defendant Tashaun Desanic Walton. Police chased the car for several minutes before it stopped and Walton jumped out. He was captured a short while later in a residential area.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 26. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 84 months in federal prison.
His daughter, co-defendant Tashaun Desanic Walton, is set for a change of plea hearing Nov. 3.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case.In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Chinese Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Harboring Foreign WorkersRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A man who owned Chinese restaurants in Olathe and Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to employ and harbor workers who were in the United States illegally, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. Three other defendants also pleaded guilty to federal charges.
The following defendants entered guilty pleas:
Wei Liu, 41, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain. He was the owner of Wei’s Super Buffet on South Strang Line Road in Olathe, Kan., as well as Wei’s Super Buffet No. 2 on Wornall Road in Kansas City, Mo.
Xiang Liu, 36, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to agents of the Department of Homeland Security. She was Wei Liu’s wife, and she helped manage the business.
Huiqing Liu, 25, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting wire fraud. She is Wei Liu’s sister.
Bin Liu, 40, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to agents of the Department of Homeland Security. He lived at Wei Liu’s residence in Olathe.A fourth defendant, Huiming Liu, 43, was sentenced Monday to time served, which was approximately 10 months. She pleaded guilty to one count of failing to depart from the United States after being ordered to do so. She is Wei Liu’s sister.
In his plea, Wei Liu admitted that he employed at least 12 illegal aliens at his two restaurants. He paid them in cash and provided housing for them without charging them for the housing.
The defendants, who will be scheduled for sentencing at a later date, are facing the following penalties:
Wei Liu faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Xiang Liu faces a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Huiqing Liu faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Bin Liu faces a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000.Grissom commended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Department of Labor, the Missouri Department of Labor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.
Former Auburn City Clerk Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – The former city clerk of Auburn, Kan., was sentenced Friday to one year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $189,500 in restitution, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Alice Riley, 61, Mayetta, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds. In her plea she admitted the crime occurred beginning in 2009 while she was city clerk of Auburn, Kan., a town of 1,200 in Shawnee County. She issued duplicate payroll checks to herself and other unauthorized checks which she deposited into her personal accounts. She covered up the embezzlement by creating false entries in the city’s books and bank statements.
Grissom commended the FBI investigated and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway is prosecuting.Former Civilian Employee at McConnell AFB Pleads Guilty to Theft of Public FundsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former civilian employee at McConnell Air Force Base pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $54,000 in public funds, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Deidra N. Sanders, 44, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred between March 2013 and April 2014 while she worked as a deputy dispersing officer for the U.S. Air Force at McConnell. In her position, she had access to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Fund. She stole a total of $54,348 from the fund.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 6. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the U.S. Air Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
Wichita Man Sentenced to 7+ Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced Tuesday to 92 months in federal prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Michael Ortega-Alvarez, 46, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Ortega-Alvarez admitted that on April 29, 2014, he met a Wichita police officer, who was working undercover, at a Quick Trip at 6011 W. Central and sold him an ounce of methamphetamine for $1,100.
On May 6, 2014, Wichita police stopped Ortega-Alvarez’s truck at 3100 E. 31st South. Police found a pound of methamphetamine in a red and white cooler in the truck. In addition, they found two bags of methamphetamine that weighed about a pound each hidden in a brown pillow in the truck. An additional pound of methamphetamine was located at his residence.
Co-defendant Manuel Bencomo-Rodriguez is set for sentencing Jan. 5.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs for their work on the case.
Driver Stopped with A Pound of Heroin Pleads Guilty in Wichita Federal CourtRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – An Oklahoma man who was stopped with a pound of heroin hidden in the car pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal drug charge, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Nestor D. Duenas-Vazquez, 26, Glenpool, Okla., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. In his plea, he admitted that on June 26, 2014, a Wichita police officer stopped a car in which Duenas-Vazquez was a passenger. In the trunk, officers found a bucket of detergent with a broken seal. Hidden in the detergent they found a package containing 496 grams (more than a pound) of heroin.
Investigators learned that Duenas-Vazquez was on the way back to Oklahoma after traveling to Denver to obtain the heroin.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 5. He faces a penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years. Co-defendant Kyndal Upson is set for sentencing Dec. 8.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs for their work on the case.
Wichita Woman Pleads Guilty to Operating A Prostitution BusinessRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to operating a prostitution business, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Saundra J. Lacy, 60, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in interstate commerce in furtherance of prostitution. In her plea, she admitted Jessie’s Primetime Entertainment was a prostitution business that employed at least 20 women escorts. Customers would pay $160 for a half-hour date or $185 for an hour date with an escort. During dates, escorts engaged in sexual contact customers.
Lacy accepted cash, credit card and checks for escort services. The credit card transactions were processed by Merrick Bank in Utah. Payment was deposited into her account at Bank of America in Wichita.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 29. Both parties have agreed to recommend 24 months on federal probation. Grissom commended the FBI, the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
Other IndictmentsRead the Press Release
Indictment: Former Official Made $300,000
In Unauthorized Agriculture Disaster PaymentsKANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former Farm Service Agency director in Sumner County was indicted Wednesday on a charge of making $306,000 in agriculture disaster payments to applicants who had been denied approval for the money, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Ellen A. Love, 51, Argonia, Kan., was charged with one count of unlawfully conveying federal funds. The indictment alleges the crime occurred while she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Executive Director of the Sumner County Farm Service Agency (FSA). The Sumner County FSA Service Center is located in Wellington, Kan.The USDA provides assistance to farm producers who have suffered losses as a result of agricultural disasters. One program USDA administers is the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE). To be approved, applicants must have suffered significant crop losses in a disaster-designated county and they must have had crop insurance through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
Applications for SURE are reviewed by the FSA County Office Committee. The indictment alleges that in June 2013 Love processed payments to four applicants even though they had been disapproved for failing to meet SURE crop insurance requirements.
She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.Ernest Opuku Acheampong, 44, is charged with making false statements in order to obtain U.S. citizenship. The crime is alleged to have occurred Oct. 29, 2004, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
The indictment alleges he falsely stated he had never been deported. In fact, in 1994 he had applied for asylum under another name and been denied. He was ordered deported, but failed to leave the United States.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Adina Aguilar-Miranda, 25, Denver, Colo., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Sept. 23, 2014, in Ellis County, Kan.
If convicted, she faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $4 million on the charge of possession with intent to distribute, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Justin Russell Bennett, 29, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of unlawfully using a VISA card, one count of unlawfully possessing a machine to make credit cards, and one count of unlawful possession of credit cards. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Sept. 22, 2014, in Sherman County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $2 million on the cocaine charge, a maximum penalty of 10 years and fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawful use of a credit card, a maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawfully possessing a machine to make credit cards, and a mandatory two years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of unlawfully using a credit card. The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Laron Walker, 30, Gladstone, Mo., is charged with one count of escaping from custody from the Grossman Community Corrections Center, a halfway house in Leavenworth, Kan. The crime is alleged to have occurred Sept. 17, 2014.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting.
Jose Luis Hernandez-Hernandez, 37, a citizen of Mexico who has been living in Kansas City, Kan., is charged with four counts of transferring a false identification document and four counts of possessing a false identification document, and one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in May, June, August and September 2014 in Wyandotte County, Kan.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Transferring a false identification document: Maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Possessing a false identification document: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Unlawfully re-entering the United States: A maximum penalty of two years and a fine up to $250,000.Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.
Manuel Ramirez-Cuevas, 47, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with 10 counts of transferring false identification documents, and 10 counts of making false immigration documents. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in July and August 2014 in Wyandotte County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of transferring false documents, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of making false documents.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecutingIn all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Beloit Man Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Beloit man pleaded guilty Thursday to defrauding a bank in Ottawa County, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Matthew R. Shurts, 42, Beloit, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In his plea, he admitted he provided false information when he applied for a loan from the Bank of Tescott. On July 19, 2013, he showed representatives of the bank 71 cows, 71calves and eight bulls the he claimed were his and would serve as collateral on his loan. In fact, he owned only 17 cows and 17 calves among those he showed the representatives of the bank.
On Aug. 1, 2013, he filed a financial statement with the bank representing that he had 70 cow/calf pairs and six bulls worth a total of $152,000. In fact, he had 13 cow/calf pairs valued at a total of $26,000. In December 2013 he told bank representatives he had sold cattle and would be paying off some of his loan. He wrote a check for $53,000 that did not have sufficient funds on account to clear.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 22. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway for their work on the case.
Manhattan Woman Pleads Guilty in Marriage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Manhattan woman pleaded guilty Monday to taking part in a marriage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Jacqueline Michaelle Reed, 48, Manhattan, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. In her plea, Reed, who is a United States Citizen, admitted she entered into a marriage contract with co-defandant Yun Chiu for the purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws. Chiu was a foreign national who was seeking lawful permanent residency status in this country. Their arrangement was part of a conspiracy led by Quong Bow Low, who was paid for helping aliens seek residency. Low’s fees covered such services as coaching the defendants as to how to answer questions during an immigration interview so that officials would believe the couple had entered in a valid marriage.
Reed and Chiu submitted fraudulent paperwork to immigration authorities, including a marriage license that never was filed with the state of Kansas, as well as a false declaration they were in a valid marriage and resided together at the same address in Lawrence, Kan.
Reed is set sentencing Jan. 12. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Co-defendants include:
Yun Chiu is set for trial Nov. 12.
Quong Bow Low is set for sentencing Nov. 14.Grissom commended the Department of Homeland Security and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
Topeka Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud in Junction City Apartment DealRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was sentenced Monday to 57 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud charges in connection with a plan to build an apartment complex in Junction City, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
John Wyatt Duncan, Jr., 53, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of making false statements in documents required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
In court documents, Duncan was alleged to have obtained a $15.2 million construction loan for the purpose of constructing Quinton Pointe Apartments in Junction City. He was required to provide $1,225,000 in collateral. He signed a letter to the lender, University National Bank of Lawrence, Kan., falsely stating that lumber for the construction of the apartment complex, representing collateral for the loan, was prepaid in full and being held by Schmidt Builders, a company for which he was chief executive officer. He instructed employees of Schmidt Builders to create a false invoice in an amount of more than $1.3 million to a company he owned called Blue Jay Properties LLC in order to create the false appearance that Blue Jay Properties had prepaid Schmidt Builders for the lumber.
In another count, Schmidt Builders acquired a $12 million line of credit loan from Kaw Valley National Bank of Topeka and agreed to provide the bank with monthly financial reports. Duncan submitted reports to the bank containing false information about the age of certain accounts receivable and the amount of inventory on hand.
Grissom commended the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Reserve Board, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Labor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.Marijuana Trafficking in WichitaRead the Press Release
Sends Two Men to Federal PrisonWICHITA, KAN. - Two men were sentenced Monday to federal prison for marijuana trafficking in the Wichita area, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
Jason Giesy, 31, Augusta, Kan., was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting possession of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.
Evan Woolsey, 28, Wichita, Kan., was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.In his plea,Giesyadmitted that on Aug. 2, 2013, investigators seized approximately 1,000 pounds of marijuana from a residence in Rose Hill, Kan.
According to court records, the investigation began in January 2012 when Wichita police learned that Giesy was selling marijuana from his home in Wichita. During the investigation, Giesy moved to Augusta.
In his plea, Woolsey admitted that investigators found marijuana and firearms when they served a search warrant June 20, 2013, at his home in Wichita.
Co-defendants include:
Jeremy Harris, 32, Wichita, Kan., who is set for trail Nov. 4.
Amanda Harris Renteria, 30, Wichita, Kan., who was sentenced to three years’ probation.Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery in Franklin CountyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to 30 months in federal prison for helping to rob a Franklin County Bank, U.S. Attorney Barr Grissom said.
Robert Martin, 39, Quenemo, Kan., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., to one count of bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted he took part in the March 19, 2014, robbery of Goppert State Service Bank at 118 East Franklin Street in Pomona, Kan. He said he drove to the bank with co-defendant Caleb Jeffcoat. He gave Jeffcoat a mask and BB gun that had been altered to make it look more like a real gun. Jeffcoat entered the bank and robbed a teller.
Investigators used video surveillance from a Dollar General store and a gas station in Pomona to identify the robber.
Co-defendants are:
Caleb Jeffcoat, 26, Quenemo, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
Christel Collins, 37, Quenemo, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.Grissom commended the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the Franklin County Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask for their work on the case.
Drug Trafficker from Belize Was "Popeye" on the Streets of Overland ParkRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A man from Belize who used the alias “Popeye” to peddle methamphetamine on the streets of Overland Park was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
John Michael Hernandez, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine and one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony and deported. In his plea, he admitted he was using the alias “Popeye” in December 2013 when he began selling methamphetamine to undercover investigators working with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. In a series of transactions, he sold them more than a pound of methamphetamine.
After he was arrested, Homeland Security Investigations used the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the integrated Automated Fingerpring System (AFIS) to determine Hernandez had previously been convicted of robbery in Los Angeles and deported from the United States to Belize in 2009.
Grissom commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken for their work on the case.Lawrence Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $750,000Read the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling more than $750,000 from her employer, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Sharon Ann Holladay, 58, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she worked as the officer manager for Westheffer Company, a Lawrence business that manufactures and sells agricultural chemical spray equipment.
Holladay used her access to the company’s financial system to transfer money from the operations account to a petty cash fund she controlled. She also used her access to the payroll system to give herself unauthorized bonuses and commissions. In addition, she made unauthorized purchases on the company’s credit card.She embezzled a total of between $750,000 and $1 million from the company.
Sentencing will be set for a later time. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Lawrence Police Department, the FB I and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.
Department of Justice Awards Hiring Grants to Reduce Violence, Protect Schools in KansasRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. Today the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced funding awards to six law enforcement agencies in Kansas aimed at creating, and in some cases protecting, law enforcement positions. Nearly $124 million will be awarded nationally, including $704,755 in Kansas.
The list of this year’s grantees includes:
Bel Aire Police Dept., $114,971
Cherryvale Police Dept., $95,645
Derby Police Dept., $125,000
City of Iola, $119,139
Kansas State University, $125,000
Osawatomie Dept. of Public Safety, $125,000.“Our goal is to improve public safety and help strengthen relationships between the officers and the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime and school safety.”Grantees for the 2014 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates and community policing plans.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2014 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
Bank Robbery Defendant Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. A defendant in a bank robbery in Lanagan, Mo., was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Stephen Hudson, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted bank robbery. In his plea, he admitted that on July 2, 2012, he drove co-defendant Daniel Lee Waddell to Lanagan, Mo., for the purpose of robbing the Corner Stone Bank.
Co-defendant Daniel Lee Waddell was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for the robbery at the Corner Stone Bank, as well as another robbery March 5, 2013, at the Citizens State Bank in Kincaid, Kan.
Grissom commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble and Missouri law enforcement agencies for their work on the case.
Emporia Man Sentenced After Arrest with 35 Pounds of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. An Emporia man who was arrested after sheriff’s officers found 35 pounds of marijuana and 21 firearms in his home was sentenced Monday to 21 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Keenan R. Linneman, 34, Emporia, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of traveling in interstate commerce in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his plea, he admitted aiding and abetting another person to obtain 35 pounds of marijuana from Texas. On Nov. 4, 2013, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Linneman’s home where they found the marijuana and the firearms.
Grissom commended the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.
Dickinson County Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Railroad Union FundsRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. A former secretary-treasurer of a railroad union pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling union funds, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Dale T. Hull, 62, Herington, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds. In his plea, Hull admitted the crime occurred while he was secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 261, which represented employees of the Union Pacific Railroad who work in the Herington, Kan., terminal and the Salina, Kan., hub.
Starting in 2008, Hull made unauthorized and illegal account transfers from the union’s account to his personal checking account totaling more than $17,000. He also filed false reports to the U.S. Department of Labor in which he understated his earnings as secretary-treasurer of the union.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 5, 2015. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000 and restitution. Grissom commended the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway for their work on the case.
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Topeka Man Indicted on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka man was indicted Wednesday on a federal charge of conspiring to buy firearms and unlawfully transfer them to a buyer in another state, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Donald Gene Garst, 52, who is in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, is charged with one count of conspiring to unlawfully transfer firearms. The indictment alleges that on Aug. 16, 2013, Garst was referring to firearms when he told an unindicted co-conspirator that there was a lot of money to be made in “women’s shoes” and that they should acquire all the “women’s shoes” they could.
On Sept. 13, 2013, another unindicted co-conspirator rented space at Quality Storage Facility, 426 E. 6th in Holton, Kan. The next day, she took out a loan of $1,500 and purchased a Cobra Model FS380 pistol and a New Frontier Armory Model LW-15 rifle. She put them in a suitcase belonging to Garst for delivery to the storage facility. She gave Garst the combination to the storage locker so that he could pass it on to a person from another state who would retrieve the firearms and leave $2,800 in an envelope marked “Barney” to pay for the firearms. On Sept. 19, 2013, the purchaser entered the storage locker and retrieved the firearms.
If convicted, Garst faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Six Kansas City, Kan., men are charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other counts. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Jan. 1, 2014, to Sept. 5, 2014, in Kansas City, Kan.
Among those charged are the following:
Jesus Octavio Valdez-Acguirre, Kansas City, Kan.
Mario Saucedo-Avalos, 39, Kansas City, Kan.
Jessie Joe Silva, 38, Kansas City, Kan.
Roberto Lara-Mojica, 20, Kansas City, Kan.
Ramon Espinoza, 68, Kansas City, Kan.
Juan Manuel Lopez-Garcia, Kansas City, Kan., 25, Kansas City, Kan.The indictment seeks a forfeiture money judgment of $148,000, representing the proceeds of the crimes.
Upon conviction, the crimes alleged in the indictment carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.
Distributing methamphetamine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri McCracken is prosecuting.
Six Kansas men are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other counts. The crimes are alleged to have occurred from October 2013 to Sept. 5, 2014, in Wyandotte County, Kan.
Among those charged are the following:
Vicencio Olea-Monarez, 36, Kansas City, Kan.
Gabriel Agustin Lopez, 28.
Rosalio Chinchilla, 44, Kansas City, Kan.,
Jose Luis Silva-Cardona, 24, Kansas City, Mo.
Joshua Thomas Alvarez, 25, Kansas City, Kan.
Lee Thomas Faulkner, 40, Topeka, Kan.The indictment alleges members of the conspiracy maintained residences at 719 Lyons Ave. in Kansas City, Kan., and 1201 Gilmore Ave. in Kansas City, Kan., in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Upon conviction, the crimes alleged in the indictment carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 1,000 marijuana plants, distributing methamphetamine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million on each count.
Possession with intent to distribute cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $1 million.
Maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.
Juan Lopez-Morales, 40, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 6, 2014, 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 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Two Kansas Men for Trafficking in Synthetic MarijuanaRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. A father and son from Kansas who helped launch a global sales and supply network for a synthetic version of marijuana were convicted today on charges of violating the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
A federal jury convicted the men on charges of conspiring to manufacture and sell a marijuana substitute called K2 – named after the second-highest mountain in the world. The business, which began in a shop in Lawrence, Kan., grew to encompass a chain of suppliers, retailers, wholesalers and business associates with locations in Kansas, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Nevada and Indiana, as well as in other nations including Argentina, Latvia, Germany, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, Thailand and Uruguay. The defendants made at least $3.3 million from the sale of the drugs.
A federal jury convicted Clark Sloan, 55, Tonganoxie, Kan., and his son, Jonathan Sloan, 33, Lawrence, Kan., on 20 counts including one count of conspiracy, two counts of misbranding, 15 counts of mail fraud, one count of smuggling and one count of money laundering.
The defendants were acquitted on five other counts.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Jonathan Sloan was co-owner of two businesses, Persephone's Journey, a retail store in Lawrence, Kan., and Bouncing Bear Botanicals, ostensibly a wholesaler of herbs and botanical products, with co-defendant Bradley Miller of Wichita, Kan. Bouncing Bear Botanicals was located in the basement of Persephone's Journey and then moved to a warehouse in Oskaloosa, Kan. Clark Sloan, who was Miller’s brother, developed and monitored the Web site for Bouncing Bear Botanicals and worked in marketing and Internet technologies.
Miller developed recipes for K2 and manufactured it. During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that:
- The defendants manufactured and distributed K2 as an Aall natural product@ but it contained synthetic chemicals called JWH Compounds that mimic the effects of the THC in marijuana. Their products also contained solvents, either the alcohol Everclear or acetone, as well as other additives.
- They manufactured and sold at least four types of K2 products: Standard, Citron, Blonde and Summit, with Standard being the least potent and Summit being the most potent, depending on the amount of JWH Compounds that were mixed with herbs.
- The defendants manufactured the K2 without quality controls, resulting in inconsistent potencies. They intended K2 products to be smoked like marijuana by recreational drug users, but they falsely referred to K2 products as aromatic incense and falsely labeled them as Anot for consumption.@
“The public is put at risk by those who distribute drugs that are misbranded because of deceptive labeling or inadequate directions for use,” said Catherine Hermsen, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations. “We will continue to work to prevent such drugs from reaching the U.S. market and to bring to justice those who attempt to circumvent FDA’s regulations, which protect the public health.”
Sentencing is set for Jan. 26, 2015. The crimes carry the following penalties:
Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Distributing misbranded K2: A maximum penalty of three years and a fine up to $250,000.
Mail fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Smuggling: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Conspiracy to commit money laundering: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $500,000.Co-defendant Bradley Miller is awaiting trial.
Grissom commended the Food and Drug Administration, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Treadway and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi for their Work on the case.
In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.
Chemical Company in Kansas City, Kan. Ordered to Pay $1.5 Million Fine for Mishandling Hazardous WasteRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A chemical company with a plant in Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday to pay a $1.5 million fine for violating a federal law regulating the storage of hazardous waste, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. The company will serve two years on federal probation.
Harcros Chemicals Inc., 5200 Speaker Road in Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of storing hazardous waste without a permit.
Harcros manufactures industrial chemicals including surfactants, emulsifiers, antifoaming agents and custom organics. In addition to its manufacturing, the company operated eight laboratories for the development and testing of new chemical products.
In its plea, the company admitted that from at least May 5, 2006, through Jan. 30, 2009, the company stored waste chemicals including phosgene solution, ethylenediamine, 1,4-dioxane, butyl acrylate, acrylic acid and methacrylate at the facility. The company did not have a permit to store hazardous waste for more than 90 days as required by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
“EPA’s commitment to protect the environment includes bringing to justice those who, in the course of breaking the law, disregard the harm they pose to public health,” said Michael Burnett, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Kansas. “The defendant’s illegal storage practices threatened groundwater supplies and put employees and the public at serious risk. Today’s plea demonstrates that those who knowingly engage in criminal activity must be willing to face the consequences in court.”
Grissom commended the Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Jennifer A. Whitfield, Senior Trial Attorney, Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resource Division, Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt for their work on the caseLawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $1 MillionRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to embezzling more than $1 million from his company and his business partners, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Mark W. Elzea, 55, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds.
In his plea, Elzea admitted the crime occurred while he was controller and part owner of Pur-O-Zone, a janitorial and cleaning equipment business located in Lawrence. In 2004, Elzea began embezzling funds from Pur-O-Zone and his three business partners who also owned part of the business. The crime came to light in May 2014 when one of the partners was contacted by a vendor about not having received a check. The partners discovered numerous unauthorized checks signed by Elzea and made payable to Cardmember Service Chase Bank in Illinois.
In his plea, Elzea agrees to a forfeiture money judgment and order of restitution in the amount of $1 million.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 19. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.
Indian Tribes in Kansas Receive More Than $1.3 Million in Public Safety GrantsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Indian tribes in Kansas are being awarded more than $1.3 million in public safety grants from the U.S. Dept. of Justice, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
“Protecting public safety in Indian Country is a critical part of our goal to strengthen and sustain native communities in Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
The grants, awarded through the Justice Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance program, include:
- Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas: $449,824 from the Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation: $365,386 from the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
- Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska: $547,482 from the Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
Nationally, the Justice Department has announced 169 grants in FY 2014 to American Indian tribes totaling more than $87 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.
$20,000 Methamphetamine Deal Sends Wichita Man to Federal Prison for 8+ YearsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man who arranged to sell an undercover buyer a pound of methamphetamine for $20,000 was sentenced Monday to 100 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Wyatt Leedy, 36, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, Leedy admitted he and co-defendant Patrick C. Hains were arrested Jan. 14, 2014, at Pelican Point Apartments, 2150 N. Meridian, after a Wichita police officer working undercover paid them $20,000 for a pound of methamphetamine. In telephone conversations with the undercover officer, Leedy set up the meeting with Hains in which the money changed hands.
Co-defendants include:
Patrick C. Hains, who was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison.
Jose Ramon Montelongo-Castrejon, who was sentenced to two years on federal supervised release.Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.
Man Sentenced in Federal Court for Robbery at Topeka RestaurantRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. - A man was sentenced Monday to 84 months in federal prison for committing an armed robbery at a Topeka restaurant, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Derick Renee Crawford, 24, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during the robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. In his plea, he admitted he and co-defendant Travis Jeremy Coffman committed an armed robbery Aug. 18, 2013, at the Red Robin restaurant at 6230 S.W. 6th in Topeka.
Armed with a can of mace, Coffman ordered an employee inside the restaurant and forced her to retrieve money from the safe. Crawford remained outside holding the remaining employees as gunpoint. Crawford told the employees that he would kill anyone who called the police.
Co-defendant Travis Jeremy Coffman is set for sentencing Nov. 3.
Grissom commended the Topeka Police Department, the FBI, the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared for their work on the case.U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom Joins Committee Advising U.S. Attorney GeneralRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom of Kansas has been appointed to serve a two-year term on the committee that advises U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Holder announced that Grissom and U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter, District of Montana, would be joining the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Barry Grissom and Mike Cotter as the two newest members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a group of U.S. Attorneys with whom I regularly consult on some of the most significant law enforcement and public safety issues facing our nation,” said Attorney General Holder. “I’m grateful for their service and leadership. I look forward to working closely with the entire AGAC as we all work together to protect and ensure justice for the American people.”
The AGAC, chaired by Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, represents the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues impacting the Offices of U.S. Attorneys. The committee has 20 members representing various federal judicial districts, geographic locations and U.S. Attorney’s offices of various sizes.
Grissom was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2010. The U.S. Attorney has three offices in Kansas – Kansas City, Kan., Topeka and Wichita – and a staff of approximately 100 employees, including about 50 Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
Texas Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Adoption Fraud Case in KansasRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Texas woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to defrauding four families that wanted to adopt children, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom
Chrystal Marie Rippey, 34, Marshall, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In her plea, she admitted she devised a scheme in which she pretended to be pregnant. She contacted adoption agencies and individuals who wanted to adopt and said she was willing to give up her unborn children for adoption. She asked adoption agencies and individuals for money for rent, utilities, food and living expenses.
Couple No. 1: A Delaware couple moved Rippey into their home for a month. They took her on a two-week vacation on the beach and paid for her living expenses, new clothes, cell phone and food. She gave them a sonogram that she claimed showed her pregnancy with twins. In fact, she got the image from the Internet. Then she broke off contact with them.
Couple No. 2: A couple from Shawnee, Kan., put more than $22,000 in an escrow account to pay for Rippey’s living expenses. She told them false stories about her troubles with Child Protective Services and a fire that burned down the home of the birth father in order to get the couple to give her more money. Then she broke off contact with them.
Couple 3: Working with an adoption agency in Overland Park, Kan., Rippey contacted another couple that began providing support for her. They were shocked when they went to California to meet her and saw that she didn’t look pregnant.Couple 4: Another couple ran up expenses for fees to an adoption agency in Texas as well as travel expenses in hopes of adopting twins from Rippey. Rippey claimed she had a son in the hospital and that she had not eaten in days in order to get money from the couple. But the couple refused her request because the adoption agency told them not to give her any money until she completed adoption paperwork.
Sentencing will be set for a later date. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 33 months followed by three years supervised release.
Grissom commended the Overland Park Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.
Soldier at Ft. Riley Sentenced for False Statements to Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A soldier at Ft. Riley was sentenced Wednesday for making false material statements to the Social Security Administration, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
James Scott Nickerson, 38, Ft. Riley, Kan., was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months home confinement and three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $71,734 in restitution to the SSA and an additional $250 to the United States Treasury for a stimulus payment he was not entitled to receive.
Nickerson pleaded guilty to one count of making a false official statement to a federal agency. In his plea, he admitted he was paid a total of $71,734 in disability benefits by the Social Security Administration that he was not eligible to receive. Beginning in October 2009, Nickerson applied for disability benefits under the Wounded Warrior Program. He claimed he was unable to work because of “organic mental disorders” he developed while serving a deployment in Iraq.
While receiving disability benefits, he worked full time for the Army doing various duties, including serving as a platoon sergeant while he claimed to be disabled. He also supervised other soldiers during this period. Nickerson attempted to conceal his actual work activity from SSA by claiming he worked no more than 20 hours a week. On three separate occasions, the defendant completed Work Activity Reports, documents used by SSA to determine if a beneficiary is eligible for disability benefits. On each of these occasions he was asked to identify his supervisors so that SSA could verify his work activity. On all three occasions, he identified persons other than his supervisors. In the plea agreement, the defendant admitted that on a Work Activity Report he completed on Sept. 6, 2010, he falsely reported to SSA that one of his subordinates was his supervisor. He admitted that this was a false material statement to a federal agency.Grissom commended the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford for their work on the case.
Indictment: Denver Man's Airplane, Cars, Cash Were Proceeds of Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal indictment returned today in Wichita seeks the forfeiture of a business jet after the man flying the plane was arrested in July at the airport in Iola, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Kenneth E. Weaver, 58, Denver, Colo., is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and one count of interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The indictment seeks the forfeiture of a 1979 Israel Aircraft Industries Model 1124 jet aircraft, a 2007 Bentley Continental GT-C automobile and more than $450,000 in cash seized Aug. 8, 2014, in Sylmar, Calif.
Weaver was arrested July 11, 2014, after members of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant on his plane and seized a load of marijuana.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the possession count, a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $4 million on the conspiracy count, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the interstate travel charge. The Allen County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett is prosecuting.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Ryan B. Schmidt, 34, Wichita, Kan., is charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during a robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction. The robberies are alleged to have occurred Sept. 4, 2014, and Aug. 19, 2014, in Wichita, Kan.
The indictment alleges that on Sept. 4, 2014, Schmidt entered the Gessler’s Drug Store at 4817 E. Douglas, pointed a handgun at an employee, and said, “I want your opiates.” The employee gave him seven bottles of hydrocodone and three bottles of promethazine.
The indictment also alleges that on Aug. 19, 2014, Schmidt entered the Parklane Pharmacy at 530 S. Oliver, pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded narcotics. The employee gave him two bottles of oxycodone and $120 in cash.
Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Robbery: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Brandishing a firearm: A penalty of not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.
The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.Justen L. Marks, 25, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of attempting to pass 15 counterfeit bills at the Walmart store at 501 E. Pawnee, and one count of possessing counterfeit currency. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Feb. 22, 2014, in Wichita, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Department of Homeland Security investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
Kevin Hamill, 26, Garden City, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 2, 2014, in Finney County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Garden City Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.
Silvia Clemente-Rojo, 41, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with two counts of perjury, one count of buying a counterfeit Social Security card and one count of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in September 2013 in Finney County, Kan.
If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of perjury and on the count of buying a counterfeit Social Security card, and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft count. The Kansas Department of Revenue and Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Saul Garcia-Hernandez, 38, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 27, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Guillermo Amparan-Mendoza, 38, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 27, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Leoga Beltran-Esquivel, 29, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Aug. 28, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Homeland Security Investigations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.
Derik E. Steele, 29, Wichita, Kan., is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances, one count of possession of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of marijuana. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 8, 2014, in in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the firearm count and the ammunition count, and a maximum a year and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the misdemeanor drug possession counts. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is investigating.
Juan Enrique Esguival-Meza, 48, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found Sept. 11, 2014, in Sedgwick County, Kan.
If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.
Luis Ramon Carrera-Morales, 59, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with one count of unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. HE was found Sept. 11, 2014 in Sedgwick County, Kan.If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’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.
Wichita Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for CounterfeitingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. A Wichita man was sentenced Monday to two years federal prison for counterfeiting, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Billy J. Antrobus, 25, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency. In his plea, he admitted he counterfeited four $50 bills, 27 $20 bills, five $100 bills, and four sheets of uncut $20 bills.
Co-defendants include:
Harvey D. Salisbury, who was sentenced to two years.
Dustelia D. Watts, who is set for sentencing Oct. 6.Grissom commended the Department of Homeland Security and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.