District of Kansas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jury convicts Missouri man of robbing Kansas bankRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Missouri man of robbing a bank in Shawnee, Kansas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richard Ruston, 53, of Independence, Missouri, entered the First Interstate Bank on Shawnee Mission Parkway on July 20, 2022. After briefly displaying what a bank teller employee believed to be a firearm, the robber demanded money, and left the bank with $2,974 in cash.
“Richard Ruston subjected people, who were trying to earn an honest living, to unimaginable terror and angst because he chose criminal means to obtain money,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Fortunately, due to the excellent investigation by law enforcement and the solid case presented by prosecutors, the evidence convinced a federal jury of Ruston’s guilt, and a judge will determine the appropriate sentence for his crime.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Shawnee Police Department, Merriam Police Department, and Kansas City, Missouri Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug prosecuted the case.
###
Former U.S. Postal worker sentenced for mail crimeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A former U.S. Postal Service worker was sentenced to 24 months of probation for criminal conduct related to her employment.
According to court documents, Tammy L. Frink, 50, of Beardsley, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of opening of mail by a postal employee.
On September 21, 2022, Frink, while working at a post office in McDonald, Kansas, opened a sealed greeting card destined for an address in Missouri. Frink did not have authority or permission to open the piece of mail.
Frink was ordered to serve 60 hours of community service and to pay a total restitution of $1,686, with the U.S. Postal Service receiving $1,075 and $611 to five individuals who were victims in other instances of mail theft linked to Frink.
“This sentence represents our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity and trust in the U.S. Mail,” said Ryan Petry, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The majority of postal employees are hard-working public servants dedicated to moving mail to its proper destination. The USPS OIG, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster prosecuted the case.
###
Former school employee pleads guilty to child porn chargeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography.
According to court documents, Eric Caleb Carlson, 43, of Wichita admits to downloading and receiving videos and images depicting prepubescent children subjected to sex acts.
In June 2023, Synchronoss Technologies submitted two reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding files uploaded to its cloud-based backup service containing child sexual abuse/exploitation material. Law enforcement investigators linked the account to Eric Carlson based on evidence including a photograph of Carlson’s driver’s license, a selfie of Carlson, and photographs taken at Wichita Unified School District 259, where Carlson formerly worked in the IT division.
Carlson was arrested at the USD 259 office (his now former place of employment), and his phone was seized. A search of his phone revealed numerous images and videos of child sex abuse material located in a password protected private folder.
Carlson also had the Onion Router (“Tor”) on his device, which is a free and open source software for enabling anonymous communications and access to the dark web. Investigators reviewed Carlson’s Tor browser history and found cached darknet webpages he had visited that offered access to child exploitation materials. In July 2023, Carlson downloaded and received a zip file from the dark web containing child sex abuse material.
Carlson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2024. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
U.S. Attorney’s Office Reaches Settlement with Kansas Nail Salon After Complaint of Disability DiscriminationRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement with a Kansas nail salon to resolve allegations that the salon discriminated against an individual with a disability in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher announced today.
Under the settlement, Pretty Nails, Inc. of Shawnee agrees to adopt a non-discrimination policy and post it in a conspicuous place, to train current and future employees on the requirements of Title III of the ADA, and to pay $1,500 in damages to the individual complainant in this matter. Title III prohibits disability discrimination in places of public accommodation, like nail salons. The settlement resolves allegations that Pretty Nails discriminated against a woman with cerebral palsy, who uses a motorized wheelchair, by refusing to provide nail services.
“What was supposed to be a fun outing to get her nails done, instead turned into an ordeal that left the complainant in this case upset and embarrassed,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “We at the U.S. Justice Department hope to spare people with disabilities from these kinds of painful experiences by educating business owners and their employees about disability rights laws.”
The Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA seek equal opportunity and dignity in all aspects of life, including access to public accommodations such as nail salons. This settlement agreement is the fourth agreement that the Department of Justice has reached with a nail salon through its U.S. Attorney Program for ADA Enforcement, and the first in the District of Kansas. In June 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina entered a settlement agreement resolving an allegation that a nail salon in Durham, North Carolina, refused to provide services to an individual with HIV. In June 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana reached a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Harahan, Louisiana, to resolve an allegation that an individual was refused services because of the inability to transfer out of their wheelchair. And in February 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey entered a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Ocean County, New Jersey, to resolve allegations that the salon discriminates against individuals with mobility impairments.
Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint with the U.S Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Unit at http://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement/complaint. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
The government is represented by the Civil Rights Coordinator, Andrea L. Taylor of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City, Kansas.
###
Hiawatha felon sentenced for illegal firearm purchaseRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for directing a third party to illegally purchase a firearm for him.According to court documents, Jonathan Lee Hunt, 34, of Hiawatha pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting another in providing false statements in the acquisition of a firearm.
In April 2021, Hunt instructed another person to submit false information in order to purchase a Taurus, Model G3, 9mm pistol on his behalf. Hunt is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior qualifying felony conviction.
“Purchasing firearms for prohibited people is a major source of crime guns around the country and here in Kansas,” stated Bernard Hansen, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. “Federal firearms laws exist to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and those who cannot lawfully possess firearms. Those who seek to evade federal law by lying to purchase guns or by getting others to do so, will be identified and prosecuted. Enforcing these laws reduces violent crime and keeps our communities safe.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hiawatha Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag prosecuted the case.
###
Wichita man pleads guilty to causing fentanyl related deathRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to one count of distribution of a controlled substance which resulted in death.
According to court documents, on July 31, 2019, Tyler Ralls, 35, of Wichita gave Michael Marsalla, 35, an M30 pill while the two men were working together at a company in Park City. Ralls admits that he knew the pill contained fentanyl and knew that Marsalla didn’t have a tolerance for fentanyl. When Marsalla didn’t arrive at work the next day and couldn’t be reached, Ralls drove to Marsalla’s house in Valley Center and found him unresponsive. After calling 911, Ralls phoned his source for fentanyl pills to discuss whether anyone had ever died after taking them. Emergency responders pronounced Marsalla deceased at the scene. A subsequent autopsy determined the victim died of fentanyl toxicity.
“Because of the enormous influx of counterfeit pills into our communities, anytime a person ingests pills that they didn’t get directly from a medical professional, they are at great risk of dying of fentanyl overdose,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Michael Marsalla accepted a pill from someone he thought he could trust. Unfortunately, that trust was misplaced, and it cost Mr. Marsalla his life.”
Ralls is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Valley Center Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
###
Three Topeka residents charged in money lending business robberyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – Three Kansans have been charged through criminal complaint in Topeka in connection with a robbery that occurred on October 16, 2023, at money lending business, LendNation.
LendNation, located on Southwest 10th Avenue in Topeka, is a company that provides various loan options to customers.
According to the criminal complaint, Aaron Elizabeth Fish, 32, of Topeka, store manager of LendNation; Mejia J. Pattillo, 47, of Topeka; and Katelyn Nichole North, 32, of Topeka are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery for allegedly conspiring together to rob LendNation.
Pattillo is also charged with one count of Hobbs Act Robbery for allegedly robbing LendNation on October 16, 2023.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Topeka Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hunting is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Two Businessmen Charged for $1M Kickback Scheme Involving Nuclear Weapons ComponentsRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in Kansas City, Kansas, charging two businessmen for an alleged scheme to fraudulently steer and award subcontracts by a major engineering firm for work on nuclear weapons manufacturing projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC).
According to court documents, from at least 2011 through approximately January 2021, Michael Clinesmith, 67, of Kansas, allegedly solicited and received kickbacks and bribes from Richard Mueller, 63, of Missouri, in exchange for steering subcontracts from Clinesmith’s employer to Mueller’s company (Subcontractor 1). Clinesmith, a long-tenured employee of a major engineering firm (Company 1) working at the KCNSC, was responsible for designing and procuring gages that were specially designed and manufactured to measure the components of nuclear weapon products. Clinesmith allegedly used his position and authority at Company 1 to steer gage subcontracts to Subcontractor 1 in exchange for Mueller paying him over $1 million for surreptitiously performing some or all of the work. Clinesmith is alleged to have told Mueller how much to bid on gage subcontracts that Company 1 awarded. Then, Clinesmith told his employer, Company 1, that those bids were fair and reasonable without disclosing that, in exchange for the subcontracts, Mueller would secretly funnel to Clinesmith the money awarded to Subcontractor 1. The indictment also alleges that Mueller lied to federal agents regarding the number of impacted subcontracts and his involvement in the scheme.
Clinesmith and Mueller are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. Mueller is also charged with one count of making false statements to federal agents. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy, wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud charges. Mueller also faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the false statements charge.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas, and Special Agent in Charge Justin Kessel of the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG), Western Field Office made the announcement.
The DOE-OIG Western Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at [email protected]. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kansas woman indicted for bank robberyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with robbing a Topeka bank.
According to court documents, Rodshell Nicole Mays, 51, is charged with one count of bank robbery. Mays is accused of using force or intimidation on September 25, 2023, to take money from an employee at Capital Federal Bank on Southwest Topeka Boulevard.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Topeka Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Hunting is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Jury convicts Kansas man of vehicle fraud schemeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas man of defrauding car dealerships, financial institutions, and title loan companies.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Montressa “Monty” Cunningham, 42, of Junction City was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, seven counts of bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and five counts of money laundering.
Beginning about December 2018, Cunningham applied for loans to purchase vehicles from Kansas dealerships. He submitted applications to financial institutions using other people’s social security numbers, false residential addresses, and counterfeit pay stubs showing fabricated monthly incomes, places of employment, and lengths of employment. As a result, Cunningham received seven vehicle loans totaling approximately $264,000.
As part of the scheme, once Cunningham received the titles, he altered the documents to remove the lien holder’s name and address. He used the altered titles to register the vehicles in either Kansas or Georgia to receive clear titles. Cunningham then either sold the vehicles for cash or used the clear titles as collateral for cash loans. Title loan companies and individuals who purchased the vehicles paid Cunningham approximately $85,010 in cash.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Kansas Department of Revenue, Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Lindsey Debenham are prosecuting the case.
###
Wichita man sentenced for firearm crimeRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced 60 months in prison for having a gun while trafficking narcotics.
According to court documents, Clinton Bruner, 59, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The charge stems from a November 2022 search warrant at Bruner’s home where officers found approximately one kilogram of powder cocaine in a basement and another ounce of cocaine in a bedroom. Law enforcement also found two firearms, a M&P Shield .40 caliber handgun and a Berretta Nano 9mm firearm. After Bruner had been read his Miranda rights, he admitted to selling drugs, and he said that the firearms were his for protection because he had recently been robbed.
“Whenever guns are in the hands of illegal drug traffickers, the threat of violence increases exponentially. This not only endangers the lives of those involved in criminal activity, but also puts entire communities at great risk of being caught in crossfire,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher.
The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster prosecuted the case.
###
Kansas man sentenced for child pornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas man was sentenced to 108 months in prison for distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, Bardia Behravesh, 46, of Mission, Kansas, admitted in pleading guilty that he knowingly distributed videos of child pornography online through various apps and file-sharing programs. The videos and images included minors under the age of 12 and depictions of violence. After agents discovered Behravesh sharing this content, they obtained a search warrant of his home and discovered multiple electronics which contained images and videos of child pornography.
In addition to 108 months of imprisonment, his sentence included a $74,000 restitution award to the victims depicted in the images and videos, a $35,000 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 and $5,000 assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
#Parsons man indicted on meth & firearms chargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned a superseding indictment charging a man with drug trafficking crimes.
According to court documents, Tremayne M. Darkis, 44, of Parsons is charged with a total of 55 counts including:
• one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine,
• one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering,
• 49 counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime,
• one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,
• one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine,
• one count possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and
• one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in or near a school.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Cletis Ringwald, 68, of Lyons was indicted on one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Wichita Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Firearm While Trafficking DrugsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN.– A Kansas man pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
According to court documents, Grant Lubbers, 37, of Wichita was arrested in April 2021 in Andover, Kansas. Law enforcement had been investigating Lubbers for fentanyl trafficking. Using a search warrant, agents searched Lubbers' vehicle and found a backpack containing approximately 3,000 pills that later tested positive for fentanyl, $22,000 in cash, and a firearm.
Lubbers is scheduled to be sentenced on November 29, 2023, and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
###
Owner of Olathe, Kansas Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $250,000 to Resolve Allegations of Violating the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City, Kansas-based company entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal government agreeing to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that a retail pharmacy it owns violated the civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Four B. Corporation, doing business as Balls Food Stores, owns and operates retail pharmacies in the Kansas City metro area including Price Chopper Pharmacy located on East Santa Fe Street in Olathe, Kansas.
In passing the CSA, the U.S. Congress took steps to create “a closed system” of distribution for controlled substances in which the handling of the substances is subject to intense governmental regulation. One of the purposes of the Act is to prevent the diversion and abuse of legitimate controlled substances, while still ensuring an adequate supply of those substances to meet the medical and scientific needs of the country.
The settlement resolves the government’s allegations that between February 2019 and June 10, 2022, the Price Chopper Pharmacy violated the CSA and its implementing regulations by dispensing controlled substances before receiving prescriptions, improperly partially filling prescriptions, and failing to maintain inventory records for controlled substances.
“The Controlled Substances Act seeks to prevent the abuse and misuse of controlled substances, but that effort is futile unless those who dispense these substances adhere to the CSA guidelines” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Hopefully this settlement will make pharmacies take heed of the Department of Justice’s commitment to enforcing these rules.”
"How pharmaceutical medications are dispensed is something we have to take seriously because it can so easily result in someone getting hurt from the drugs,” said Diversion Program Manager Kimberly Daniels, the Drug Enforcement Administration's lead for the Diversion program in the states of Missouri and Kansas, and southern Illinois. “One of the many responsibilities that pharmacies have is ensuring medications are dispensed only after receiving legitimate prescriptions, then they must track the prescriptions they dispense. When they fail to do that, DEA must take action. This settlement is a reminder that DEA's highest priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens."
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division, Kansas City Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Fleenor, Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator handled the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs office.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
###
Former State Credit Union Advisor Indicted for Embezzling Money from Credit UnionRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas woman was arraigned today on federal charges in connection with a years-long scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, Muddy River Credit Union. Rita Hartman, 68, of Atchison was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 23, 2023.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Hartman was the manager of Muddy River Credit Union (formerly Bradken Federal Credit Union) from the early 1990s through January 2021. Muddy River served the employees of the Bradken foundry located in Atchison, Kansas. In 2013, the Governor of the State of Kansas appointed Hartman to the Kansas Credit Union Council, which advises the Kansas Department of Credit Unions on issues and needs of credit unions.
As manager, Hartman had responsibility for and control over all aspects of Muddy River’s finances and books and records. From at least 2010 through December 2020, Hartman is accused of using her position to steal money from Muddy River. Hartman allegedly did so by crediting fraudulent deposits and loan payments to her or her relatives’ accounts or by stealing cash deposits, then concealing her conduct by altering Muddy River’s books and records, and falsifying information submitted to Muddy River’s regulators.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Wichita Man Facing Child Porn ChargesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with crimes related to child pornography.
Eric Caleb Carlson, 43, of Wichita is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Synchronoss Technologies submitted two reports in June 2023 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding uploads of files containing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials to its cloud based backup service.An investigation led law enforcement authorities to identify and arrest Carlson.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.OTHER INDICTMENTS
Derek Bell, 32, of Wichita was indicted on one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
John Ray Gaffney, 45, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Andrusak and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
Johnny Lee Ivory III, 37, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Craig E. Jones, 48, of Sedgwick was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Wichita Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Andrusak and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Owner of Kansas Metal Company Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to pay federal employment taxes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Douglas Furnell of Leawood, was the owner and operator of Western Metal Company, a Louisburg-based manufacturer of custom metal products. As such, he was responsible for paying over to the IRS the federal income and Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from his employees’ wages. From the first quarter of 2015 through the second quarter of 2020, however, Furnell did not timely pay the withholdings to the IRS nor file the requisite quarterly employment tax returns. In total, Furnell caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $333,983.
Furnell is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Erika V. Suhr of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Christopher Oakley of the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case.
Twelve People Indicted in Fentanyl Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned three related indictments charging a total of 12 people following a large scale law enforcement investigation into an alleged drug trafficking ring.
In the first indictment, Rafael Turner, 33, of Phoenix, Arizona, and formerly of Wichita is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl, two counts of attempted distribution of fentanyl, two counts of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and four counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The grand jury also indicted Rafael Turner on 24 counts of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking, one count of maintaining a drug premises, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to identification documents, and six counts of money laundering.
Andrea Bohanon, 33, of Wichita is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of maintaining a drug premises, and six counts of money laundering,
Antwain Gails, 33, of Wichita is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, nine counts of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to identification documents.
Antonio Turner, 55, of Wichita is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and nine counts of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking,
Wayne Turner, 30, of Wichita is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
As part of a second indictment, William Parks, 27, of Salina was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and attempt to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and three counts of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.
Santino Dupree, 29, of Wichita was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and attempt to distribute fentanyl, and three counts of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.
Tehran Wilson, 30, of Wichita was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and attempt to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.
Justice Johnson, 27, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
In a third indictment, a federal grand jury charged Kayla Dean, 21, of Southfield, Michigan, Isaiah Gails, 34, of Wichita, and Marquez Gails, 42, of Wichita on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to identification documents.
Dean was also indicted on six counts of money laundering, and Isaiah Gails was also indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
OCDETF
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###Woman Indicted on Trafficking Meth & FentanylRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman for drug trafficking offenses between April 2023 and May 2023.
According to court documents, Mana E. Reyes, 48, of Wichita is charged with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of distribution of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ola Odeyemi and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Oleg Popov, 29, was indicted on one count of failure to register as a sex offender. The U.S. Marshal Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
Regan Riner, 30, of Wichita was indicted on two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lanny Welch and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
Abram Velo, 40, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lanny Welch and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Multiple People Indicted for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging multiple people for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine within the state of Kansas and elsewhere between February 2020 and July 2023.
According to court documents, Jose Roman, 43, Marcos Valencia Jr, 32, Ezequil Castro, 37, Juan Gonzalez (all of Kansas City, Kansas), Manuel Alvarez, 28, of Seneca, Manuel Faudoa, 23, of Dodge City, and Gerardo Sierra-Martinez, 21, of Kansas City, Missouri, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Roman is also charged with five counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of money laundering.
Sierra-Martinez is charged with two counts of money laundering for allegedly sending money wire transfers totaling $55,500 to a person in Mexico City, Mexico in order to promote unlawful activity. He is also charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
Gonzalez and Faudoa are charged with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and Alvarez is charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Jackson County, Missouri Drug Task Force, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Nebraska Highway Patrol, and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.
OCDETF Strike Force Cases
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Western District of Missouri and District of Kansas. The OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Kansas City, Missouri, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Missouri (USAO-WDMO), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation Division (IRS/CID), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
U.S. Attorney Takes Oath of Office at Investiture CeremonyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office -District of Kansas held an investiture ceremony at the Wichita U.S. Courthouse for U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. Chief Judge Eric F. Melgren administered the oath.
U.S. Attorney Brubacher was officially sworn in to serve as the presidentially-appointed and U.S. Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney on March 10, 2023, by United States District Judge Julie Robinson. An investiture is a more formal, ceremonial event to mark Brubacher’s appointment. Judges, former U.S. Attorneys, law enforcement, and community members attended on August 4, 2023, at the federal courthouse for the occasion. Brubacher is the first woman to hold the position. Seven former U.S. Attorneys gathered to celebrate the District and mark the historic event with a photo.
“Along with expressing my gratitude for the honor of this role,” Brubacher said, “I want to assure the People of the District and this Court that fairness, equality, and impartiality are the guiding principles of the USAO in Kansas.”
Brubacher also thanked partners and the community for joining the USAO as they “protect the public in their safety and rights, and uphold the rule of law.”
United States District Chief Judge, the Honorable Eric. F. Melgren presided over the event. The ceremony also included remarks by Jon Gering, Raylene Hinz Penner and Jill Docking, who are personal and professional mentors to Brubacher. Dale Schrag gave the invocation and Brubacher’s children participated in the event as well.
###
Kansas Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with a federal relief program designed to help United States business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Timothy Dale Warren, 59, of Haysville served as owner of Titan Medical Center which offered chiropractic care, school sports physicals, and other services in Wichita. In May 2020 and April 2021, Warren submitted false documents to banks in order to fraudulently obtain two loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of the CARES Act.
In August 2020, the defendant converted $35,500.00 in criminally obtained funds into a cashier’s check then deposited money into a business bank account at another financial institution. Warren acknowledges his actions caused the SBA a total loss of $145,877.70.
“The federal government created programs to provide economic relief to businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 related shutdowns,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Unfortunately, Timothy Warren manipulated a well-intentioned program into a mechanism of personal financial gain and must now be held accountable.”
Warren is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Defense- Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Contract Audit Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the IRS-Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case.
###
Kansas City Men Sentenced for Kidnapping and Torturing Victim in Wyandotte CountyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men were sentenced to substantial terms of imprisonment following their convictions on kidnapping, firearm, and drug charges.
In February 2023, a federal jury found David Carr, 36, of Kansas City, and James Michael Poterbin, 47, of Edwardsville, guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and discharging a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
On July 6, 2023, a U.S. District Judge sentenced Carr to life in prison and Poterbin to 40 years’ imprisonment.
The convictions and sentences relate to the 2019 kidnapping and torture of a victim in Kansas City, Kansas. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, after Carr and Poterbin mistakenly believed a woman had stolen drug money from them, they kidnapped her boyfriend and demanded payment for his release.
After beating, shooting, and stabbing the victim, Carr and Poterbin believed the victim was dead and left him in the house for days before he was discovered by another individual. After the victim was found alive and rescued, Carr ordered a co-conspirator to burn the house to the ground, endangering neighbors and first responders.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigated the case. The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department investigated the arson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan J. Huschka and D. Christopher Oakley prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania presented the indictment to a grand jury and prepared the case for trial.
OCDETF Strike Force Cases
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The Kansas City Metro Strike Force’s mission also includes targeting violent street gangs and cartel members operating in and around the metropolitan area that are engaged in violent offenses and firearms offenses.
###
Kansas Man Charged with National Firearms Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with one count of making a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act.
According to court documents, Trenton Espinoza, 19, of Wichita is accused of modifying an Anderson Manufacturing rifle to an overall length of less than 26 inches and to a barrel length of less than 16 inches.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Adonis Wade Freeman, 36, and Kristie Griffin, 58, both of Kechi were indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of using or maintaining a drug premises. Freeman was also indicted on two counts possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and 10 counts of money laundering. IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Barnett is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Kansas Man Charged for Stealing from U.S. GovernmentRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man on two counts of theft of government money or property, and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions.
According to court documents, Jack Crowder, 34, of Wichita is accused of stealing $17,688.00 from the U.S. Department of Labor on September 7, 2022, and $5,412.00 from the U.S. Department of Labor on September 8, 2022.
The defendant made his initial court appearance on June 28, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The IRS- Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – United States Attorney Kate E. Brubacher encourages the citizens of Kansas to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2023, and to remain vigilant on behalf of our older family, friends, and loved ones who are at increased risk of abuse and fraud.
Older persons are at higher risk of exploitation, emotional and physical abuse, neglect, financial frauds, and scams, which can be perpetrated against them by strangers, trusted friends, and family alike. In addition to exploiting close relationships, abusers can contact older adults by phone, email, mail, social media, and the internet. Staying connected with older adults, encouraging trust and transparency regarding their relationships and contacts, and reducing social isolation are some of the most powerful tools in our community arsenal for combatting abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
These intentional and negligent acts affect millions of older adults every year, with wide-reaching implications on victims’ physical and emotional health, their finances, and their dignity and sense of trust. Unfortunately, the unprecedented challenges of the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic have only exacerbated vulnerabilities that tend to disproportionally impact older adults.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas remains steadfastly committed to supporting and coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat abuse of our elder citizens. Schemes to defraud these citizens with tactics such as social security and tax imposter scams, tech support scams, lottery scams, and romance scams are priorities the Office continues to investigate and prosecute on an ongoing basis.
Last year, in the District of Kansas, Oyindamola Akinrinola was sentenced on November 15, 2022, to six months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to her plea agreement, Arkinrinola participated in a scheme involving Facebook messages from an individual who purported to be with FedEx. Victims were led to believe they won a $130,000 grant and that FedEx would deliver the cash if the victims paid a “case file fee”. When victims said they did not have money to pay the “fee”, they allowed the purported Facebook account holder to purchase iPhones through their Verizon account and mail them to Arkinrinola. Victims also received an image from the Facebook account claiming to be from the IRS and requesting $15,000 before the grant funds were released. The victims never received any of the grant money they supposedly won from FedEx.
Akinrinola also admitted receiving more than $160,000 in deposits related to scams and remitting the majority of money to Nigeria after keeping a portion of the scammed proceeds for herself.
Also, last year a federal grand jury in Topeka indicted a U.S. Army service member for allegedly participating in a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $149,476 from at least 25 individuals.
On March 3, 2023, Innocent Ugwu, a U.S Army service member plead guilty to wire fraud to fraudulently obtain approximately $149,476 from victims. According to the plea agreement, Ugwu engaged in a scheme to defraud and to obtain money from victims across the United States. Specifically, Ugwu engaged in a romance and/or advanced fee scheme by falsely claiming there was money internationally that could not be accessed until the victim paid a small amount of taxes; claiming ailments or hardships to entice the victim to transfer money for life saving medical procedures; and also contacted victims pretending to be an attorney and requesting money as a retainer to pursue the fraudsters to recoup the victim's original loss. He then transferred the money to and through multiple bank accounts opened and controlled by him.
Ugwu is scheduled to be sentenced June 20, 2023.
The Department of Justice maintains a robust set of resources to educate yourself and your loved ones about these issues at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish, and other languages. You may also report suspected elder fraud by calling the Denver FBI field office at (303) 629-7171.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations in order to raise the public consciousness to these too often underrecognized and underreported violations of human rights.
###
Jury Convicts Missouri Man After Undercover Sex StingRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN.– A federal jury convicted a Missouri man on one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, after he was arrested in an undercover operation.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven E. Spradley, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri, traveled from Jackson County, Missouri, to Osage County, Kansas, in July 2021 to have sex with whom he believed to be a 17-year-old girl he met online. Spradley was actually communicating with an investigator from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office posing as a minor. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Spradley faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“While child predators have long been a threat, the internet has greatly extended their reach to seek out victims,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “As these criminals scour for opportunities to prey on our young people, I applaud law enforcement officers for their proactive approach to catching these criminals and hopefully put them behind bars before a child falls victim.”
“This conviction holds Mr. Spradley accountable for his shameful and predatory actions. It underscores our continued commitment to have our children grow up without fear of exploitation and the importance of our state and local law enforcement partnerships in stopping those who attempt to harm the most vulnerable in our community,” said Charles Dayoub, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Stephen Hunting are prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
###
Kansas Man Indicted for Using Guns, Death Threats and Racial Slurs to Intimidate Black PeopleRead the Press Release
A Kansas man was indicted by a federal grand jury for using guns, death threats and racial slurs to intimidate Black people and interfere with multiple federally-protected rights.
The indictment alleges that, on July 27, 2022, Austin Schoemann, 30, of Wichita, brandished a firearm and used racial slurs in order to threaten two Black juveniles, Victims 1 and 2, while they were entering a QuikTrip gasoline station. In addition to intimidating and interfering with the two young men, Schoemann used his firearm to threaten a Black adult, Victim-3, who intervened in support of the juveniles’ federally-protected right to be free from racial discrimination when visiting a gasoline station. The indictment also charges Schoemann with using a firearm during and in relation to these crimes of violence.
The indictment further alleges that beginning in January 2022 and continuing through August 2022, Schoemann interfered with the federally-protected housing rights of a white woman, Victim-4, by making threats to hurt or kill any Black people who visited her home. The indictment alleges that Schoemann made many of these threats in-person, and that he would stand outside of Victim-4’s house and shout threats and racial slurs on occasions when he believed she had Black visitors in her house or planned to do so. Schoemann is also charged with two violations of using the internet to distribute videos and messages to Victim-4’s family members and others in which he repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill Black people.
Schoemann faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the firearms charges, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for distribution of threating messages online and a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas and Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub of the FBI Kansas City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Kansas City Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kansas Man Indicted for Using Guns, Death Threats and Racial Slurs to Intimidate Black PeopleRead the Press Release
A Kansas man was indicted by a federal grand jury for using guns, death threats and racial slurs to intimidate Black people and interfere with multiple federally-protected rights.
The indictment alleges that, on July 27, 2022, Austin Schoemann, 30, of Wichita, brandished a firearm and used racial slurs in order to threaten two Black juveniles, Victims 1 and 2, while they were entering a QuikTrip gasoline station. In addition to intimidating and interfering with the two young men, Schoemann used his firearm to threaten a Black adult, Victim-3, who intervened in support of the juveniles’ federally-protected right to be free from racial discrimination when visiting a gasoline station. The indictment also charges Schoemann with using a firearm during and in relation to these crimes of violence.
The indictment further alleges that beginning in January 2022 and continuing through August 2022, Schoemann interfered with the federally-protected housing rights of a white woman, Victim-4, by making threats to hurt or kill any Black people who visited her home. The indictment alleges that Schoemann made many of these threats in-person, and that he would stand outside of Victim-4’s house and shout threats and racial slurs on occasions when he believed she had Black visitors in her house or planned to do so. Schoemann is also charged with two violations of using the internet to distribute videos and messages to Victim-4’s family members and others in which he repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill Black people.
Schoemann faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the firearms charges, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for distribution of threating messages online and a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas and Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub of the FBI Kansas City Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Kansas City Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kansas Man Admits to Creating Child PornRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 262 months in prison for creating pornographic images of children.
In February 2023, Marquis Williams, 31, of Shawnee pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
According to court documents in May 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent information to the Shawnee Police Department about possible child pornography or solicitations over the Internet. The Shawnee Police Department is a partner in the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The tip stated 230 child pornography images had been uploaded into a Dropbox account.
An investigation led to Marquis Williams, and with a search warrant for his residence, officers retrieved a cell phone that included 550 images of suspected child pornography. Some of the images were of Williams molesting two children under the age of 12. Williams admitted to investigators that the Dropbox account was his and admitted to the sexual assaulting the children.
“The United States Secret Service is proud of the effective partnerships it maintains with the Shawnee Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the United States Attorney’s Office, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in seeing justice served in this case,” said Kansas City Field Office Special Agent in Charge Brandon Bridgeforth. “We can think of no greater outcome than this sentence in protecting our children from predators such as Marquis Williams.”
The Shawnee Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case.
###
Man Indicted for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in a Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man on drug trafficking charges.
According to court documents, Noel Carias Marin, 47, of Wichita was indicted on four counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine. Marin has been known to also go by the name Ruben Gonzalez Lopez.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ola Odeyemi and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Cody McCormick, 27, of Wichita was indicted on three counts of making a threat against the President of the United States. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Treaster and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
Kenny Rivera-Colon, 28, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Treaster and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Missouri Man Indicted for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a Missouri man with robbing a bank in Kansas.
According to court documents, in February 2023, Troy Robbins, 53, of Smithville, Missouri, is accused of entering a Chase Bank in Leawood, Kansas, and using force to take U.S. currency from a bank employee.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Two Wichita Residents Charged with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a woman and a man from Kansas with drug trafficking crimes.
According to court documents, Regan Viner, 29, and Abram Velo, 41, both of Wichita, are charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intention to distribute and one count of possession of fentanyl with intention to distribute. Velo is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Jomarion E. Nelson, 19, and Dornayja D. Acon, 19, both of Wichita were indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Goddard Police Department, and the Mesa, Arizona Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Six Indicted in Alleged Drone Prison Smuggling SchemeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging six people with conspiring to smuggle contraband into a federal prison in Kansas.
Dale Gaver III, 35, Dale Gaver II, 54, Joshua Hamilton, 37, and Rex Hill, 33, all of Omaha, Nebraska, are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison. Additionally, Melvin Edwards, 44, and Tamarae Hollman, 36, of Riverside, California, are charged with one count of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison.
According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2021, Edwards, Gaver II, Gaver III, Hamilton, Hill, and Hollman are accused of conspiring to smuggle prohibited items into Leavenworth Penitentiary by allegedly using a drone to drop contraband such as cellular phones, K2 (synthetic cannabinoid), marijuana, and tobacco into the yard.
Hill is also charged with one count of attempting to provide prison contraband. Gaver III, an inmate at Leavenworth Penitentiary during the conspiracy time frame, is also charged with one count of attempted possession of prison contraband and one count of possession of prison contraband.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McFarlane is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Property Manager Defrauds Program for Elderly & Low IncomeRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man admits to defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Program of approximately $1 million intended to help elderly and low income residents with rental housing expenses. Perry Johnson, 55, of Ozawkie pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement on loan or credit applications.
Rural Development works with rental property owners to subsize rent and maintenance repair expenses on behalf of low income and elderly tenants. Rural Development has a policy requiring all properties to submit Identity of Interest (IOI) disclosures concerning any personal relationships with vendors performing work on properties.
According to court documents, between 2014 and 2017, Johnson worked as the regional manager of a company that managed 47 properties in Kansas. He was responsible for each property’s budget and approval of contracts. Johnson ignored the IOI policy and created approximately $1 million in vendor maintenance and repair invoices in the names of relatives and friends from which he financially benefited. Johnson also created false worksheets claiming his son resided at three different rural housing apartments although his son was never a tenant at any of those properties.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The USDA – Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney is prosecuting the case.
###
Former Health Care Worker Sentenced for Fentanyl TheftsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former nurse was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison for stealing fentanyl from two hospitals where she worked.
Faith Naccarato, 42, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with a consumer product and two counts of possession of fentanyl by deception and subterfuge.
According to court documents, between January 2020 and April 2020, Naccarato, used her fingerprint to remove vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet in the surgical specialty unit at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park. She replaced the fentanyl with saline solution before placing the vials back in the cabinet.
Between February 2020 and April 2020, Naccarato took vials of fentanyl from an automated dispensing cabinet in the noninvasive cardiology unit at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Meriam. She replaced the fentanyl with saline solution and then placed the vials back in the cabinet.
Naccarato told investigators she stole the fentanyl for personal use.
“Our medical facilities are not immune from the effects of the growing fentanyl addiction crisis in our country, and as a result, the District of Kansas prosecutes a growing number of cases against health care providers accused of stealing medication intended to go to patients,” said Kate E. Brubacher,
U.S. Attorney. “The Justice Department believes stopping these abuses is paramount to guarding the public trust: people must have confidence in the integrity of their health care.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra and Trent Krug prosecuted the case.
###
Man Gets Prison Time for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CIY, KAN. – A Kansas man who led police on a high-speed chase was sentenced to 195 months in prison for drug trafficking.
According to court documents, in October 2022, Russell Loomis, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
In September 2019, Loomis went to a home in Kansas City, Kansas, to deliver approximately 86 grams of methamphetamine in what was a controlled buy set up by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Loomis drove away from the residence, and a short time later the Kansas City, Missouri police attempted to pull him over. Loomis refused to stop and initiated a chase in which multiple law enforcement agencies and an aerial unit joined in the pursuit. Loomis struck two DEA vehicles, a Kansas Highway Patrol vehicle, and a Kansas Department of Transportation dump truck before eventually losing control and crashing. He was then taken into custody. Law enforcement officers found 150.6 grams of methamphetamine and guns in his vehicle.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Olathe Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra, Trent Krug, and Michelle McFarlane prosecuted the case.
###
Postal Worker Accused of Stealing MailRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with stealing gift cards from the mail as an employee of United States Postal Service.
According to court documents, Paula Kendall, 39, of Haysville was indicted on three counts of theft of mail by postal employee for allegedly stealing mail between November and December 2022.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Clifton Ray Weatherspoon, 30, and Antonio Dawayne Knight, 24, both of Wichita were indicted on one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Weatherspoon was also indicted on one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
USAO-KS Warns Public About Spoofing ScamsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas is warning the public about phone scams in which callers spoof or fraudulently display themselves as having numbers belonging to government agencies in attempt to defraud victims of money.
Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be from a government or law enforcement agency while demanding payment is encouraged to immediately hang up. Scammers will do everything they can to keep you from ending the call. Since spoofed phone numbers belong to a legitimate agency, please take the next step by directly calling the agency in question.
A legitimate caller will encourage you to take the time to verify the information.
“If the first time you hear about supposedly owing the government money that must be paid immediately is through a phone call, it’s more than likely a scam. That’s not how the government does business, so please take the time to find out if the number in your Caller ID actually belongs to the person with whom you are speaking,” said Duston Slinkard, First Assistant.
If you are a victim of a phone or an online scam, immediately contact the bank you used to try to recall the wire transfer. Then file an online complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov).
###
Former Nurse Sentenced for Stealing Opioids from Kansas HospitalRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 18 months in prison and his nursing license forfeited after stealing controlled substances from his employer.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Alec Ramirez, 32, of Overland Park removed vials of fentanyl and hydromorphone from an automated dispensing cabinet at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park and replaced the substances with an alternate liquid before returning the vials to the cabinet.
In December 2022, Ramirez pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product and one count of possession of fentanyl by deception and subterfuge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra and Trent Krug prosecuted the case.
###
Wichita Woman Sentenced to Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for bank fraud and tax fraud in connection to a scheme to defraud her former employers of millions of dollars.
In May 2022, Nancy Martin, 78, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aid or assist filing a false tax document. Martin defrauded Mid-Kansas Wound Specialists and Emergency Services P.A. for whom she worked as a bookkeeper, business manager, and chief operating officer. Between 2012 to 2017, Martin embezzled approximately $3.1 million by fraudulently obtaining money from her employers’ banks meanwhile falsifying accounting entries to disguise the embezzlement as payments or transferred funds between entities. Martin spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, travel, and investments.
From 2013 to 2016, Martin either filed tax returns or caused tax returns to be filed to the Internal Revenue Service that omitted income.
In addition to the 48 months in prison, a federal judge ordered Martin to pay more than $3.2 million in restitution to the victims and approximately $670,000 in restitution to the IRS.
“For years Nancy Martin abused her employment position and betrayed the trust of her employers to steal millions of dollars from them, and for that reason she is going to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard. “The role of the prosecution was to seek justice and try to help victims recover their financial losses.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation was able to see through Ms. Martin’s sophisticated embezzlement scheme in order to bring justice to the victims involved,” said St. Louis Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Murdock. “Ms. Martin’s prison time sends a clear message that bank fraud and tax fraud have serious consequences.”
The IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith prosecuted the case.
###
Wichita Man Indicted for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN.– A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with sex trafficking.
According to court documents, Markeece Anderson, 30, of Wichita is charged with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Anderson allegedly coerced a woman to engage in commercial sexual acts.
The Wichita Police Department is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Veronica Mora-Medero, 48, of Ontario, California, was indicted on one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Jury Convicts Kansas Men for Violent Kidnapping in Wyandotte CountyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal jury convicted two Kansas men of kidnapping, drug, and gun charges in connection with the 2019 torture of a victim in Kansas City, Kansas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, David Carr, 36, of Kansas City, and James Michael Poterbin, 46, of Edwardsville, supplied methamphetamine that was sold in the Kansas City metropolitan area. In April 2019, Carr and Poterbin kidnapped the boyfriend of a woman whom they mistakenly believed had stolen drug money from them.
Carr and Poterbin bound the victim with zip-ties and duct-taped a shirt to his head, pistol-whipped him multiple times, smashed his fingers and beat him with a blunt object, shot him in the legs, and forced a co-conspirator to stab him in the leg. They then wrapped him in plastic and left him alone in the house. During the torture, Carr and Poterbin used the victim’s phone to contact his girlfriend and demand money in exchange for his release.
A few days after the victim was released, Carr ordered a co-conspirator to burn the house to the ground, which he did.
A jury found Carr and Poterbin guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and discharging a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
Sentencing hearings are scheduled for Carr and Poterbin on May 1, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively, before U.S. District Judge Julie A. Robinson. They each face a maximum of penalty of life imprisonment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigated the case. The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department investigated the arson and has provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan J. Huschka and D. Christopher Oakley are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Catania presented the indictment to a grand jury and prepared the case for trial.
OCDETF Strike Force Cases
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The Kansas City Metro Strike Force’s mission also includes targeting violent street gangs and cartel members operating in and around the metropolitan area that are engaged in violent offenses and firearms offenses.
###
Shawnee Man Sentenced for Child PornRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 96 months in prison time followed by five years of supervised release after he admitted to possessing child pornography images.In September 2022, Justin Packham, 34, of Shawnee pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Based on a cybertip, the Shawnee Police Department launched an investigation that revealed dozens of child pornography images had been uploaded into Google Drive using an email account in Packham’s name. Using a subsequent search warrant for Packham’s residence, Shawnee investigators found more than 1,000 child pornography photos and videos on various electronic devices and thumb drives.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Shawnee Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
###
California Man Sentenced to Prison for Child PornRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A California man was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for child pornography distribution.
According to court documents, in August 2022, Bradley Wiley, 29, of Chico, California, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.
In August 2021, while Wiley was a member of U.S. Air Force stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, he used a Whatsapp account to send another user images of prepubescent children made to engage in sexual acts.
The Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
###
California Man & Woman Indicted for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two people with transporting methamphetamine across state lines.
According to court documents, Orlando Payan-Parra, 39, and Erika Cardona-Carrizales, 43, both of Coachella, California, are charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in air of racketing enterprises. Payan-Parra and Cardona-Carrizales allegedly traveled from California to Kansas with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Miguel Ordonez-Ramirez, 29, was indicted on one count of unlawful entry after deportation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Wichita Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, Javyn Johnson, 24, of Wichita sold Chanelle Pratt, 29, of Wichita, what she thought to be two Percocet pills in August 2019. Later the same day, Pratt was found dead in her home after ingesting one of the pills. An autopsy determined her cause of death to be Fentanyl toxicity. In his plea agreement, Johnson claims he didn’t know the tablets contained Fentanyl, however, he acknowledges giving her the Fentanyl that caused her death.
“Our nation is in the midst of a crisis where lives are lost every day due to Fentanyl poisoning,” said U.S. Attorney Duston Slinkard. “This case is an example of how the Department of Justice will hold people who distribute Fentanyl accountable.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case.
###
Overland Park Woman Sentenced for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas woman was sentenced to 33 months in prison for bank fraud.According to court documents, Stephenie Stites, 52, of Overland Park worked as the accounts payable clerk for Norbrook Inc. In 2020, Norbrook noticed accounting discrepancies and when confronted, Stites admitted to making approximately $72,000 in unauthorized charges on the company’s credit card. A full review showed she’d embezzled more than $712,000 from Norbrook by creating two fake companies and manipulating invoices. As indicated in her plea agreement, Stites spent the stolen money to pay for personal expenses such as home and vehicle expenses, travel, hotels, real estate, and other disbursements.
A federal judge sentenced Stites to 33 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $712,890.27 in restitution to the victim company.
Charles Dayoub, Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Office of the FBI said, “Stites perpetuated a scheme, misappropriating funds to fake companies and misusing company credit cards for personal gain. Her actions resulted in the embezzlement of over $700,000 and violated the trust placed in her by her employer. This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigate financial fraud and to hold those individuals accountable for their actions.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Huschka prosecuted the case.
###
Lawrence Man Convicted of Threatening U.S. CongressmanRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal jury convicted a Kansas man today for making death threats against a United States congressman.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Chase Neill, 32, of Lawrence was found guilty of one count of threatening to murder U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner of Kansas.
Neill is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2023 at 9 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Capitol Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Skip Jacobs and Steve Hunting are prosecuting the case.
###