Eastern District of Missouri
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
St. Louis County Woman Accused of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis County, Missouri has been accused of prostituting a minor online.
Carrie Little, 43, of Olivette, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 19 and now faces three felonies: sex trafficking of a minor, coercion and enticement and a violation of the Mann Act.
She appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The enticement count in the indictment accuses Little of using interstate commerce (a computer, tablet and smartphone) from at least July 2018 through July 2020 to persuade and coerce the minor to engage in prostitution. The Mann Act charge accuses her of using the internet to promote, manage and facilitate prostitution from March 2019 through June 2022. The sex trafficking charge accuses her of recruiting, enticing and/or advertising the minor to participate in a commercial sex act from at least July 2018 through July 2020.
The sex trafficking and coercion charges each carry a potential penalty of 10 years to life in prison. The Mann Act charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
On Thursday, Little waived a detention hearing, meaning she will be held in jail until trial.
Little also faces charges in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Louis County Man Admits Buying, Re-selling Checks Stolen from the U.S. MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Friday admitted buying and then re-selling business and personal checks stolen from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.
Dennis Cooperwood Jr., 19, of Country Club Hills, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge John A. Ross to one felony count of possession of stolen mail matter. Cooperwood admitted being in possession of about 179 business and personal checks on April 12 that had been taken from collection boxes.
That night, St. Louis County Police Department officers on patrol in the Spanish Lake area spotted a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road with multiple people standing at the windows. After the crowd dispersed and the vehicle drove away, officers stopped the vehicle and found Cooperwood in the back seat wearing a shoulder bag containing a gun and the checks. Cooperwood told officers that he bought stolen checks for $5 to $10 each and would scratch off the writing on the checks before re-selling them for $20 to $25.
Cooperwood is scheduled to be sentenced July 31. The possession of stolen mail matter charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Attacking Park Rangers on Arch GroundsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from East St. Louis was sentenced Wednesday to 37 months in federal prison for assaulting Park Rangers in an incident that began on the grounds of the Gateway Arch National Park.
On Feb. 28, 2021, Park Rangers made a lawful traffic stop of a vehicle in the Old Cathedral parking lot. Antione Lamont Hawkins, now 39, was in the driver’s seat and an open beer bottle and an open beer carton were in the vehicle. Hawkins admitted that he had been drinking.
Hawkins provided his name but wouldn’t provide identification. He refused to keep his hands on the steering wheel and then became confrontational.
When rangers tried to handcuff Hawkins, he struggled, stomping on one ranger’s foot and kicking him in the leg. When rangers tried to put him in a patrol vehicle, he kicked a ranger in the face. Hawkins grabbed a different ranger by the throat during a struggle in jail.
Hawkins pleaded guilty in December in front of U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry to two counts of assaulting an officer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Serve 12 Years in Federal Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – The United States Attorney's Office announced that Darwin L. Craig, 34, of Charleston, Missouri, was sentenced to serve 12 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine.
Craig appeared for his sentencing hearing Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
According to court documents, Craig made arrangements to sell approximately five ounces of methamphetamine to an individual in Charleston last May. Craig met the individual and provided the methamphetamine in exchange for $1,200 in cash. Unbeknownst to Craig at the time, however, the individual was an undercover agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Craig admitted that he knowingly distributed the methamphetamine. After serving his 12-year sentence, Craig will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the SEMO Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.
Pair Accused of More St. Louis CarjackingsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two men from East St. Louis, Illinois who were already facing federal charges related to a carjacking in November have been accused of more.
Quinn Turner, 21, and Jaylen Mays, 25, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court Wednesday. Turner is facing four felonies from an April 19 superseding indictment: two carjacking charges and two charges of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Mays is charged with three counts each of carjacking and firearms charge, as well as one count charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment accuses Mays, aided by others, of stealing a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu on Nov. 5, 2022 while brandishing a firearm. It says Mays and Turner, again aided by others, stole a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu at gunpoint six days later, and a 2017 GMC Terrain two days after that.
A detention motion says the GMC was stolen from a gas station at the northwest corner of Russell Boulevard and South 7th Street in the Soulard neighborhood by men who pulled up in a Nissan Rogue and the carjacked Malibu, which had been stolen in the downtown business district.
Detectives assigned to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Anti-Crime Task Force utilized spike strips to stop the Malibu, finding Quinn, Mays and a juvenile that matched the description of one of the armed men inside, the detention motion says.
The carjacking and felon in possession charges carry a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is prosecuting the case.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Raping Runaway TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Mexico, Missouri was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for repeatedly raping a 13-year-old runaway on a trip to Las Vegas.
Jacob D. Burney, now 24, became involved in a relationship with the 13-year-old victim in 2021. Sometime before Dec. 8, 2021, the victim ran away from home to be with Burney. The teen was reported missing, and Homeland Security Investigations received a National Hotline Tip on Dec. 14, 2021 about her.
Burney switched vehicles and left Missouri to prevent law enforcement officers from finding her. During the trip to Las Vegas, Burney provided drugs and alcohol to the teen and committed the crime of statutory rape repeatedly.
Burney pleaded guilty in January in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to a charge of transportation of a minor to engage in a criminal sex act.
“Only by joining together will we successfully eradicate child exploitation from our neighborhoods, therefore HSI is asking the community to pay attention to the signs of these abuses and ultimately report them," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho for Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City.
The Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at moicac.org and The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at missingkids.org both have resources on how to protect children.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Missouri State Highway Patrol Inspector Admits Accepting Cash BribesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former supervisory motor vehicle inspector with the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Tuesday admitted taking thousands of dollars in cash bribes to falsely certify that vehicles had been inspected and were roadworthy.
Larry S. Conrad, 67, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of using a facility in interstate commerce, a cellular telephone, to facilitate his bribery scheme. He admitted accepting a total of about $14,020 in individual bribes to falsify forms and approve inspections of vehicles that had been damaged and had salvage titles or were listed as “abandoned,” even if he never saw the vehicle.
Conrad’s primary duty was to perform motor vehicle inspections at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop C facility in south St. Louis County. There is no fee for the inspections. If the vehicle passes, an inspector signs and certifies forms required for motor vehicle owners to apply for original Missouri Certificates of Title.
Conrad admitted accepting individual cash bribes ranging from $40 to $160 to pass vehicles. He often falsified certificates to indicate there was no apparent damage when there was visible damage to the vehicle being inspected.
On multiple occasions, Conrad took money for the inspection of vehicles that he never saw, including at least one that was not drivable, the plea agreement says.
Conrad communicated with the vehicle owners via text messages and cell phone conversations and had them place the cash bribes in the driver’s side door pocket. Conrad would then take the money at the time he was to be performing the inspection.
In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said Conrad’s bribery scheme thwarted procedures that are designed to make sure that vehicles are roadworthy and safe for both the occupants of that vehicle and others on the road.
Conrad is scheduled to be sentenced July 27. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with the cooperation of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is prosecuting the case.
Man Admits Robbing ATM Workers in St. Louis CountyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man on Thursday admitted stealing a bag of cash from workers servicing an ATM in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Mark Anthony Diggs, 21, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to one robbery charge and one count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Diggs admitted robbing two employees of ATM Solutions on May 31, 2022 as they were servicing an ATM machine at a Vantage Credit Union. Diggs emerged from the back seat of a white Kia Optima, armed with a fully-automatic Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 firearm and demanded that an employee throw him a bag of cash. The robbery was captured on video.
A Missouri Highway Patrol trooper found the money bag, and Diggs’ DNA was later found on paper inside it. A search of Diggs’ home on July 14 found clothing identical to items worn by the robber.
“It did not take long to identify Mark Diggs as a suspect,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “When it comes to violent federal crime, the FBI will surge resources to bring perpetrators to justice. In this case, video cameras that are always watching were key to solving the case.”
Diggs is scheduled to be sentenced July 18. The robbery charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum term of seven years consecutive to any other charge.
The St. Louis County Police Department, the FBI, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane is prosecuting the case.
Man Admits Robbery that Led to St. Louis County Taxi Driver’s Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri teenager on Wednesday admitted helping to rob a cab driver in Hazelwood in 2022 before he was fatally shot.
Coron Dees, 19, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to a robbery charge. In his plea agreement, he admitted involvement in a series of events that led to the robbery and shooting of Dewight Price, a driver for St. Louis County Cab, on April 24, 2022.
Dees and three co-defendants were at a party in downtown St. Louis before calling a cab from the Shell gas station at 721 North Tucker Boulevard at 5:23 a.m. They used a fake name and address and planned to run away without paying when they were dropped off in St. Louis County. When they learned they would have to pre-pay for the ride, however, they began hatching a plan to pay, then rob, the driver, Dees’ plea says.
During the ride, Price was redirected to Hazelwood Central High School because Dees and the others thought there would be no witnesses there early on a Sunday morning, the plea agreement says. Once they arrived, Dees and another teen pulled out firearms and demanded Price’s money, the plea says. Price handed over his cash, then grabbed a gun he kept in his door and began to get out of the cab. One teen in the backseat opened his door, knocking Price to the ground before another shot Price once in the torso. Price died before police arrived.
Police arrested three of the four teens and found their guns that afternoon, the plea agreement says.
Dees is scheduled to be sentenced July 18. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The three other teens face a robbery charge and a charge of aiding and abetting the commission of a murder, with one also facing a charge of being an accessory after the fact. All three have pleaded not guilty. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI.
Former Employee Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Molotov Cocktail Attack on St. Charles RestaurantRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A disgruntled former employee of a St. Charles, Missouri restaurant who attacked it with Molotov cocktails was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.
On the evening of April 30, 2021, Rashaad Cotton, 25, of St. Louis County, first threw a Molotov cocktail on a residential street in a suburban area in St. Charles. Twenty minutes later, he threw another on the northeast side of the Sauce on the Side restaurant on Beale Street and one near the front door. A juvenile female with Cotton threw a Molotov cocktail at a patio area. The restaurant was open and serving customers. The pair then ran back to Cotton’s vehicle and fled, but were arrested after they crashed.
Cotton told police that he had been fired from the restaurant the night before and wanted to scare people.
Cotton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to a felony charge of attempting to commit arson.
Cotton also has pending charges in St. Charles County Circuit Court related to the attack.
The case was investigated by the St. Charles Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware is prosecuting the case.
Cape Girardeau Felon Admits New Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A felon on probation for a gun crime pleaded guilty Wednesday and admitted being caught with another firearm in December.
Trenier Roosevelt Jackson, 22, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being the passenger in a speeding vehicle pulled over by Cape Girardeau police on Dec. 1, 2022. After the vehicle stopped, Jackson immediately got out and walked away. The officer asked Jackson to return, but he ran away again when the driver said he had a gun and officers said they would search for weapons.
Jackson dropped a bag containing a stolen Sig Sauer 9mm pistol and multiple forms of identification as he ran. He was arrested a short distance away. At the time, Jackson was on probation after having been convicted of unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest.
Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. on July 27. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
The Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.
Sex Offender from Advance Sentenced to Serve 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Darrell D. Meador, Jr., 38, was sentenced Tuesday to serve 11 years in federal prison for the offense of possession of child pornography.
Meador appeared for his sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Meador, of Advance, in Stoddard County, Missouri, began serving a term of supervised release in 2018 following his release from federal prison for a prior child pornography conviction, according to court documents. Last May, Meador’s probation officer discovered images of child pornography on a cell phone Meador was using.
At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Meador admitted that he used the cell phone to search for child pornography over the internet. After serving his 11-year sentence, Meador will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life. He will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the Government.
Missouri Felon Who Threatened Driver, Bar Patrons with Gun Sentenced to 66 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced a convicted felon from Butler County, Missouri who threatened both a driver and bar patrons with a gun to 66 months in prison.
Donald Edward Christie Jr., 37, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. As part of his plea, he admitted possessing a firearm on two occasions on Feb. 12, 2022.
The first was reported to the Butler County Sheriff’s Department about 15 minutes past midnight. A driver said they were followed from a gas station by someone the driver believed to be a law enforcement officer in an SUV. After the victim pulled over, the SUV driver exited with appeared to be an AK-style rifle, chambered a round and demanded that the victim turn off their vehicle and provide ID. The gunman returned, gave back the victim’s ID and said, “You never saw me, and I never saw you,” the plea agreement says.
About 30 minutes later, deputies received another call, this time from a rural bar reporting a man brandishing a firearm. When deputies arrived, they found bar patrons holding Christie down. Witnesses told deputies that he’d entered the bar and become confrontational with the occupants. He had a pistol in his pocket and the bartender asked him to leave. Christie said that he had a “machine gun” in his vehicle and was going to get it and kill them, the plea says.
The bartender tried to hold the door shut when Christie returned, but he pushed his way inside. Using what appeared to be a rifle, Christie ordered the occupants to move behind the bar. He was taken down from behind by a patron, and patrons and the bartender disarmed him. He was in possession of a 9mm Striborg SP9A3 semi-automatic pistol with a brace, which resembled a short-barreled rifle or submachine gun, and a Bryco .380-caliber pistol.
The case was investigated by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.
St. Louis Man Indicted on Gun, Fentanyl ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man arrested by police after a shooting in St. Louis was indicted in U.S. District Court this week on gun and fentanyl possession charges.
Robert Eutz III, 43, was indicted Wednesday on five felonies: two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The crimes are alleged to have occurred on February 1 and 21 of 2022 and March 30, 2023.
A criminal complaint filed March 31 says officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department were called to a shooting in the 3500 block of Lafayette Avenue on March 30 and were told that someone in an older model Chrysler shot a victim multiple times. Police also were given a partial license plate number. Police stopped a Chrysler with a license plate matching that number a short distance away, and arrested Eutz, who was identified as the shooter by a witness. Eutz also had ammunition, spent cartridges and a safe in the car.
A motion seeking to have Eutz held in jail until trial says he has a pending drug charge in St. Louis Circuit Court related to a February 2022 arrest, in which he is alleged to have possessed a large quantity of fentanyl.
The felon in possession charges carry a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, and the fentanyl charge carries a 20-year maximum. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a mandatory minimum term of at least five years in prison, consecutive to the other charges.
Charges set forth in an indictment or a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
New York Man Indicted in St. Louis, Accused of Selling Counterfeit Xanax on Dark WebRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from New York state has been indicted in federal court in St. Louis and accused of selling counterfeit Xanax on the dark web.
John Cruz, 29, of Rochester, was indicted March 1 on one count of conspiracy to misbrand, introduce misbranded drugs and sell counterfeit drugs. He was arrested March 15 and appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Friday by Zoom. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The indictment alleges that using cryptocurrency, Cruz bought bulk quantities of counterfeit generic alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug, from another person on the dark web who has sold millions of the pills. That person manufactured the pills using active drug ingredients from China, a pill press and stamps that would mimic the markings used on pills produced by manufacturers licensed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The pills were delivered to Cruz in Rochester, New York and he then redistributed the pills to various customers, the indictment alleges.
The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ware and Kyle Bateman are prosecuting the case.
Hazelwood Man Sentenced to 224 Months in Prison for St. Louis Carjacking, Other CrimesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a man to 18 years and eight months in prison for a carjacking and other crimes.
Joshua Thomas, 31, admitted being one of two men who stole a 2020 Jeep Cherokee from a woman outside a home in the 4100 block of Camellia Avenue in St. Louis on Oct. 19, 2019. Thomas, who was armed with an AR-15-style firearm, demanded entry to a nearby home and searched it before stealing the car.
Two days later, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives spotted Thomas and tried to stop him at a market located at the intersection of South Spring Avenue and Delor Street. Thomas sped off in a Kia Optima. Police used a spike strip to deflate the tires, but Thomas kept going, eventually crashing near the intersection of Walsh Avenue and South Grand Boulevard. Thomas discarded a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol before running away. Police also found drugs, an AR-style pistol loaded with 59 rounds of ammunition and a stolen AK-style pistol loaded with 31 rounds in the car.
Thomas also admitted possessing ammunition on Sept. 30, 2019, the same day a man who was hiding in some bushes in the 3800 block of South Spring Avenue in St. Louis began firing shots at a group of people, hitting one person. Witnesses identified Thomas as the shooter, his plea agreement says.
Thomas pleaded guilty in January to six felonies: carjacking, possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of both a firearm and ammunition.
In August, Judge Pitlyk sentenced Thomas’ co-defendant, Jeremiah Couch, 32, to 15 years in prison. Couch pleaded guilty to two carjacking charges, a charge of possession of a stolen firearm and a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted involvement in the Jeep Cherokee carjacking, as well as carjacking a man’s 2007 Ford Edge and his money at gunpoint on October 21, 2019 in the 4700 block of South Spring Avenue in St. Louis. Couch also admitted stealing the AK-47-style pistol from the shooting victim on Oct. 17, 2019.
The case was investigated by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinksi prosecuted the case.
Three Romanians Plead Guilty in St. Louis; Admit Nationwide FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three Romanian citizens have pleaded guilty to federal charges in St. Louis and admitted running a “short-change fraud” in stores across the country.
Loredana Angel, 34, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Thursday to felony charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal reentry of an alien. Daniel Rostas, 30, pleaded guilty Wednesday and Legenda Rostas, 28, pleaded guilty March 1 to the same charges. Loredana Angel and Legenda Rostas told authorities that they are sisters and that the Rostas are married.
All three admitted engaging in sleight of hand to defraud Target stores since 2017 while buying various denominations of Visa gift cards. When purchasing the cards, they would display the full purchase price in cash, then fold over a portion and keep it while handing the rest to store employees. They would target younger or less experienced employees and wire the money they made to family in Romania.
Target records show Legenda Rostas was involved in $224,666 in fraud at stores throughout the country, her plea agreement says. Angel admitted involvement in about $83,865 in fraud. Records show Daniel Rostas wired about $62,534 to Romania and elsewhere.
All three also admitted entering the country illegally. Angel was removed from the United States on June 24, 2019. Daniel Rostas was removed twice, on Nov. 13, 2019 and Oct. 14, 2020. Legenda Rostas was removed on Dec. 28, 2020.
Arnold, Missouri police were initially alerted to Daniel Rostas on Oct. 14, 2022 by a Home Depot loss prevention officer. Officers later questioned Angel and Legenda Rostas. All three gave fake names and false identification to police. They were traveling with multiple license plates in their minivan, and police also found cash, gift cards and Western Union receipts. All three agreed as part of their plea to forfeit the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, $10,567 in cash and $11,300 in prepaid Visa gift cards.
Legenda Rostas is scheduled to be sentenced May 31 and the co-defendants on July 24. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The reentry charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Arnold Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Missouri Man Admits Machine Gun Sales ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Stoddard County, Missouri on Thursday admitted being involved in a conspiracy to sell devices that convert AR-15-style rifles into fully-automatic weapons.
Edward Hardin, 41, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. to a charge of conspiracy to distribute machine guns. Sidney Brianne Scowden, of Stoddard County, pleaded guilty in February to the conspiracy charge and three counts of transferring a machine gun.
Both admitted that Scowden sent a Snapchat message to a confidential informant for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Aug. 3, 2022 offering to a sell a “lightning link,” or device that converts a semi-automatic AR-style weapon into a fully-automatic weapon. Scowden said she was selling the link on behalf of someone else.
Eight days later, Scowden sold three of the devices for $1,500 to the informant, saying her source bought a link for $10,000 and made copies. Scowden sold three more devices on Sept. 19, 2022 and another on Oct. 19, 2022. Investigators were able to determine that Hardin was Scowden’s source.
Scowden is scheduled to be sentenced May 9. Hardin is set to be sentenced July 13.
The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. The transfer charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Both carry a possible fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case.
St. Louis County Man Admits Possession of Tens of Thousands of Child Pornography Videos, PicturesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge and admitted possessing more than 63,000 images and videos containing child pornography.
Christopher D. Cotton, 32, admitted uploading files containing child pornography to Dropbox, which triggered a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and an investigation.
On July 13, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a court-approved search warrant at Cotton’s home in St. Louis County near Florissant. Cotton admitted both viewing and collecting child pornography. He also told officers that he'd received child pornography from “maybe fifteen or more” minors with whom he had contact via social media, the youngest of which Cotton said was 13 years old.
Investigators would later find a total of at least 16,677 images and 46,414 videos of child pornography stored online and on Cotton’s electronic devices, including a laptop and three cell phones.
Cotton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Wednesday to one count of receiving child pornography. The charge carries a potential penalty of from five years to 20 years in prison. Cotton could also be fined up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department, the St. Louis County Special Investigations Unit and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Maryland Heights Man Who Had Sex with 16-Year-Old Sentenced to 11 ½ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Maryland Heights, Missouri who engaged in sexual activity with a 16-year-old he met online was sentenced Wednesday to 11 ½ years in federal prison.
Terry E. Kuehnel, 48, met the girl, who was then 15, in 2021 while playing an online game. She initially represented herself to be a young adult, but later told Kuehnel she was 15. He admitted in a guilty plea in December to a felony charge of coercion and enticement of a minor that he knew or had reason to know that the girl was a minor and it was not reasonable for him to believe she was older than 16.
The two began corresponding via text and audio and video communications, including 246 phone calls, one lasting 14 hours, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson said in court Wednesday. Kuehnel also requested pornographic images of the victim.
On June 5, 2021, ten days after she turned 16 and obtained her driver’s license, the victim and Kuehnel arranged for her to travel from her home to Missouri. Kuehnel met her in a department store parking lot and took her to his home, where he subjected her to unlawful sexual activity.
After her family reported her missing, law enforcement found the girl at Kuehnel’s home on June 6.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey, the victim’s parents said she has “distanced herself from almost all of her friends at school,” has suffered from anxiety and is in counseling with a licensed clinical social worker specializing in sexual abuse and trauma. The parents also thanked law enforcement, writing, “It is very possible that our daughter would still be missing if it were not for the hard-working Law Enforcement officials who stepped up to the plate that night and are still stepping up today.”
The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Dunklin County Woman Accused of Aiding $565,000 Interstate TheftRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A woman from Dunklin County, Missouri appeared in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau Wednesday to face charges accusing her of aiding in the theft of $565,000 from a victim located in Texas.
Sheri L. Reeves, 53, of Kennett, was indicted by a grand jury April 4 on one count each of bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. She pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday.
The indictment says Reeves acted as a money courier or “money mule,” someone who transfers money obtained by fraud to others.
On June 9, 2020, Reeves opened an account at a Bank of America branch in Jonesboro, Arkansas that she would later use to receive the proceeds of various fraud schemes executed by others, the indictment says. She also added the name of another person to the account. That person was the victim of an account take-over fraud, in which conspirators used fraudulently-obtained account information to access the account and transfer $565,000 to Reeves’ account, the indictment says.
Reeves sent the proceeds from the various frauds to others using cashier’s checks obtained in Tennessee and Arkansas and via a CoinFlip cryptocurrency ATM in Dunklin County, the indictment says. She also sent the account information to others and withdrew or attempted to withdraw the proceeds in cash or by check, it says.
The bank fraud charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The other charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn is prosecuting the case.
If you believe you are participating in a money mule scheme, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaints Center at ic3.gov or contact your local FBI office.
Former St. Louis Letter Carrier Sentenced to Probation, Restitution for Stealing ChecksRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Tuesday sentenced a former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier who stole two checks in St. Louis, Missouri to five years of probation and ordered him to repay $33,996.
Judge Fleissig also ordered Marquan Long, 28, to complete 40 hours of community service. The advisory sentencing guidelines ranged from probation to six months behind bars.
Long pleaded guilty in January to theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Post Office. He admitted that on May 30, 2019, while working as a carrier in St. Louis, he stole two envelopes containing checks from the mail. A Long associate deposited a $29,019 check into an account belonging to Long’s girlfriend at a credit union. That check was mailed to an address in south St. Louis.
The second check, for $4,977, was originally mailed by a St. Louis woman and deposited into an account in Chicago about two weeks later.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane, who prosecuted the case, told Judge Fleissig in court Tuesday that Long had violated the trust of the public, who rely on the mail to conduct business.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.
California Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Sex with Missouri TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from California admitted traveling to Missouri to have sex with a teenage girl and was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison.
Edson S. Ortiz, 30, of Napa County, pleaded guilty at the start of Tuesday’s hearing in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday to one felony count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He admitted that he began communicating with the Missouri teen over Snapchat and WhatsApp. On Oct. 23, 2020, Ortiz flew from California to St. Louis. The next day, at a hotel in Chesterfield, Ortiz engaged in illegal sex acts with the girl, who was then 16. Ortiz was 27.
He also recorded the sexual contact on his iPhone. That video, as well as pictures, were discovered after a January 2021 search of his home that was triggered when Ortiz uploaded child sexual abuse material to Snapchat.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Special Investigations Unit, the Napa County (California) Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Louis Man Caught with Two Guns After Dangerous High-Speed Chase Sentenced to 8 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man caught by St. Louis police with two guns in a stolen vehicle after a police chase ended in a crash was sentenced Monday to eight years in federal prison.
Eric Davis, 31, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in December in front of U.S. District Judge John A. Ross to one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that he was driving a stolen 2016 Jeep Cherokee on May 4, 2021 when he was spotted by officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Police tried to stop the Jeep in a parking lot, but Davis accelerated recklessly and sped away. Officers then successfully deployed a spike strip, but it did not stop Davis. After he ran a red light at the intersection of Kingshighway Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, the Jeep collided with another vehicle, disabling it. The driver of that other vehicle sustained a head injury and required medical assistance.
Police found a Glock .357-caliber pistol and a stolen American Tactical Omni Hybrid AR-style pistol, both with large-capacity magazines, in Davis’ car. Davis admitted possessing the weapons and admitted that he told his girlfriend, who was also in the vehicle, to hide a baggie containing prescription pills including oxycodone. Davis has several prior felony convictions and had bench warrants for his arrest at the time of the crash.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone prosecuted the case.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for St. Louis CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Belleville, Illinois was sentenced Thursday to 100 months in prison for a 2020 carjacking in St. Louis.
Darrell Gilkey, 26, was one of two men who carjacked a 2019 Dodge Charger on Sept. 19, 2020. A man and a woman were unloading items from the Charger on Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis when a red Toyota drove up, the occupants pointed a gun at the victims and demanded the Charger’s keys. The robbers then ordered the victims to remove their shoes and lie on the ground before the Toyota and the Charger were driven away.
Gilkey pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in January to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
In addition to his prison time, which will begin running Thursday, Gilkey was ordered to pay $31,251 in restitution for the Charger, which was totaled.
Gilkey has been in jail since 2020, when he was indicted on 21 felony charges in St. Louis Circuit Court. He is accused of the carjacking as well as a series of robberies of wallets, phones and other items from June 26, 2020 to Sept. 9, 2020.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Boyce prosecuted the case.
Former St. Louis Postal Worker Accused of Stealing and Depositing Checks Taken from MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – An ex-employee of the U.S. Postal Service has been accused in an indictment of stealing checks from the mail and then depositing them in her own account.
Porcia Denise Rhodes, 26, of St. Louis, Missouri, was indicted March 8 on four counts of bank fraud and one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. She appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis and pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
The indictment alleges that between July 26, 2022 and Sept. 22, 2022, Rhodes stole checks from the mail, replaced the payee’s name on the check with her own and then used a mobile device to deposit them. Rhodes altered and deposited or attempted to deposit 21 checks totaling $5,035, victimizing 21 people and 13 financial institutions, the indictment says.
The bank fraud charges are punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. The theft charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane is prosecuting the case.
Former Potosi Police Officer Accused of Child Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former Potosi, Missouri police officer appeared in federal court Thursday to face charges of sex trafficking, solicitation of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
Matthew N. Skaggs, 39, was indicted March 29 and arrested Wednesday. The indictment alleges that between January 1 and August 10 of 2022, Skaggs enticed or solicited three minors into engaging in a commercial sex act, solicited a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and attempted to persuade a minor to engage in sexual acts.
A motion seeking to have Skaggs held in jail until trial says he gave vape cartridges to one minor in exchange for pornographic images, paid another via CashApp not to reveal sexual abuse and sexually abused a third minor. Skaggs met the alleged victims through his work as a police officer or committed sex acts while on duty or in uniform, the detention motion says.
Anyone who believes they are a victim or has information about other offenses is asked to call the Missouri Highway Patrol at 573-751-3313.
The sex trafficking and coercion charges are each punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. The solicitation of child pornography charge carries a minimum five-year term and a maximum of life in prison. All also are punishable by a fine of up to $250,000.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Man Admits Buying Gift Cards with Stolen Bank Account InformationRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Florida caught with more than $12,000 in Walmart gift cards that he’d bought using stolen bank account information pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal felony.
Juseph Eugene Suero-Olmeda, 23, admitted using stolen bank information to purchase Walmart gift cards. He then shipped the cards to an associate in Florida.
The Wright City Police Department stopped Suero-Olmeda’s vehicle for speeding on Oct. 3, 2021, and found the gift cards, which had recently been purchased from Walmart stores in Wentzville, Lake St. Louis and St. Peters, Missouri. Each gift card had a value of $480.
Suero-Olmeda pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge John A. Ross. to one count of unauthorized use of an access device.
He is scheduled to be sentenced July 11. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Suero-Olmeda has also agreed to pay restitution.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Wright City Police Department, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Peters Police Department, the Wentzville Police Department and the Lake St. Louis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Roy is prosecuting the case.
Shrewsbury Bookkeeper Admits Embezzling $849,000Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A bookkeeper from Shrewsbury, Missouri on Wednesday admitted embezzling $849,000 from a client.
Cora G. Willard, 47, waived her right to an indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to one felony count of wire fraud. Willard ran a bookkeeping, payroll, and money-management assistance company called Red Hen Business Services. In May of 2019, Willard was hired to do the bookkeeping for a man who operated a money management business. The victim provided Willard with access to his bank accounts and financial records to enable her to perform her duties, including paying his bills.
Willard admitted that from at least Nov. 29, 2019 through June 10, 2022, she stole $849,000 from that client.
Willard made nearly 100 unauthorized wire transfers to herself from the victim’s bank account. Many of the wire transfers occurred after the victim asked Willard to close the account. In addition, instead of making tax and bill payments authorized by the victim, Willard sent those payments into bank accounts that she controlled, then sent false balance sheets to her client.
After the client discovered that he was missing large amounts of money, Willard blamed one of her employees, her plea says.
Willard is scheduled to be sentenced in July. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Willard will also be ordered to repay the money and has agreed in the plea to do so.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Jefferson County Man Admits Possessing Pipe Bombs, MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted possessing two pipe bombs and methamphetamine.
Douglas Moore, 47, of Byrnes Mill, was stopped by a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department on May 11,2021, while driving a 2004 Suzuki Aerio with expired license plates. He had an active warrant. After his arrest, the deputy found the pipe bombs and methamphetamine in the car.
Moore was on probation at the time and has pending charges in Ste. Genevieve County and Jefferson County circuit courts.
Moore pleaded guilty Wednesday in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to one felony count of possession of an unregistered destructive device.
Moore is scheduled to be sentenced in July. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
The case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is prosecuting the case.
Dunklin County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Wednesday sentenced John Andrew Schoolcraft, 32, of Kennett, Missouri, to serve 15 years in federal prison for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At a guilty plea hearing in January, Schoolcraft admitted that beginning in May of 2022 and continuing through June 23, 2022, he and others were involved in distributing methamphetamine throughout Dunklin County, Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol utilized confidential informants and audio and video recording devices to conduct controlled drug buys of methamphetamine from Schoolcraft and others involved. The case culminated in the execution of a search warrant at Schoolcraft’s residence in Kennett where officers seized over four pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded Glock, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and $2,785 in cash.
This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, assisted by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.
California Man Admits Sending Nude Pictures to Missouri TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from California pleaded guilty to a federal charge in St. Louis, Missouri Wednesday and admitted sending pictures of his genitals to a Missouri teen.
Colin M. Lind, 43, of San Diego County, California, met the 15-year-old girl and her family while he and his family were on vacation in Florida in the summer of 2021. After returning to Missouri, the teenage girl began receiving text messages from Lind. Lind admitted as part of his plea agreement sending a series of messages asking for pictures of the girl. He also sent two pictures of his genitals that he had taken in a hotel bathroom and a text saying, “you turn me on so much!!”
The teen told authorities that Lind placed his hand on her genitals while they were in Florida.
Lind pleaded guilty to a felony count of transfer of obscene material to a minor.
Lind is scheduled to be sentenced July 20. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Frontenac Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Tax Preparer Admits Preparing at Least 23 Fraudulent ReturnsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A tax preparer from Jennings, Missouri on Tuesday admitted preparing at least 23 fraudulent tax returns that created losses of more than $500,000.
Darius D. Cobb, 51, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to two felony counts of aiding in the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return.
Cobb admitted preparing at least 200 tax returns for the tax years 2017 and 2018. In at least 23 of the returns, Cobb included some false information: fake W-2 forms with false wages and withholdings, false Schedule C forms reporting profit or loss from a business, false claims for the American Opportunity Credit for educational expenses and false information about dependents.
In one example in the plea agreement, Cobb included a business loss of $14,024 for one taxpayer even though the taxpayer was not a business owner.
The total losses from Cobb’s crimes were approximately $517,021, the plea says.
Cobb is scheduled to be sentenced July 11. The crime carries a maximum penalty for each charge of 3 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Cobb has also agreed to pay restitution to the IRS.
The case was investigated by IRS - Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Roy is prosecuting the case.
St. Louis Man Who Tried to Bring 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine to St. Louis Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man caught trying to bring 100 pounds of methamphetamine to the St. Louis, Missouri area was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison.
Dawuane Lamont Rhodes Jr., now 25, was arrested in October 2020 with $15,005 in cash, an assault-style weapon and a pistol when he tried to pick up the methamphetamine at a University City garage.
Law enforcement was waiting because a Geary County, Kansas sheriff’s deputy had stopped a van heading to St. Louis from Colorado and found two duffle bags containing roughly 100 pounds of methamphetamine.
Demond Bernard McDaniels Jr., 27, of St. Charles, had arranged for Rhodes to do the pickup. After he was told that Rhodes didn’t show, McDaniels brought $6,930 in cash and jewelry to the pickup location.
Investigators later found $93,820 in cash and a pistol at McDaniels’ home.
McDaniels and Rhodes pleaded guilty in November in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to one felony count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. They agreed to forfeit the money seized during the investigation as well as two Dodge Charger Hellcats and a 2015 Mercedes Sprinter van.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former St. Louis Police Employee Admits Injuring Jail InmateRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former police department employee in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday admitted injuring a handcuffed jail inmate.
Edward Lamar Barber, 42, was a prisoner processing clerk at St. Louis’ City Justice Center at the time. On July 11, 2019, after an inmate, “M.J.,” struck another clerk, a corrections officer used pepper spray and placed M.J. on the floor, Barber’s plea agreement says.
M.J. became compliant, was handcuffed and then Barber and the corrections officer took M.J. to a cell. M.J. did not have any injury to his face when he went into the cell, Barber admitted in his plea. While in the cell, Barber “put his hands on M.J. and forced him to the ground. As a result, M.J. suffered fractures to his nose and orbital wall,” the plea agreement says.
Barber pleaded guilty Monday in front of U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk to one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law, a civil rights charge. Barber admitted willfully violating M.J.’s right to be free from unreasonable force.
Barber is scheduled to be sentenced July 6. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.
Poplar Bluff Man Sentenced to Serve 10 Years in Federal Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Friday sentenced Daniel K. Hendrickson, 31, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to serve a total of 10 years in federal prison for the offenses of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2021, officers with the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Hendrickson's Poplar Bluff home. Hendrickson was present during the execution of the search warrant. Officers seized from his residence and a shop building located on the property approximately 80 grams of methamphetamine, 64 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and three firearms. Hendrickson admitted to law enforcement officers that he sold methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.
Ballwin Man Admits Sex with Minors, Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Ballwin, Missouri on Thursday admitted distributing child pornography and engaging in sexual contact with underage girls he’d approached on Snapchat.
Luke Edward Nicozisin, 22, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig to one count of distribution of child pornography.
Nicozisin admitted sending nude images of himself to three 15-year-old girls and one 12-year-old girl, soliciting nude pictures of a 15-year-old and having sex with two 15-year-old girls. He also recorded videos of himself having sex with one of the 15-year-olds. Nicozisin initially approached the girls via Snapchat.
One of his victims reported Nicozisin to a school resource officer on July 28, 2021, prompting Nicozisin’s initial arrest.
Other victims came forward that October. On Oct. 20, 2021, a court-approved search was conducted of Nicozisin’s home, and investigators found an iPhone containing multiple pictures of videos of himself with one of the victims as well as condoms that depicted Nicozisin’s Instagram account.
At his sentencing, scheduled for July 7, Nicozisin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.
The FBI, the Manchester Police Department and the Chesterfield Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 10+ Years in Prison for Fentanyl, GunsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man caught twice in St. Louis, Missouri with guns and fentanyl after police chases that ended in crashes was sentenced Thursday to 10 years and 10 months in prison.
Geno Armstrong, 28, pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2022 to two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of one or more drug trafficking crimes.He admitted that he and three others, Deondre Hill, Terryon McDonald and Phillip Robinson, were spotted on Oct. 12, 2021 in a stolen Audi A8 by members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Anti-Crime Task Force Using spike strips, task force officers flattened the two front tires but McDonald sped off. Hill threw a gun out of the front passenger seat window on Goodfellow Avenue during the chase. The Audi eventually crashed into a concrete planter and electrical signal at Goodfellow and Delmar avenues. McDonald, Hill and Robinson fled on foot. Armstrong was found in the rear of the Audi with a Kel-Tec 5.56 rifle with a large capacity magazine and a Coach man bag containing fentanyl. Cash totaling $6,779 and methamphetamine was also found in the car.
On Nov. 5, 2021, after another crash, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers found a Glock .40-caliber pistol, marijuana and fentanyl in a Chevrolet Malibu that Armstrong had been driving.
Armstrong’s co-defendants have also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.
Hill, 30, of Georgia, was sentenced January 5 to seven years in prison on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of one or more drug trafficking crime.
McDonald, 20, of Florissant, was sentenced February 28 to three years in prison on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Robinson, 28, of St. Louis was sentenced February 28 to five years in prison on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke is prosecuting the case.
Hazelwood Man Admits Series of Schemes Seeking $404,000Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Hazelwood, Missouri on Tuesday admitted involvement in a series of schemes that cost or intended to cost victims a total of $404,415.
Naquan Powers, 27, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of bank fraud and three felony counts of aggravated ID theft in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp.Powers admitted buying three vehicles from a Florissant dealership between June 24, 2019 and August 23, 2019 and using fraudulent Social Security cards and driver’s licenses to apply for loans. After buying an Chevrolet Impala with a $18,098 loan, a $42,086 Chevrolet Tahoe and a BMW 428 XI for $29,079, powers was arrested trying to buy a Dodge Challenger with a $38,191 loan. The total intended loss for the four vehicles is $127,454
In 2018 and 2019, Powers accessed multiple Discover Bank accounts belonging to other people and changed information in these accounts so he could receive debit cards and bank checks for the accounts. Powers’ intended loss for this scheme was $11,754.
After his arrest, Powers aided at least four others in making or attempting fraudulent purchases of vehicles at multiple vehicle dealerships throughout the St. Louis and southern Illinois areas, causing a total loss of $244,374.
Then, in 2020 and 2021, Powers applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan and four Economic Injury and Disaster Loans pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), claiming he was a sole proprietor in the general freight trucking industry. Powers submitted a fraudulent tax form and a bank statement and received $20,832 in PPP funds.
Five others involved with Powers’ schemes have also been charged.
Powers is scheduled to be sentenced June 30. The bank fraud charges carry a potential sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both prison and a fine. The aggravated ID theft charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of two years consecutive to all other sentences.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke is prosecuting the case.
Florissant Man Indicted, Accused of Cool Valley MurderRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Florissant, Missouri was indicted Wednesday and accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Devon Williams at a Cool Valley gas station in January.
Bryant Pirtle, 20, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on three felonies: possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A motion seeking to keep Pirtle in jail until trial says two people shot Williams early on the morning of January 29, 2023 after he tried to buy marijuana from them at the BP gas station at 1790 South Florissant Road. They then ran Williams over while driving away.
Police arrested Pirtle on March 22, 2023, after he and others fled in a stolen car from the same gas station where Williams was murdered. The car contained $4,500 in cash, about one pound of marijuana, two digital scales, baggies and two AR-15-style rifles, one of which was stolen.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Normandy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nino Przulj and Jen Szczucinski are prosecuting the case.
St. Louis Woman Admits Bank Fraud, Pandemic FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis, Missouri on Monday pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and admitted committing both check fraud and pandemic fraud.
Nikia A. French, 30, admitted recruiting people on Instagram who were willing to let French use their bank accounts. French created counterfeit checks, deposited them in the accounts to which she had access and then watched until the bank made the money available. She then withdrew money or made debit card purchases before the bank learned that the checks were bogus.Between February 2022 and April 2022, French deposited or attempted to deposit counterfeit checks totaling at least $73,515 and received at least $34,109 in proceeds.
In the pandemic fraud scheme, French submitted two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications in April of 2021, seeking a total of about $23,000 as a self-employed person. She falsely inflated her gross income, submitted false documents and lied about not having been convicted of a felony involving fraud in the last five years. She used the money at restaurants and clothing stores and took some out in cash, according to her plea agreement.
At her August 4 sentencing, French could face up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both.
In a 2019 bank fraud case, French was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to repay nearly $62,000.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.St. Louis County Man Admits Statutory Rape of Foster ChildRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted impregnating a minor and sexually abusing her when she was in foster care.
Edward Wiseman, 43, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felonies: coercion and enticement of a minor and solicitation of child pornography. He admitted sexually abusing a minor for multiple years and impregnating her when she was 14. After she was placed in foster care, Wiseman sent her naked pictures of himself and requested the same from her and met her to have sex when she was 16.
He initially lied to authorities when questioned about the rape and impregnation of the girl.
That victim’s younger sister told authorities that Wiseman had also sexually abused her. Wiseman disputes those allegations.
Law enforcement officers later found child pornography on Wiseman’s phone.
At his August 4 sentencing, Wiseman could face at least 10 years and up to life in prison for the coercion charge and at least five years and up to 20 years for the child pornography charge. Wiseman is also facing charges including statutory rape and statutory sodomy in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
The U.S. Secret Service, the North County Police Cooperative and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Kirkwood Man Admits Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Kirkwood, Missouri on Tuesday admitted repeatedly possessing firearms after having been committed to a mental institution, in violation of federal law.
Joseph Zarky, 24, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig to two counts of possession of a firearm after being previously committed to a mental institution.
“Police encountered Mr. Zarky behaving erratically while in the possession of firearms, a bloody knife, and animal parts,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming after Tuesday’s hearing. “After each encounter, he would try or succeed in buying more firearms and ammunition. This plea agreement is designed not to send him to prison, but to ensure that he receives the medication and treatment that he needs for the maximum amount of time we can provide. The felony conviction will also serve as an additional barrier if Mr. Zarky attempts to buy guns in the future.”
As part of his plea, Zarky admitted being caught by police with firearms on multiple occasions.
On June 1, 2021, Webster Groves Police Department officers responding to a report of an unstable person encountered Zarky, who was acting erratically and was in possession of multiple firearms, ammunition, and several plastic bags containing animal body parts. Relatives told police that he had a history of mental illness and they were concerned for his and their safety. More guns, ammunition and weapons were found in his bedroom. Police took Zarky to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. After a June 10, 2021 court hearing, Zarky was ordered involuntarily committed to a hospital for treatment. He remained there until June 25.
On July 2 and July 7 of 2021, Zarky unsuccessfully tried to purchase firearms in a store.
On July 28, 2021, Webster Groves police conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of South Old Orchard Avenue and Big Bend Boulevard and recognized Zarky from previous interactions. They asked Zarky if he had any guns and he said he did. He had a .22-caliber revolver in the waistband of his shorts and a 9mm pistol in a bag on his left hip. He said he bought the firearms at a gun show.
On September 30, 2021, Webster Groves police were called again about Zarky. Officers found Zarky in a wooded area nearby, and he ran from officers. When police caught Zarky, they found him in possession of a knife with animal blood on it. He was again taken to the hospital and later ordered by a judge to be involuntarily committed to a hospital for treatment, where he stayed until October 20, 2021. While he was hospitalized, relatives found an AR-15 rifle hidden under a comforter in the backseat of Zarky’s vehicle.
On January 29, 2022, St. Louis County police received a call for “shots fired” at a disc golf course in Unger Park. Officers were told about 24 shots had been fired. Upon arrival, officers found Zarky with a 9mm pistol in his waistband and a .22-caliber rifle nearby.
Zarky was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on May 4, 2022 and arrested in Kentucky May 7. He has been in jail since that time.
On May 9, 2022, federal agents executed a court-approved search of Zarky’s apartment in Kirkwood and found fifteen guns and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition in two safes.
As part of the plea agreement, both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Zarky’s lawyer have agreed to recommend a series of measures to ensure that Zarky undergoes treatment and is compliant with all prescribed mental health medications. The agreement recommends five years of probation, during which time Zarky will participate in a location monitoring program and reside in a residential facility approved by the U.S. Probation Office.
Zarky also agreed to participate in the Janis C. Good Mental Health Court, where participants receive treatment, counseling and resources from trained professionals to address persistent mental health issues, while at the same time being intensively supervised to ensure that they comply with the conditions of probation.
The sentence is ultimately up to Judge Fleissig. Zarky is scheduled to be sentenced July 10.
The Webster Groves Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
St. Louis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Gun in Connection with a KidnappingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry on Friday sentenced a man from St. Louis, Missouri to ten years in prison on gun and methamphetamine charges.
Mosley Jumon Williams, now 32, was accused on March 28, 2019 of kidnapping an elderly man at gunpoint to learn the location of William’s ex-wife, who had an order of protection naming Williams. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Williams, but could not find the gun until Williams called his girlfriend from jail and told her in to hide the gun in a closet.
Williams’ girlfriend allowed officers to search their apartment. They found a .45-caliber, HS Produkt handgun with a flashlight-laser combination, which the elderly man identified as the gun used in the kidnapping, as well as 42 tablets containing methamphetamine and a digital scale.
Williams pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in November to a felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a misdemeanor charge of possession of methamphetamine.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary M. Bluestone prosecuted the case.
Franklin County Man Accused of Child Sex CrimeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Franklin County, Missouri man has been accused of a federal criminal sex act with a minor.
Scott M. Arnold-Micke, 46, was indicted March 22, 2023 on one count of transportation of a minor to engage in a criminal sex act.
He appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Friday, after his arrest, and pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled to be back in court Wednesday for a detention hearing.
The indictment alleges that from approximately the spring of 20l8 through the fall of 2020, Arnold-Micke transported a child who was as young as 11 with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The charge carries a potential penalty of 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A motion seeking to have Arnold-Micke held in jail until trial accuses him of continuously sexually assaulting at least six other minors. Arnold-Micke traveled into seven states with minors to engage in sexual intercourse, the motion says. The alleged victim listed in the indictment sought medical treatment after Arnold-Micke knocked teeth out of the minor’s mouth for refusing to engage in sexual intercourse, the motion also says.
Any other potential victims are asked to contact the FBI in St. Louis at 314-589-2500 or call the Rolla Police Department at 573-308-1213 and ask for a detective.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Rolla Police Department, and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Louis County Man Admits Fraud that Cost $1.6 MillionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted defrauding business customers of Lowe’s of over $1 million.
Michael W. Burrus, 44, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of bank fraud. Burrus acknowledged that the conspiracy caused a total loss of $1.6 million.
Burrus admitted that from April of 2020 through November of 2021, he and others obtained stolen information for business customers of Lowe’s, including names, telephone numbers, addresses and credit card account numbers. Burrus used the information to gain access to the credit card accounts of the businesses, applied for additional credit cards and changed the mailing address on the accounts. Burrus then made purchases with the credit cards, all without the knowledge and consent of the businesses. Burrus and others charged more than $1 million worth of merchandise to 40 businesses.
Burrus is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29. Each charge carries a potential penalty of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both. He will also be ordered to repay the money.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd III is prosecuting the case.
Man Sentenced to 10 Years After Being Caught with Fentanyl, MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a man caught with methamphetamine and fentanyl to 10 years in prison.
Antoine Demetrius Meeks, 31, was caught by the O’Fallon Police Department with 208 grams of methamphetamine and 26 grams of fentanyl during an August 19, 2022 traffic stop.
Meeks pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in December to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He was on federal supervised release at the time of the drug offense after a conviction in a 2015 case for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the O’Fallon Police Department, the St. Ann Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
St. Louis Man Admits Robbing Escort at GunpointRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri on Wednesday admitted robbing and assaulting an escort at gunpoint in 2021.
Antwan R. Johnson, 24, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge John A. Ross to an armed robbery charge and a charge of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Johnson admitted using Megapersonals.com to arrange a meeting with an escort in the 4200 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue in St. Louis on August 17, 2021. While in the escort’s car, Johnson pulled a gun from his waistband and robbed her of her purse, which contained two cell phones and cash. He then struck her in the head with the gun, threatened her life and fired two shots at her vehicle as it drove away, striking the vehicle once, his plea agreement says.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced June 27. He faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison for the gun charge, consecutive to the robbery charge, which carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Both sides have agreed to recommend a 10-year sentence.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Man Admits Arsons in Mark Twain National Forest, Assault of Forest Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Iron County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted committing an October crime spree that included arsons in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri and the assault of a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer.
Lucas G. Henson, 37, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. to three counts: assaulting a law enforcement officer, arson and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Henson admitted that after being charged with stealing and drug offenses last year, he was out on bond when he stole a Ford van on Oct. 22, 2022 from Patriot Rentals near Poplar Bluff, Missouri before abandoning it when it ran out of gas. Later that day he broke into a camper at Poplar Bluff RV Sales and stole items from it.
The next day, he stole a Dodge pickup truck, then burglarized someone’s home and stole a Ruger LC9 9mm handgun. He stole a crossbow from a workshop near the home.
When the truck’s owner found Henson, Henson pointed the pistol at the truck’s owner and drove away. Law enforcement officers, notified by the truck’s owner, joined the chase.
Henson crashed the truck in Mark Twain National Forest, then started a fire and burned the handgun and the items that he’d stolen from the camper before fleeing into the forest.
Law enforcement officers began tracking Henson with dogs. When they got close, he started a fire to prevent being captured. He started a second fire when they approached him again. Later, he pointed the crossbow at a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer, as well as other officers, before crossing the Black River and fleeing again. Henson was eventually caught near the river. He admitted his crimes in interviews with officers.
The fires burned a total of 7.61 acres of land. Burn orders were in effect at the time due to the dry and windy conditions, and Henson’s fires kept leaping over the fire lines established by fire fighters. Crews eventually had to construct “dozer lines” to contain the fire and spent $7,228 fighting the fires.
Henson is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau on June 28. The assault charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The arson charge carries a mandatory minimum of 7 years with a maximum of 20 years and the gun charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. All charges also carry a possible fine up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton is prosecuting the case.
Florissant Woman Sentenced to a Year in Prison, Must Repay $101,000 for Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –A woman from Florissant, Missouri was sentenced to a year in prison for fraudulently obtaining two pandemic-era loans totaling more than $101,000.
U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White also ordered Lakenya M. Hobbs, 40, to repay $101,567 to the Small Business Administration.
Hobbs defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program, which provided forgivable loans to small businesses to help them save jobs during the pandemic. On March 12, 2021, she submitted a loan application containing false and fraudulent information that resulted in the issuance of a $81,223 loan. Hobbs did not use the money to save jobs but instead at electronic stores and restaurants and for airfare. She also took some out in cash. On Oct. 1, 2021, she successfully applied for loan forgiveness, falsely claiming she’d used the PPP money for payroll.
On May 27, 2021, Hobbs submitted a fraudulent loan application to a different banking institution and received a $20,344 loan. She was also granted forgiveness for this loan.
Hobbs pleaded guilty in November to one count of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.