Eastern District of Missouri
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former bookkeeper of a St. Louis accounting firm sentenced to prison for $670K fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Paula Smith, 69, of O’Fallon, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp on today’s date. Smith was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Smith previously pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering.
Smith was a bookkeeper at an accounting firm that managed a lucrative trust account for a client (the D.E.W. Trust). The D.E.W. Trust, which was at one time valued at $8.6 million, had over twenty named beneficiaries, including twelve charitable organizations in St. Louis, Missouri. Between October 2013 and June 2018, Smith defrauded the D.E.W. Trust and its beneficiaries by writing numerous checks totaling $670,000 from the D.E.W. Trust to herself. None of the funds should have gone to Smith.
To conceal her scheme, Smith manipulated the accounting records for the D.E.W. Trust by mislabeling the fraudulent checks as being advance payments to a trustee and as payments to a vendor. As a result of these fraudulent transactions, there were less available funds to be properly distributed to the intended charitable organization beneficiaries of the D.E.W. Trust.
Smith used the funds to personally enrich herself, including to buy a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 and a 2018 Keystone Hornet Hideout 26RLS Travel Trailer.
“People who think they can get away with embezzling money should realize the crime eventually catches up with them like it did with Paula Smith,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans of the FBI St. Louis Division. “While Smith enriched herself in the short term, she will now pay a much higher price with a sentence of almost 4 years in federal prison.”
The above case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Montgomery Bank Anti-Money Laundering Team. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle T. Bateman is handling the matter.
St. Louis man pleads guilty for committing multiple armed robberiesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge E. Richard Webber accepted a plea of guilty from DeAngelo Winston on today’s date. Winston pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm and possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence. Judge Webber set sentencing for April 7, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, on June 21, 2019, Winston entered the Boost Mobile cellular telephone store located at 3956 S. Broadway in the City of St. Louis. Winston went around the store counter, pointed a revolver at the clerk and demanded money from the register as well as iPhones. Winston then took both money and iPhones from the Boost Mobile and fled the store.
On August 13, 2019, Winston entered the Boost Mobile at 2253 S. Grand Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, armed with a handgun. Winston walked around the counter and pushed his handgun into the side of a store clerk. Winston took money from the cash register and demanded the clerk take him into the back room where extra phones were stored. Winston also took phones from the safe in the back room and fled the store. Winston was later identified as the perpetrator of both robberies in a photo line-up.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Local man pleads guilty for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamineRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge John A. Ross accepted a plea of guilty from Adam Jones today. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Jones in February 2021. Sentencing is scheduled for April 12, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, on or about July 15, 2020, within the Eastern District of Missouri, Jones knowingly and intentionally possessed more than five (5) grams of actual methamphetamine and that at the time Jones possessed the actual methamphetamine, he intended to distribute some or all of the actual methamphetamine to another person.
Beginning in May 2020, members of the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force ("SCCRDTF") and the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") conducted a total of five undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Jones. SCCRDTF successfully introduced an undercover detective to Jones, who made the purchases of methamphetamine from Jones over an approximately 2-month period between May and July of 2020. In addition, on July 15, 2020, Jones’ car was stopped by law enforcement and Jones was in possession of approximately one ounce of actual methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Bridgeton man pleads guilty for armed carjacking that resulted in the death of the victimRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark accepted a plea of guilty from Anthony D. Jones, 28, of Bridgeton, Missouri for his role in the May 4, 2019 carjacking and death of Jessica Vinson. Jones was previously indicted by a grand jury in July 2020. Judge Clark set sentencing for April 20, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, on the morning of May 4, 2019, Jessica Vinson was found deceased, her body abandoned in an alley behind the 5300 block of Vernon Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri, within the Eastern District of Missouri. Vinson was shot twice in the side of the head and once in the back. Her car, a 2015 Dodge Charger, was missing and her home in the 4300 block of Maffitt Avenue had been burglarized.
The investigation into Vinson's murder revealed that in the early morning hours of May 4, 2019, Jones and Vinson met outside of a club in Saint Louis, Missouri. Jones and Vinson did not know each other prior to May 4, 2019. Befriending the victim, Jones drove Vinson's vehicle into the alley behind the 5300 block of Vernon Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri and shot Vinson in the head and back. Jones then pulled Vinson's body out of the vehicle, fired another shot at Vinson's head, then returned to Vinson's vehicle, entered the driver's side door, and drove away.
On May 6, 2019, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Ms. Vinson’s vehicle, which fled at a high rate of speed and eventually crashed near an exit ramp at I-70 and Grand Avenue. Jones fled from the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Police located Jones, who was hiding, and arrested him. Officers also recovered a pistol from the vehicle.
The SLMPD Laboratory identified the fingerprints of Jones on the front driver's window and gas cap. Forensic analysis of clothing located in the vehicle, a bag containing fentanyl, and the airbag (which deployed when Jones crashed the vehicle), identified his DNA as being present on these items. Forensic analysis of the suspected blood in the vehicle identified it as being the victim’s DNA.
Jones admitted that he possessed, brandished, and discharged a handgun during the carjacking as a show of force and violence to take Vinson's vehicle. The handgun Jones discharged during the robbery is a firearm as defined under federal law. Jones possessed, brandished, and discharged the firearm to use deadly force to overcome resistance to the carjacking. Jones, in fact, used deadly force, which caused the death of Vinson.
The investigation also revealed that Jones sent electronic communications threatening to harm individuals who were aware of his violent conduct related to Ms. Vinson. In sending these electronic messages, Jones intended to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication of information to a law enforcement officer relating to his commission of Vinson's carjacking and discharging a firearm in furtherance of Vinson's carjacking.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jen Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Prison inmate pleads guilty to large scale methamphetamine conspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp accepted a plea of guilty from Tarik Mazhar on today’s date. Mazhar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Schelp set sentencing for March 18, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, on or about January 1, 2019, and continuing until on or about July 29, 2020, in Franklin County, Missouri, within the Eastern District of Missouri, Tarik Mazhar did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together with a co-defendant, and others known and unknown, to intentionally distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and knowingly acted in some way for the purpose of aiding the commission of the offense.
Mazhar was an inmate serving a previous sentence for Attempted Armed Bank Robbery, and Armed Bank Robbery at the Bureau of Prisons-Great Plains Correctional Institution in Hinton, Oklahoma. While confined, Mazhar utilized a cell phone that was smuggled into the Bureau of Prisons facility to facilitate a bulk purchase of methamphetamine from an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Between June 24, 2020, and July 29, 2020, Mazhar, a co-defendant and the undercover agent conducted frequent conversations by phone to negotiate the methamphetamine deal. Mazhar and the undercover agent eventually agreed that the co-defendant and Mazhar would pay the undercover agent $120,000.00 in U.S. currency, and—in exchange—the undercover agent would provide the co-defendant with 40 pounds (approximately 18 kilograms) of methamphetamine.
The maximum possible penalty provided by law for the crimes to which the defendant is pleading guilty is imprisonment of not more than life, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, or both such imprisonment and fine. The Court shall also impose a period of supervised release of not less than 10 years.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.
Jefferson County man pleads guilty for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp accepted a plea of guilty from Brent Lawson on today’s date for receiving child pornography. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Lawson for the charge. Judge Schelp set sentencing for March 18, 2022.
On or between May 24, 2019 and November 24, 2020, in the Eastern District of Missouri, Lawson knowingly received and possessed images and videos over the internet of prepubescent minors, including minors under the age of twelve, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
On May 24, 2019, Lawson, utilizing the internet, accessed child sexual abuse and exploitation material on a website that was an online bulletin board dedicated to the advertisement and distribution of child pornography. Law enforcement infiltrated that website and identified Lawson as having accessed the website.
Subsequently, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Lawson’s residence that was executed on November 24, 2020. Forensic analysis of electronics seized by law enforcement during the search confirmed Lawson possessed fifty-four videos of child pornography that he downloaded from the internet.
Lawson was previously convicted on April 22, 2004, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri for transportation of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. In that case the defendant pled guilty and was sentenced to sixty months imprisonment, followed by a period of three years on supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
St. Louis man pleads guilty to conspiracy to possess and discharge a firearmRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge E. Richard Webber accepted a plea of guilty from Deronte McDaniels on today’s date. McDaniels pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and discharge a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Webber set sentencing for March 16, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, in or around October 2019, relative to a shooting investigation by the University City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was requested to assist in locating the suspect, a co-conspirator of McDaniels. ATF surveillance revealed McDaniels’ co-conspirators in this case were actively distributing fentanyl within the Eastern District of Missouri.
On October 20, 2019, a co-conspirator was shot in the arm which McDaniels witnessed. McDaniels was the intended target of this drug related shooting and returned fire utilizing his co-conspirator’s handgun.
In retaliation for this incident, on October 21, 2019, McDaniels and two co-conspirators possessed one or more firearms in furtherance of the commission of a drug trafficking crime. During this violation, they caused the death of David Anderson by shooting him in a case of mistaken identity. The co-conspirators in the investigation have cases pending before the court.
The maximum possible penalty provided by law for the crime to which McDaniel is pleading guilty is imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both such imprisonment and fine. The court may also impose a period of supervised release of not more than 3 years.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the University City Police Department.
Pevely man sentenced to 25 years in prison for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – William Jackson, 46, of Pevely, Missouri appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark on today’s date and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for producing child pornography. Jackson previously pleaded guilty in August 2021.
According to the plea agreement, on April 29, 2020, Jackson responded to an advertisement that was placed on an online forum by an undercover law enforcement officer. Jackson communicated with the undercover officer's fictitious persona and expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the individual that Jackson believed to be an underage female.
On April 29, 2020, Jackson travelled to the State of Illinois from Missouri to meet who he believed would be the underage female minor with the intention of engaging in sexual conduct with her. Jackson was arrested by law enforcement at that time. A review of Jackson's cellular telephone conducted subsequent to that arrest revealed ten images of sexual abuse of a young minor female.
Agents determined Jackson and a co-defendant were sexually abusing a minor. Acting together, they produced and transmitted via the internet at least ten images of the sexual abuse of the minor victim utilizing digital recording equipment on an Apple iPhone cellular telephone.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Judge sentences previously convicted bank robber to 30 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Briran Blake, 30, of St. Clair County, Illinois appeared before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross on today’s date and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. On September 17, 2021, a jury found Blake guilty of two counts of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
On June 9, 2017, Briran Blake entered a Regions Bank on Hampton Avenue in St. Louis, presented a demand note to the teller, and escaped with almost $2,000 in cash. 13 days later, on June 22, 2017, Briran Blake entered a Regions Bank on South Broadway in St. Louis, presented a demand note, and brandished a firearm at the bank teller before escaping with over $4,200 in cash. Blake was indicted in August 2019 following analysis of the demand notes and identification of Blake as the suspect by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Crime Laboratory.
The court, based upon Blake’s criminal history, sentenced Blake pursuant to the career offender provision of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jason Dunkel and Donald Boyce prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States
East St. Louis man enters guilty plea for deadly carjacking and is sentenced to 25 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Demario Hunter of East St. Louis, Illinois, appeared before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross today. Hunter pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for an attempted carjacking in the city of St. Louis during which the victim was shot and killed. Hunter was previously charged by criminal complaint on September 6, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, on March 18, 2019, Hunter, accompanied by two co-defendants attempted to carjack James A. Sapone of his 2013 Ford Escape near the intersection of Cherokee and Iowa in the city of St. Louis. A struggle ensued and Hunter shot and killed Sapone during the commission of the attempted carjacking.
Cases for the two co-defendants are pending before the court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Judge sentences St. Louis man on drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Denzel Houston of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge Audrey G. Fleissig yesterday afternoon and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. Houston previously pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime in November 2021.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, on July 25, 2019, St. Louis Metropolitan Police were on patrol in the Clinton Peabody Housing Complex, when officers saw a silver Nissan Maxima that had bullet holes in its hood. Police observed Houston flee the Nissan upon seeing their police vehicle. Houston was briefly detained by police, determined to be the sole occupant of the vehicle and released. An in-depth search of the Nissan, subsequent to Houston’s release, revealed a pistol and methamphetamine in excess of 335 grams.
On September 10, 2019, in the 8500 block of Katherine Avenue, in St. Louis County, ATF agents, along with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officers, observed Houston enter a parked Lexus. As officers approached, Houston struck the patrol vehicle with the Lexus. Houston was taken into custody and a subsequent search of the Katherine Avenue residence revealed a .40 caliber pistol, additional methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia related to the distribution of illegal narcotics.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Grand Jury indicts two individuals for several armed robberies of local cellular telephone storesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On December 8, 2021, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging Bruce Franklin and Kristie Meeks with the armed robberies of several cellular telephone stores located in the city of St. Louis. Both suspects are in custody.
According to court documents, Franklin is charged in a 13-count indictment of robbing five cellular phone stores in St. Louis. Meeks is charged in two of the robberies. The dates and locations of the incidents are:
- On August 26, 2021, the Boost Mobile at 3636 Page Blvd
- On September 4, 2021, the T-Mobile at 4167 Lindell Blvd
- On September 10, 2021, the Boost Mobile at 3636 Page Blvd
- On September 17, 2021, the MetroPCS at 3949 Lindell Blvd
- On September 20, 2021, the T-Mobile at 4167 Lindell Blvd
Franklin was charged with five counts of robbery, five counts of brandishing a firearm during the robberies, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Meeks was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during the robberies.
Charges set forth 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Grand Jury indicts St. Louis man in carjacking crime spree that resulted in the death of one victimRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Carmain Milton for three carjackings in the city of St. Louis that occurred in September 2021. One of the three carjackings resulted in the death of a 72-year-old man.
According to the indictment, on or about September 21, 2021, in the City of St. Louis, within the Eastern District of Missouri, Milton with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took from the victim by force, violence, and intimidation a 1998 Toyota Camry.
On or about September 28, 2021, Milton with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took from the victim by force, violence, and intimidation a 2016 Audi A6.
That same day, Milton with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took from the victim by force, violence, and intimidation a 2004 Honda Element, resulting in the death of the victim.
Charges set forth in the 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted after consultation and cooperation from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Judge sentences former St. Louis resident for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Mark R. Driscoll of Hayden, Idaho appeared before United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on today’s date. Driscoll pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography. Driscoll was previously indicted by a federal grand jury on March 3, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, on or about March 4, 2017, Driscoll, utilizing a peer-to-peer program, distributed at least one video file containing child pornography to an investigative detective with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
A search warrant was obtained by law enforcement for Driscoll’s residence and executed on June 22, 2017. Electronic items belonging to the Driscoll were seized into evidence. An examination of the seized items revealed Driscoll possessed on various electronics over fourteen hundred images and over twenty videos of minors engaged in a lascivious display of their genitals and/or engaged in sexual acts which he had downloaded from the internet via computers and electronic devices.
This case was investigated by an FBI St. Louis Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force member from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Former St. Louis police officer enters plea of guilty in fraud caseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Brad Stephens for 3 counts of Mail Fraud by obtaining taxpayer moneys from the Tower Grove South Concerned Citizen Special Business District (“Tower Grove South”) by means of material false representations. Sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Stephens was employed as a police officer by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (“SLMPD”) in St. Louis, Missouri, and had been employed by the SLMPD since October 6, 2014.
Tower Grove South was established to provide special police and/or security for the protection and enjoyment of the property owners and the public within the district. The administration and operations of the business district are taxpayer funded. City Wide Security (“CWS”) is a private company that contracts with businesses and organizations to provide private security patrols. CWS contracted to provide security patrols in the Tower Grove South Neighborhood beginning during 2010.
Stephens was employed by CWS beginning in approximately 2015 to work during some of his off-duty hours to patrol the Tower Grove South Neighborhood. Stephens falsely represented to CWS certain days and shifts he agreed to work as part of the CWS security patrol in the Tower Grove South Neighborhood when, in fact, Stephens did not actually work those assigned days and shifts. During 2018, Stephens falsely represented that he worked 93 days, and during 2019, Stephens falsely represented that he worked 76 days. CWS was paid approximately $50,000 by the Tower Grove South organization based upon Stephens’ false representations, all taxpayer funds.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Results of Nationwide Enforcement Action Against Money MulesRead the Press Release
Four Defendants Prosecuted in Eastern District of Missouri
St. Louis – As part of the nationwide Money Mule Initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service released a new video about the legal consequences of being a money mule. This video is based on a current local case.
The nationwide Money Mule Initiative is a coordinated operation to disrupt the networks through which transnational fraudsters move the proceeds of their crimes. Money mules are people who assist fraudsters by collecting money from victims of fraud and forwarding it to the fraud organizers, many of whom are located overseas. Some money mules know they are helping fraudsters, but others are unaware that their actions enable fraudsters’ efforts to swindle money from consumers, businesses, and government unemployment funds.
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the results of the initiative, where enforcement action was taken in every state over 90 days. Specifically, 4,750 actions were taken against money mules, including approximately 540 interviews, nearly a dozen administrative or civil actions, recovery of $3.7 million in fraud proceeds, and 30 individuals were arrested/charged.
To find public education materials, as well as information about how fraudsters use and recruit money mules, please visit https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/money-mule-initiative
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vthPmLORVrM
Two Iranian Nationals Indicted in Local Cryptojacking CaseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Yesterday, a federal grand jury indicted Danial Jeloudar and Saeeid Safaei for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both defendants are Iranian nationals believed to be living abroad.
This is the first cryptojacking case to be prosecuted in the Eastern District of Missouri. “Cryptojacking has nothing to do with whether a victim owns cryptocurrency,” said Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn of the FBI St. Louis Division. “It’s about criminals hijacking the use of your computer’s processing power to generate and cash out cryptocurrency.”
Cryptojacking is when cyber criminals fraudulently gain access to a victim’s device to use its computing power to generate or “mine” cryptocurrency. Computing power is needed for a virtual master ledger that uses complicated algorithms to verify and record cryptocurrency transactions. Individuals or groups can dedicate their computer power and be rewarded with cryptocurrency.
According to court documents, both defendants conspired to victimize a technology company in St. Charles, Missouri by fraudulently gaining access and using the company’s account on a cloud service. By misrepresenting themselves through the victim company’s account, the defendants fraudulently authorized the cloud service provider to build and install at least five new computer servers in the cloud. The purpose of the new servers was to run and operate software programs to generate cryptocurrency.
The fraud came to light when the victim company received a bill of more than $760,000 from the cloud service provider related to the use of fraudulent servers.
The following cyber security practices can minimize your risk of cryptojacking:
- Two-step authentication will make it harder for criminals to gain access to your online accounts.
- Monitor log-in history to detect suspicious activity early.
- Audit cloud storage to verify contents.
Charges set forth are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI St. Louis Division investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Bateman handled the case.
St. Louis business owner pleads guilty to tax fraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey accepted a plea of guilty from Robyn T. Roberts for multiple counts of aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and preparing and submitting false tax returns. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri indicted Roberts earlier this year on several counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax fraud.
Roberts pleaded guilty on today’s date for two counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and five counts of tax fraud in connection with her work as a tax preparer at Roberts Tax Professionals. Roberts is responsible for causing the overpayment of more than $400,000 in tax refunds by preparing fraudulent tax returns. As part of her scheme, Roberts used stolen social security numbers and fraudulently claimed dependents, education expenses, and business losses on behalf of both herself and other taxpayers.
“Tax preparers have a duty to their clients to prepare complete and accurate tax returns that comply with the law,” said Special Agent in Charge, Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Louis Field Office. “IRS-CI’s efforts to investigate and prosecute tax fraud are critical to overall compliance. Our Special Agents play an important role in protecting not only honest taxpayers from criminal activity, but the nation’s revenue as well.”
Sentencing is set for March 3, 2022.
The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigations.
Federal charges filed against suspect connected to armed robbery spreeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On December 1, 2021, federal charges were filed against 58-year-old James Mayes. Mayes is accused of a robbery on federal territorial jurisdiction, namely the Gateway National Arch Park, and the armed robberies of commercial business establishments that are listed below.
According to the charging documents, Mayes committed multiple armed robberies; knowingly possessed, brandished, and discharged a firearm, in furtherance of crimes of violence, specifically the robberies; and knowingly possessed a firearm on multiple dates, despite knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.
The documents include charges related to the incidents described below:
St. Louis City
October 13, 2021-Gateway National Arch Park armed street robbery at 115 Washington Avenue
October 14, 2021-Attempted robbery of a person on Laclede’s Landing
October 17, 2021-Armed robbery of the T-Mobile at 4142 S. Grand
October 20, 2021-Armed robbery of the Smoothie King at 1211 Pine
October 23, 2021-Armed robbery of the Kaiser Mart at 5008 S. Grand
October 26, 2021-Armed robbery of the Crown Food Mart at 300 S. Jefferson
November 3, 2021-Armed robbery of the Gallery Furniture/Home Accents at 310 N. Sixth St.
November 3, 2021-Armed robbery of the Boost Mobile at 1644 S. Jefferson
November 3, 2021-Armed robbery of the Domino’s Pizza at 1428 N. 13th
St. Louis County
October 25, 2021-Armed robbery of the Metro PCS at 6731 Page
November 5, 2021-Armed robbery of the Vapes and Snacks at 8820 Gravois Rd.
November 10, 2021-Armed robbery of the Cricket Wireless at 1084 Lemay Ferry Rd.
Charges set forth 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, St. Louis County Police Department, Pagedale Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Park Service.
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, is available on-line at
http://www.justice.gov/edmo
Twitter: @USAO_EDMO
Judge sentences man to 18 years for armed carjackings and firearms offensesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Today United States District Court Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. sentenced David Curtis President to 18 years in prison for the crimes of carjacking and firearms offenses for separate carjackings committed on June 28, 2019 and July 29, 2019. President pleaded guilty to the charges on August 24, 2021.
According to the plea agreement, President, a 29- year-old resident of St. Louis County, committed two separate carjackings in St. Louis County. On June 28, 2019, in the 11100 Block of Riaza Square, President took a 2007 Buick Lucerne from the victim at gun point. President was later identified as the carjacker and determined to be in possession of the victim’s pistol, which was in the Lucerne at the time of the carjacking. On July 29, 2019, at the Petro Mart at 698 Gravois Bluffs Boulevard, President shot two persons and took from them a 2017 Nissan Altima.
The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the carjacking and firearms offenses.
Judge sentences former Southwest Airlines employee for stealing firearmsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Mark Hunter of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark on today’s date and was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Hunter previously pleaded guilty for knowingly possessing or receiving one or more firearms that he knew to be stolen.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, on September 25, 2020, the Manchester Police Department seized a pistol that had been reported stolen. A passenger of Southwest Airlines, who was traveling through St. Louis Lambert Airport previously reported that the firearm was stolen out of his luggage.
Subsequently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Transportation Security Administration (TSA) initiated an investigation and identified seven reported thefts of firearms from luggage checked on Southwest Airlines flights that had traveled through Lambert Airport between March 28, 2020 to August 22, 2020.
During the investigation, which included reviews of scheduling records of Southwest Airline baggage employees and the dates of the thefts of the firearms, Hunter, a baggage employee for Southwest Airlines, became the target of the investigation. Records indicated that Hunter was working and had access to baggage from which other guns had been reported stolen. Hunter was approached by agents and admitted to the theft of five firearms from checked luggage he handled in his capacity as a Southwest Airlines baggage handler at St. Louis Lambert Airport.
This case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Transportation Security Administration.
Area man pleads guilty to his role in carjacking plotRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from Antwan Jones for his role in a carjacking, weapons charges and assaulting a federal officer on November 22, 2021.
A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri indicted Jones in May 2021 for aiding and abetting Paul Latham in carjacking a victim in St. Louis the previous year. According to the plea agreement, Latham stopped his SUV next to the victim on January 15, 2020. Latham waited in the SUV while Jones approached the victim at gunpoint and demanded her purse. The carjacking victim surrendered her purse, which contained the keys to her car. Latham and Jones drove around the area and used the victim’s key fob to locate her Mercedes Benz. Once they found the car parked nearby, Latham used the victim’s keys to drive her car away while Jones drove away in Latham’s SUV.
According to the indictment, Jones was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous conviction.
Later that night, police tracked the victim’s phone to East St. Louis, Illinois. There, police discovered Latham’s SUV parked in the 1800 block of Boismenue Avenue with the victim’s purse still inside.
Days later as federal authorities arrested Jones, he resisted the attempt and physically assaulted a federal officer. For his role in the incident, Latham previously entered a plea of guilty in October.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Jury finds local man guilty of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of anotherRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS –Gerald E. Cardwell, Jr. of O’Fallon, Missouri was found guilty by a jury after deliberations yesterday at the conclusion of a four-day trial held at the Thomas Eagleton Federal Courthouse.
Cardwell was charged in 2019 for knowingly and intentionally distributing a controlled substance, that led to the death of an individual from the use of the controlled substance distributed by Cardwell.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that the victim had picked Cardwell up from the Hollywood Casino Hotel on the night of July 25, 2019. In the early morning hours of July 26, 2019, Cardwell gave the victim a “special mix” of fentanyl and Adderall, sending text messages to a third-party witness that the victim was “TKO” in the car. Surveillance video obtained from Hollywood Casino Hotel depicted Cardwell, the victim, and the third-party witness enter the hotel shortly before 2 a.m. The third party left approximately ten minutes later, leaving Cardwell and the victim in the hotel room. Cardwell departed at 10:00 the following morning. Housekeeping staff found the victim deceased in the room at approximately 3:15 that afternoon. Evidence at trial suggested that he had been deceased for 8-10 hours. The St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the victim died of fentanyl and ethanol intoxication. However, two toxicologists testified that the victim’s blood alcohol content at the time of his death was .03. According to the Medical Examiner, that small amount of alcohol could not have caused the victim’s death.
Cardwell is facing a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on March 3, 2022 at his next appearance in front of United States District Judge John A. Ross.
The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department.
Judge sentences former St. Louis Metropolitan Police officer for civil rights violationRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Dustin Boone, 37, of St. Louis, Missouri appeared before United States District Court Judge E. Richard Webber on today’s date. Boone was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for aiding and abetting the deprivation of civil rights under color of law of undercover police officer Luther Hall during the 2017 Jason Stockley protests. Boone was found guilty in June after a nine-day trial.
The evidence during the trial proved that Dustin Boone assisted former police officer Randy Hays in the assault of undercover police officer Luther Hall. Det. Hall was undercover during the protests following the acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley.
Bailey Colletta previously pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal grand jury and was sentenced to probation. Randy Hays, who had earlier pleaded guilty to his role in the matter, was sentenced to a 52-month term of imprisonment. Christopher Myers case is still pending.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Judge sentences former St. Ann Police Officer to six years in prisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Ellis C. Brown, III, 32, of High Ridge, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on today’s date. Brown was sentenced to six years in prison for deprivation of civil rights under color of law. Brown was previously found guilty after a three-day jury trial in June.
The evidence during the trial proved that Brown used unreasonable force during an encounter with a victim. In his capacity as a St. Ann police officer, Brown repeatedly kicked the victim who lay prone on the parking lot of a US Bank at the corner of Natural Bridge and Kingshighway in the city of St. Louis. The April 2019 incident was captured on video and followed a lengthy high-speed chase during which Brown and other St. Ann Police Department Officers pursued the victim through rush hour traffic for more than twenty minutes, at times reaching speeds exceeding 115 mph. Two St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officers intervened to stop Brown’s assault.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Derek Wiseman handled the case.
Judge sentences St. Louis man to life in prison for fatal carjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – James Flannel, 37, of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge E. Richard Webber on today’s date. Flannel was sentenced to life in prison for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a carjacking that resulted in the death of Boris Iouioukine, a Laclede Cab Company driver on June 25, 2018. Flannel previously pleaded guilty on August 2, 2019.
According to the plea agreement, Flannel was in the possession of a nine-millimeter firearm on June 25, 2018. Flannel called the Laclede Cab Company and ordered a taxi. A red minivan taxi being driven by victim Boris Iouioukine responded to Flannel’s request. Flannel got into the taxi armed with the nine-millimeter firearm. While inside the taxi, Flannel shot and killed Boris Iouioukine in 2500 block of East Dodier within the City of St. Louis. Boris Iouioukine’s body was left in the street by Flannel. Flannel drove the taxi after the shooting to the area of Castle Point in Saint Louis County, Missouri. Flannel parked the taxi at the driveway of a residence in the 10000 block of Duke Drive and fled.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received calls for help relative to a man down in the middle of the street. Police and the fire department responded and located Boris Iouioukine deceased at the scene. Victim Boris Iouioukine’s taxi was located by police on the morning of June 26, 2018. Among other things, a nine-millimeter shell casing was located and seized from the driver’s side floorboard. Other items were seized from inside the taxi, including a water bottle. Analysis of the water bottle located Flannel’s print on it. Flannel was charged by way of federal complaint on June 27, 2018.
On August 10, 2018, investigators initiated an investigation within Spanish Lake Park to locate and recover the nine-millimeter firearm utilized by Flannel during the armed carjacking and murder. A search within the park eventually located a Taurus make, Millennium G2 model, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. The firearm was operable and loaded with 13 rounds. Subsequent ballistic analysis of the firearm confirmed that the shell casing recovered from the within taxi was fired from the nine-millimeter firearm located and seized from within Spanish Lake Park.
“This sentence is the product of the excellent, collaborative work of our law enforcement officers. Its severity should send a clear message: should you choose to commit such a senseless, violent crime in this region, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said United States Attorney Sayler Fleming following the sentence. “The community is tired of this abhorrent nonsense. Mr. Iouioukine, a hardworking and valued member of society, left behind family, friends, and co-workers who loved him dearly. We can only hope that the resolution of this matter brings them some comfort and closure.”
“This case demonstrates the importance of using ballistic intelligence to identify those using firearms to commit violent crimes in our community” Fred Winston, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division said. “The comprehensive use of ATF’s National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) by our state and local law enforcement partners, provides ATF the unprecedented ability to link shootings and other crimes of gun violence based on forensic evidence alone. ATF will continue to use NIBIN and other crime gun intelligence tools, to identify trigger pullers in St. Louis and hold them accountable for their actions.”
This case was made possible, in part, by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
The St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments; United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Metro West Fire Protection District’s Dive/Rescue Response Team investigated this case.
Grand Jury indicts local business owner for tax evasionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Jeffrey M. Bauza on November 17, 2021 with numerous counts of willful failure to collect or pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
The indictment charges Jeffrey M. Bauza willfully failed to collect, account for, and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service all the Federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes withheld and due to the United States. Bauza owned and operated CDL Training Service & Consulting and CDL Training Services of Missouri.
The indictment alleges that beginning in 2015 through 2018, as owner and operator of CDL Training Service & Consulting and CDL Training Services of Missouri, Bauza withheld payroll taxes from his employees continuously, but he did not file the required quarterly Forms 941. In addition, Bauza failed to pay over any of the associated payroll taxes to the IRS.
Despite owing a substantial amount of money to the IRS and being aware of his employment tax obligations, Bauza maintained his lifestyle making substantial payments toward his primary residence, his Florida vacation home, a luxury vehicle, and private universities for his children’s education, among other things. Bauza even expanded his business, opening additional CDL schools and engaging in other business ventures which required him to put up substantial capital.
CDL Training Service & Consulting and CDL Training Services were operated and controlled by Bauza, and he was responsible for paying the companies’ taxes. He exercised financial control over the businesses’ financial affairs and was the only person who had the authority to file and pay the payroll taxes. Additionally, Bauza was the only person in the companies who had the authority to authorize payments and sign checks, and he alone decided which of the companies’ liabilities to pay.
In total, Bauza failed to pay over approximately $1,173,424 in employment taxes withheld from employee paychecks and due to the IRS.
“IRS Criminal Investigation is entrusted to enforce the nation’s tax laws. When taxpayers go to work they trust that their employers are following the law and paying their withheld taxes over to the IRS. When greedy employers keep these funds for their own personal use as shown in the indictment of Jeffrey Bauza, it can cause detrimental harm to employees. This indictment sends the message that IRS-CI will work tirelessly to detect non-compliance and protect innocent workers and the integrity of our nation’s tax system,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, St. Louis Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation.
Charges set forth in the 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 IRS Criminal Investigation.
Grand Jury indicts St. Louis man and 19 others for their roles in a nation-wide drug ringRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Steven Bell for charges that include conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in a large-scale nation-wide drug ring. The group transported and distributed illegal narcotics in numerous states to include California, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky and Texas.
The indictment alleges that Bell knowingly and intentionally possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment further alleges that Bell knowingly possessed a firearm, having previously been convicted of crimes that prohibited possession of said firearm.
Beginning at a time unknown but including February 2021, in the Eastern District of Missouri, Bell and others were involved in the distribution of controlled substances. The indictment alleges Darius M. McCullum was the primary source of supply for the organization in California. The drug trafficking organization used various means to transport illegal narcotics and or bulk cash, to include the mail and the use of several “mules” or couriers. Agents identified several “stash” houses in numerous cities, to include Detroit, Michigan, Lexington, Kentucky and St. Louis, Missouri.
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.
Charges set forth in the 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Judge sentences St. Louis man for his role in carjacking and weapons violationsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig sentenced Jody Brison to 114 months in prison today. Brison had previously pleaded guilty for his role in a carjacking and weapons charges.
On November 21, 2019, a driver for the Medicine Shoppe was delivering medicine to an apartment in the City of St. Louis, within the Eastern District of Missouri. Upon returning to her vehicle, two men with guns got out of a nearby car. The suspects took the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint and drove away.
A short time later, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers located the vehicle. Observing police, Brison attempted to run from the carjacked vehicle but was caught after a brief foot pursuit. During the attempt to evade police, Brison discarded a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine along with the victim’s cell phone which was left in the carjacked vehicle. Brison was previously convicted of crimes that prohibit his possession of said handgun.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Grand Jury indicts two individuals accused of fraud involving Paycheck Protection Program and the Small Business Grant ProgramRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Dionneshae Forland with four counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of theft of government property and five counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment also charges Dwayne Times with one count of wire fraud, and one count of theft of government property.
The indictment alleges that Forland and Times submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications and a fraudulent Missouri Small Business Grant Program application that falsely inflated the number of employees and payroll costs of various businesses Forland and Times operated in order to receive loan proceeds. The indictment alleges that Forland and Times received in total over $700,000 in fraudulent loan proceeds.
Charges set forth in the 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Grand Jury indicts St. Louis man and others in international drug ringRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Derek Rockette for charges that include conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. The indictment also alleges in a money laundering conspiracy charge that Rockette, Norma Corina Armenta-Lizarraga, Jian Zhong Fang, Yuede Zheng and Wai Ming Mak, did knowingly combine, conspire, and agree with each other and with other persons known and unknown to knowingly conduct and attempt to conduct financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce, which involved the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity, that is conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Beginning at a time unknown but including 2016 to on or about the date of the indictment, in the Eastern District of Missouri, Rockette was involved in the distribution of controlled substances including cocaine and fentanyl. Rockette owed a substantial drug debt to the source of supply in Mexico for controlled substances which had been fronted to him. This debt would vary as payments were made and new drug shipments were sent to Rockette. It is alleged in the indictment that several methods of money laundering were used by those in the conspiracy.
One such method was the use of ATMs throughout the St. Louis area to make deposits of cash drug payments. Over eight and one half million dollars ($8,500,000) was deposited in ATMs in approximately 14 states into one of two accounts between June 4, 2018 and September 12, 2019. The money was then transferred to banks in Mexico.
Also, the indictment alleges that, Rockette did knowingly and intentionally distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and did knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. The indictment further alleges that Rockette knowingly possessed a firearm, previously been convicted of crimes that prohibited possession of said firearm.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides 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 St. Louis OCDETF Gateway Strike Force is to identify, disrupt and dismantle 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.
Charges set forth in the 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 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Grand Jury indicts St. Louis father and son along with others in fentanyl and cocaine conspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Gregory Dixson, Jr., Gregory Dixson III, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez, Quintin D. Adkins and Ruben Sanchez Blanco to knowingly combine, conspire, agree, and confederate together with each other and with other persons known and unknown to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
The indictment alleges that beginning at a time unknown but including 2015 to on or about the date of this indictment, in the Eastern District of Missouri, and elsewhere, Gregory Dixson, Jr., Gregory Dixson III, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez and Quintin D. Adkins conspired to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine.
Additionally, Gregory Dixson, Jr. and Ruben Sanchez Blanco are accused in the conspiracy of distribution of four (400) grams or more of fentanyl.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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.
Charges set forth in the 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 Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States Attorney’s Office and U.S. Postal Inspection Service recognize the Operation Protect Veterans ProgramRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – As you know, Veterans Day (November 11) is right around the corner. The United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has teamed up with AARP for the Operation Protect Veterans program, which is working to educate veterans, their families and loved ones on scams targeting them.
Scammers are creating schemes specifically targeting veterans. An AARP survey shows veterans are twice as likely as the general public to be the victim of a scam. 78% of our retired military men and women have been targeted by schemes specifically crafted to exploit their military service.
There are a variety of scams specifically targeting our veteran community, including the following:
-VA Loan Scam: Offers to refinance VA loans at extremely low rates
-Pension Poaching Scam: Scammers will offer veterans lump sum payments up front, in exchange for signing over all their future monthly benefit checks.
-Update Your File Scam: An imposter, claiming to be from a government agency, attempts to get a veteran’s personal information to “update their file” so they can maintain their benefits.
These are just a few examples of the many scams out there targeting veterans.
“Operation Protect Veterans,” https://www.uspis.gov/veterans, was created by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the AARP as a means of providing valuable information and resources to veterans and their loved ones and friends about these scams and many more.
These additional links provide more details on the fraud aimed at veterans and the general public.
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/81832/partnership-postal-inspection-service-helps-veterans-avoid-scams/
https://link.usps.com/2021/05/03/defensive-measures/
For further information on this important program and our partnership with the U. S. Postal Inspection Service to investigate and prosecute such egregious crimes against our veteran community please contact:
Inspector Matthew Villicana or Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Berry
Mail Fraud/Money Laundering United States Attorney’s Office
United States Postal Inspection Service Eastern District of Missouri
1106 Walnut Street 111 S. 10th Street
St. Louis, MO 63199 St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 539-9347 (Office) (314) 539-2550
Kirkwood resident pleads guilty for identity theftRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark accepted a plea of guilty from Glenda Seim, 81 years old of Kirkwood, Missouri on November 2, 2021 for two counts of identity theft related to her participation as a “money mule” in various fraudulent schemes on behalf of her online romantic interest. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Seim for the charges. A “money mule” is a person who receives fraudulently obtained money and merchandise on behalf of a scammer, and then forwards the proceeds to the scammer.
Sometime during 2014, Seim began an online relationship with an individual who claimed to be a United States citizen with business interests in Nigeria. Throughout the years, Seim’s purported romantic interest would ask for her assistance in paying fees, taxes, and penalties to the Nigerian government or his business associates. He claimed that he could not leave Nigeria unless he paid those funds. Despite having never met her romantic interest in person or communicated with him in any form other than texting, Seim began sending him money from her Social Security retirement benefits and pension. He later asked her to pawn electronic equipment that he had others send to her in the mail and forward the funds to him.
Because the return was not as high as he wanted, Seim began participating in other fraudulent schemes including: receiving MoneyGram wire transfers from senders she did not know; depositing counterfeit and fraudulently obtained checks into financial accounts she opened; allowing her romantic interest to fraudulently transfer funds from the financial accounts of various businesses into her financial accounts; and accepting unemployment insurance benefit payments on behalf of individuals she did not know. A check drawn on the retirement account of a romance fraud victim in the amount of $100,000 was among Seim’s fraudulent deposits. Seim kept a portion of the funds fraudulently obtained before providing the balance to her online romantic partner.
Despite warnings by wire transfer agencies, local police officers, federal law enforcement representatives, and bank representatives and the forced closing of her financial accounts, Seim continued to facilitate the transfer of funds on behalf of her online romantic interest. Between June 2014 and February 2021, Seim attempted to conduct fraudulent transactions between $550,000 and $1,500,000.
Seim is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
St. Louis County man pleads guilty for interstate transport of a minor for illicit sexual conductRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from Wesley Kimble, age 24, on today’s date for interstate transport of a minor for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Kimble on the charge.
In the fall of 2019, Kimble met the 15-year-old minor victim through an online dating site. Kimble engaged in online messaging with the victim, with many of the messages being sexual in nature. In December 2019, Kimble, with an intent to engage in sexual activity with the minor, drove from St. Louis, Missouri to Springfield, Illinois and picked up the victim. On the return trip to St. Louis, Kimble engaged in sexual activity with the victim. Kimble also provided the victim with illegal drugs and engaged in unprotected sex with the victim once they arrived at his apartment in St. Louis County.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Irondale Missouri man pleads guilty to producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark accepted a plea of guilty from Andrew Hotchkiss on today’s date for the production of child pornography. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Hotchkiss for the charge.
Between the dates of March 1, 2019 and May 13, 2019 in St. Francois County, Missouri, Hotchkiss sexually abused the victim, who was six years of age at the time. Hotchkiss used his cellular telephone to video record and produce images of his sexual abuse of the victim.
Hotchkiss distributed the images and videos of his sexual abuse of the minor via the internet to one or more others including a resident of the State of Oregon. On May 13, 2019, law enforcement officers with the Oregon State Police located the above-reference images and videos on a cellular telephone belonging to the Oregon resident who was in police custody after attempting to meet an eleven-year-old for sexual contact. It was the Oregon State Police investigation and their recovery of the images and videos produced by Hotchkiss that initiated the investigation that gave rise to the charges against Hotchkiss in this case.
The case was investigated by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Secret Service.
Judge sentences St. Louis man for enticement of a minor to engage in prostitutionRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Tony K. Sanford, age 39, of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross on October 27, 2021. Sanford was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervision upon his plea of guilty to the offense of enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. From January 20, 2020 to January 30, 2020, Sanford directed and facilitated prostitution transactions involving a seventeen-year-old minor in the city of St. Louis.
This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
Agents Arrest 17 People in Large-Scale Multi-State Drug Trafficking Ring Involving Fentanyl, Heroin, Crystal Methamphetamine and FirearmsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – This week the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service, and United States Postal Inspection Service arrested 17 people in Missouri, Arizona, California, and Mexico linked to an organized multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to the previously sealed sixteen count indictment, returned on October 13, 2021, this was a long-running drug distribution conspiracy operating in the Eastern District of Missouri and with ties to California, Arizona, and Texas. According to a court document, law enforcement officers seized items including: (1) approximately 50 pounds of fentanyl; (2) 500 pounds of methamphetamine; (3) 50 firearms; and (4) more than $400,000 in drug proceeds. The conspiracy included the mailing and shipping of packages containing large amounts of the illegal drugs to be distributed in the St. Louis area and other cities in the United States. Three defendants are also charged with firearms violations. Among the defendants indicted in this case are:
Stephen Griffin: M, St. Louis, 27
Kenny Thomas: M, St. Louis, arrested in Mexico, 38
Raymundo Deleon: M, in custody in Los Angeles, 40
Kyanna Canales: F, arrested in Phoenix, 19
Ariel Navarez-Gonzalez: M, arrested in Phoenix, 20
Troy Mills: M, St. Louis, 30
Arieawn Dillon: M, St. Louis, 26
Daveon Barnes: M, St. Louis, 27
Dalvin Wiley: M, St. Louis, 29
Crystal Miller: F, St. Louis, 27
Latoya Wilson: F, St. Louis, 40
Steven Hilliard: M, St. Louis, 30
Andrew Prout: M, in custody in Missouri, 28
Ariel Randall: F, St. Louis, 26
Jessica Alvarez: F, arrested in Los Angeles, 40
Larry Martinez-Soto: M, arrested in Phoenix, 24
Sanela Demirovic: F, St. Louis, 31
“The individuals arrested earlier this week for their involvement in drug related crimes and activities provide an example of the threat the drug industry imposes in our communities,” DEA St. Louis Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey said. “The drug cell we dismantled with operations in various states in the United States and Mexico has no regard for the people around them and will take whatever actions necessary to protect their profit and themselves. This fact is evident by the significant amount of drugs, weapons and money seized in the multi-state, multi-agency operation. It’s important for everyone to keep in mind that no city is immune from the threat of drugs. The only way we can keep our streets safe is by working together to educate those around us on the dangers of these illegal substances and the threat associated with them.”
For the past three years, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners have tenaciously investigated this multi-state drug trafficking network operated largely by violent gangs around the country,” stated Inspector in Charge William Hedrick who heads the Postal Inspection Service’s Chicago Division, which includes the St. Louis field office. “The resulting indictment and arrests should serve as a warning to all criminals who see fit to utilize the U.S. Mail to conduct their illegal drug business.”
John Jordan, the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri, provided the following statement: The United States Marshals Service serves as the United States Government’s primary fugitive investigation and apprehension agency. Empowered through federal law, the USMS also serves as a charter agency within the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. The focus of the USMS within the OCDETF program is to “destabilize and disrupt the most serious crime organizations through joint and collaborative fugitive investigations.” In this case, USMS personnel were contacted by our partner agencies, conducted fugitive investigations, and coordinated arrests across several metropolitan areas and with the assistance of multiple USMS investigative assets. The USMS remains committed to the OCDETF goal of dismantling dangerous national-level drug trafficking organizations.
Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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 to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Marshals Service with assistance from officers at the following police departments: Bellefontaine Neighbors, Shrewsbury, St. Louis Metropolitan, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Ballwin and Maryland Heights. This investigation was also supported by DEA’s Special Operations Division under Operation Isolated Culture.
Judge sentences Lake St. Louis man for enticement of a minor and receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Larry Deutsch, age 55 of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross on October 21, 2021. Deutsch pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor and receiving child pornography.
The defendant met the minor victim while he was serving as the Bishop for a Mormon
church attended by the minor and her family. The family moved out of state and Deutsch maintained contact with the minor as a trusted adult in her life and that of her family. In October 2019, the defendant via the internet and cellular telephones convinced the minor to create and send to him nude images of herself. Deutsch also sent the minor nude images of himself. The family discovered the inappropriate conduct and took steps to prohibit further contact. In February 2020, the defendant flew across the country and picked up the minor, violating an order of protection the family had previously obtained. Without the consent of the parents, Deutsch and the minor responded back to St. Louis where he provided the minor an apartment.
Law enforcement officers in St. Louis were contacted to assist in locating the minor and contacted Deutsch. It was determined that Deutsch was keeping the minor in an apartment he had rented in St. Louis County. The investigation revealed on the personal electronics belonging to the defendant, numerous child pornography images of the minor victim.
This case was investigated by the St. Charles County Police Department, the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Judge sentences leader of St. Louis County drug trafficking organizationRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Ronald Gales, 54, of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge John A. Ross and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison today. Gales previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, beginning in 2018, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and St. Louis County Police Department began an investigation into Gales, who was the principal supplier of a drug trafficking organization supplying cocaine to other distributors operating in the St. Louis area.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at various residences of individuals supplied by Gales, where they recovered distributable amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine. Investigators also conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Gales and conducted surveillance of Gales’ operations before ultimately executing a federal search warrant at Gales’ residence in October 2019. Investigators found two .40 caliber handguns, $46,000 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia, as well as distribution quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case.
Area man pleads guilty to his role in carjacking plotRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk accepted a plea of guilty from Paul Eric Latham on October 14, 2021 for aiding and abetting a carjacking in January 2020.
A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri indicted Latham in May 2021 for aiding and abetting Antwan Jones in carjacking a victim in St. Louis the previous year. According to the plea agreement, Latham stopped his SUV next to the victim on January 15, 2020. Latham waited in the SUV while his co-defendant approached the victim at gunpoint and demanded her purse. The carjacking victim surrendered her purse, which contained the keys to her car. Latham and his co-defendant drove around the area and used the victim’s key fob to locate her Mercedes Benz. Once they found the car parked nearby, Latham used the victim’s keys to drive her car away while his co-defendant drove away in Latham’s SUV.
Later that night, police tracked the victim’s phone to East St. Louis, Illinois. There, police discovered Latham’s SUV parked in the 1800 block of Boismenue Avenue with the victim’s purse still inside.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Kourtney Bell and Ryan Finlen are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Anheuser-Busch In-Bev employee pleads guilty in health care fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey accepted a plea of guilty from Shannon Nenninger on October 12, 2021 for the crimes of conspiracy involving health care fraud, making false statement to a government agency, theft of government funds, and social security fraud.
In September 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Nenninger and others. According to the plea agreement, Nenninger, who was a former Anheuser-Busch In-Bev employee learned that Dr. Thomas Hobbs could assist her in obtaining disability payments from the Social Security Administration, Prudential Insurance of America Companies, and MetLife by exaggerating her medical conditions and claiming that she was totally and permanently disabled. As a result, between January 8, 2013 and November 28, 2017, Nenninger paid Dr. Hobbs $6,100 for his efforts in exaggerating Nenninger’s medical conditions to qualify her for the disability payments. These fees were in addition to those charged by Dr. Hobbs for any medical treatments.
While Nenninger claimed to be so disabled that she could not work, she was travelling internationally and throughout the United States, attending concerts, working in her yard, washing her car, going to various social events, and going fishing. Believing the misrepresentations to be true, the Social Security Administration and the private insurers granted Nenninger disability benefits. Between January 8, 2013 and September 30, 2021, Nenninger fraudulently received more than $457,104 in disability benefit payments and caused the payment of $3,501.88 by Blue Cross Blue Shield to the chiropractors for their medically unnecessary tests and treatments.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Dorothy McMurtry and Tracy Berry are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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St. Charles man pleads guilty to distribution of fentanyl that led to death of area manRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey accepted a plea of guilty from Keith A. Kos, Jr., on October 12, 2021, for the crimes of distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Autrey set sentencing for January 18, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, the case began on January 6, 2020, when the St. Charles County Police Department were dispatched to an area residence for an overdose death. A subsequent examination and toxicology analysis revealed the victim’s cause of death was the result of fentanyl and methamphetamine intoxication.
The investigation led to the identification of Kos. The investigators obtained a state search warrant for Kos’s residence. Investigators executed the search warrant and seized items including a pistol, more than 400 capsules of fentanyl and other drug paraphernalia. A subsequent lab analysis revealed the capsules contained 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Kos acknowledged and admitted that he knowingly distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine, knowingly possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possessed a firearm while doing so.
The case was investigated by the St. Charles County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Jefferson County man pleads guilty to his role in a multi-state methamphetamine distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Ronnie L. White accepted a plea of guilty from Kevin Karll on today’s date for the crimes of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge White set sentencing for January 11, 2022.
Kevin Karll is the first defendant to plead guilty in a multi-defendant conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement, for more than a year, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Jefferson County Municipal Enforcement Group, investigated a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of crystal methamphetamine in the St. Louis region, with a network connected to Los Angeles, California. Karll was identified as one of many street-level distributors for the illicit drug organization.
The indictment alleges that from January 2019 until the date of the indictment (January 6, 2021) Brendon Thomas, Joe Holliman, Dedrick Jordan, Terry Williams and others, both known and unknown, to include Kevin Karll conspired to distribute methamphetamine and other controlled substances in the Eastern District of Missouri and elsewhere.
On June 18, 2020, investigators joined with the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to execute search warrants at locations associated with the conspiracy. Investigators seized more than $140,000 in cash, crystal methamphetamine and high-grade marijuana, as well as two assault rifles and four handguns. Investigators stopped a vehicle on its way to St. Louis and seized 28 pounds of methamphetamine and a firearm from a hidden compartment from within the vehicle.
The investigation involved the following law enforcement agencies: DEA, HSI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, St. Charles City and County Police, Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Arnold Police Department and the Normandy Police Department, all in Missouri.
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Former Northeast Missouri City Clerk Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Tracey Ray, 48, of Center, Missouri, was sentenced today to eighteen months in federal prison and ordered to make restitution to the City of Center, Missouri in the amount of $314,889.59. Ray appeared before United States District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel.
Ray was the City Clerk of Center, Missouri for many years, since 2004. Beginning in January 2015 and continuing through July 2019, Ray engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money from Center, Missouri and its residents in an approximate amount of $315,000, by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.
As part of her fraudulent scheme, on approximately 30 occasions, Ray used Center bank funds to pay for charges on her personal credit card. Center funds used to pay for personal charges on Ray’s GM credit card totaled approximately $206,342.53 and were for such personal expenses as retail vendor charges, entertainment, lodging and travel, hair salons, restaurants and grocery store charges. These personal credit card payments were made either by Ray’s issuance of Center bank checks, or by Ray’s wire transfer of Center bank funds. Further, through these unauthorized credit card charges and payments, Ray earned and spent an additional approximately $1,911.00 in reward funds. Further, on approximately 39 occasions, Ray issued Center bank account checks in the approximate total amount of $62,537.76 to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to pay for the premiums on a family health insurance policy, as well as on life and disability policies for her and her family members.
As a further part of her scheme, Ray issued five additional Center payroll checks to herself in the total amount of approximately $3,580.00, depositing each of those unauthorized checks into her own personal bank account. On 49 occasions, Ray issued checks on City bank accounts, in the total approximate amount of $35,546.85 to directly pay for the purchases of personal items and services. Ray issued these Center checks to make personal purchases at a number of retailers, such as Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Hobby Lobby, as well as to pay for her personal residential mortgage and personal insurance policies. She also issued one or more of these Center checks to her family members, unrelated to the legitimate business and operations of Center. Further, Ray, as Center’s City Clerk, received cash payments from Center residents for various city charges, but Ray failed to deposit those cash receipts into the appropriate Center bank account. Instead, Ray used those cash proceeds, in the total amount of approximately $7,407.45 for her own personal use, without the knowledge and authority of Center and its City Council.
In order to conceal her scheme from Center and its Mayor and City Council, Ray falsified the cash balances of one or more Center bank accounts on financial reports she prepared for monthly City Council meetings. Ray also prepared false and incomplete lists of bills to be paid which she submitted for monthly City Council meetings. Further, Ray falsified internal Center financial accounting records to make it appear that the unauthorized checks and wires she issued from Center bank accounts were made to legitimate third party vendors who had purportedly provided actual services or materials to Center.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Missouri State Auditor’s Office and Ralls County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case.
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Remembering a hero, and a family’s gratitude toward witnessesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On October 7, 2002, Robert L. Bolden, Sr., and two other men attempted to rob the Bank of America located in the Halls Ferry Circle in St. Louis City. Bolden, armed with a revolver, contacted Nathan Ley, 25, the security guard stationed outside one of the bank entrances. Ley refused to surrender his firearm to Bolden. Bolden shot Ley in the jaw and incapacitated him. Bolden then stepped back and as Ley was going down, Bolden shot him in the head a second time. Ley died as a result of the second gunshot wound to his head.
Investigators located three witnesses who identified Bolden as the shooter. One of the witnesses also identified Bolden’s vehicle at the scene of the bank robbery. Bolden’s DNA was recovered from a head covering seized at the crime scene. The murder weapon was recovered outside Bolden’s residence.
In May 2006, after a lengthy trial, a federal jury found Bolden guilty and recommended sentences of death for the offenses of attempted bank robbery resulting in the death of Nathan Ley, and for using a firearm to murder Nathan Ley.
During the sentencing phase of the proceedings, a witness at the scene with a law enforcement and military background recounted his efforts to comfort Nathan as he was dying on the parking lot of the bank. The citizen comforted and prayed with Nathan. The citizen, who was inside the bank during the shooting, also said that Nathan was a hero for having kept the robbers out of the bank. After the crime, the citizen kept a photograph of Nathan over his family’s fireplace because he and his wife viewed Nathan as their hero. Bank of America also honored Nathan Ley by placing an engraved memorial stone at the bank that recognized him as a hero.
On September 22, 2021, Bolden’s counsel and the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued one of Bolden’s appeals before the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. Within the next week, Bolden died of natural causes while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons.
Tom, Linda, and Clint Ley recently released the following statement to the U.S. Attorney’s Office: On October 7, 2002, our hearts were shattered when our son and Clint’s brother Nathan was shot and killed by Robert Bolden. Nathan was kind, funny, responsible, and hard-working. He wanted to go into law enforcement to help people and make life safer for everyone. He was 25 years old.We will be forever grateful to the witnesses who identified his killer, the police who investigated, the U.S. Attorney’s Office who prosecuted the case … and the jurors who found justice for Nathan. We were fortunate that his killer was brought to justice. Too many families are not so fortunate. And until witnesses step forward and cases are tried, this terrible scourge of violence will continue.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Reality Television Star Brittish “Cierrah” Williams Indicted for Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
St. Louis, MO – Brittish “Cierrah” Williams had her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley P. Mensah. Williams was indicted on September 22, 2001 with five felony charges of misuse of a social security number, four charges of bank fraud, three charges of making false statements to the IRS, three charges of wire fraud, and three charges of aggravated identity theft.
According to the Indictment, during 2017, Williams used false social security numbers in order to obtain a number of loans, lines of credit, and other funds from banks and financial institutions. Further, during 2018 and 2019, Williams deposited checks, without the knowledge and authority of the actual checking account holders, into several bank accounts she controlled and then withdrew the funds before those deposited checks were returned to the issuing banks for insufficient funds. The Indictment also alleges that Williams deposited fraudulent checks into bank accounts which she controlled and then withdrew those funds in cash before the fraudulent nature of the checks was discovered. Additionally, Williams is charged with submitting false information, including the names and social security numbers of individuals, to the IRS during tax years 2017, 2018, and 2019 falsely claiming that those individuals were her dependents on those submitted tax returns.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. Special Assistant United States Attorney Diane Klocke is handling the case for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Charges set forth in the Indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jury Convicts Leader of Large-Scale Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A federal jury returned verdicts of guilty late yesterday against Gerald Hunter, 55, of Los Angeles, for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and two counts of money laundering. U.S. District Judge John A. Ross presided over the trial and will set a sentencing date. Hunter now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and up to life.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a long-term investigation of a fentanyl and cocaine distribution organization in St. Louis. Agents identified Hunter of Los Angeles as an out-of-state source of supply for the St. Louis organization. On April 27, 2017, DEA agents seized approximately 27 kilograms of fentanyl in Florissant, Mo. Hunter was in possession of the bags containing the fentanyl, and his fingerprint was recovered from packaging material. However, Hunter ran from investigators, and made good his escape.
The jury found that Hunter conspired to distribute fentanyl in St. Louis, but also that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to distribute the drug in St. Louis. The evidence at trial established that the fentanyl was the equivalent of 270,000 usage units before being diluted, with a street value of $1 million. Hunter evaded arrest for three years before the U.S. Marshals Service arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Hunter was in possession of $220,000 in United States currency, 11 cellular phones and two identification cards with someone else’s name. Flight records established Hunter’s frequent pattern of travel to St. Louis from Los Angeles.
“At the time DEA seized Hunter’s 27 kilograms of fentanyl, it was the largest seizure in the region, indicating just how far-reaching his illicit business was,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, supervisor of DEA operations in Eastern Missouri. “We know these drugs could have caused irreparable damage. We also know this is the end of one drug trafficking organization that will no longer wreak havoc in our communities, and Hunter's guilty verdict is vindication of the tireless efforts of DEA and its local and federal partners."
This case was investigated by the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Granger, Stephen Casey and Jay Redd are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Judge sentences St. Louis man to prison for robbing man of drugs and shooting himRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On today’s date, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Dominick Anderson, 41, of St. Louis, Missouri, to 117 months in prison for robbing a man of methamphetamine and shooting him.
On July 14, 2021, Anderson pled guilty to robbery and brandishing a firearm during the robbery that took place on August 25, 2019 in St. Louis City. The day of the robbery, a woman contacted the victim to buy methamphetamine from him. The woman agreed to pick up the victim and take him to his residence in the 8200 block of Michigan Avenue to complete the purchase. The woman, accompanied by Anderson and another person, drove to the victim’s home. When they arrived, the woman stated she and Anderson did not have enough money to purchase the methamphetamine and would return with money.
The victim showed the methamphetamine to Anderson, at which time Anderson displayed a handgun. Anderson demanded the victim give him the methamphetamine. The victim refused to hand over the methamphetamine and told Anderson to leave the residence. Anderson shot the victim in the abdomen. Anderson then took the methamphetamine from the victim. Anderson and the other person returned to the woman’s vehicle and fled the area. The victim contacted 911 and was taken to a hospital for injuries.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski handled the case.
Judge sentences St. Louis man to 255 months in prison for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine base “crack”Read the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – On today’s date, United States District Judge Stephen R. Clark sentenced Bryan Kimble, 32, of St. Louis, Missouri, to 255 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and three counts of distribution of cocaine base. On May 12, 2021, a jury found Kimble guilty following a three-day jury trial.
The evidence during the trial proved that Kimble distributed cocaine base to an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent on three separate dates. Kimble also conspired with others to distribute cocaine base. In October 2019, ATF Special Agents received information from a confidential informant that Kimble was selling cocaine base. On October 11, 19, and 22, 2019, ATF successfully conducted controlled purchases of cocaine base from Kimble using an undercover agent. On each occasion, Kimble drove to a location to meet the undercover agent and and used a female passenger to complete the drug transactions. In all, Kimble sold more than 30 grams of cocaine base to the undercover agent. Based upon Kimble’s previous criminal history, Judge Clark sentenced Kimble pursuant to the Career Offender provision of the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Rodney H. Holmes and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley M. Walker handled the case.